Run It!

"Run It!"
Single by Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana
from the album Chris Brown
Released	June 30, 2005
Format	CD digital download
Recorded	2005
Genre	Crunk&B
Length	3:49 (album version) 4:04 (remix version) 3:12 (radio version)
Label	Jive
Writer(s)	Scott Storch Sean Garrett LaRon James
Producer(s)	Scott Storch
Certification	Platinum (RIAA)
Chris Brown singles chronology
"Run It!" (2005) "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" (2005)
Juelz Santana singles chronology "Oh Yes" (2005) "Run It!" (2005) "Clockwork" (2005)

"Run It" is a song recorded by American recording artist Chris Brown. It was written and produced by Scott Storch and Sean Garrett for his debut studio album, Chris Brown (2005). It features rap verses from American rapper Juelz Santana. The song was released as his debut single on June 30, 2005. The R&B single has been described as a de-crunked version of Usher's 2004 single "Yeah!". The remix features rappers Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri and was performed at The 2006 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards by Bow Wow and Chris Brown. The radio version of the song was featured on the 2006 compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 21

"Run It!" was generally well received by music critics; many praised Brown's vocals and Scott Storch's production. Commercially, the song was successful, peaking inside the top ten in six countries and the top twenty in four. The song also managed to top the charts in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. The music video earned nominations at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards for "Best New Artist" and "Viewer's Choice".

Background and composition

"Run It" was released worldwide as Brown's debut single on June 30, 2005, through digital distribution.^[1] On July 19, 2005, Jive and Zomba Records serviced the song to rhythmic crossover radio in the United States. They later solicited the song to contemporary hit radio on October 3, 2005.^[2] "Run It" was written and produced by Scott Storch and Sean Garrett. It samples The Waitresses' 1980 single "I Know What Boys Like" (Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?, 1982), which was written by Christopher Butler. The track is composed in the key of C# minor as an R&B song that consists of slinky synth beats, a catchy chorus, an ominous, creepy background, and elements of Scott Storch productions.^[3][4] Brown's vocals have been described as "sweet" and "baby mack"-like.^[4][5] Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone called the song "a de-crunked 'Yeah!'".^[3] The song features rap verses from American hip-hop recording artist Juelz Santana.^[4]

Critical reception

Bill Lamb of About.com awarded "Run It" a four star rating, commending the song's backing music, Brown's voice, and chorus but called it "another cookie cutter Scott Storch production."^[5] Andy Kellman of Allmusic noted it as one of the album's top tracks, commenting that the song's "way of tempering Brown's small-town innocence with hard-edged backing and a guest spot from an MC of ill repute is clearly a strategy to make the singer appeal to more than tween girls."^[4] Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone said that the song gets by "thanks to a slinky synth beat and the mix of smooth seduction and cunning come-ons in Brown's baby-mack vocals."^[3]

Chart performance

"Run It!" debuted at No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the issue dated August 27, 2005.^[6] After eight weeks on the chart, the song entered the top ten at number eight on October 22, 2005, receiving the airplay gainer title.^[7] It gained the airplay title again in the following week, climbing to number two on the chart, where it stalled for a month.^[8] On November 26, 2005, "Run It!" peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, becoming Brown's first number one single on the chart. That same week, the song was also at the top of the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and the US Radio Songs.^[9] Two weeks later, it topped the US Pop Songs chart. The song remained on top of the Hot 100 for five weeks, becoming his longest lasting number one single on the chart.^[10] It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of one million copies.^[11]

"Run It!" debuted and peaked at number one on the Australian Singles Chart in the issue dated January 29, 2006.^[12] The song remained at the top of the chart for three non-consecutive weeks and exited after fifteen weeks.^[12] It earned a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 35,000 copies.^[13] In New Zealand, the song entered the singles chart at number 39 on the week ending January 2, 2006.^[14] Six weeks later, the song peaked at the top of the chart, where it remained for one month.^[14] "Run It!" entered the Swiss Singles Chart at number twelve on the week ending February 12, 2006.^[15] In the next week, it peaked at number five and remained in the top ten for six consecutive weeks.^[15]

Music video

The music video for "Run It!" was released on August 8, 2005.^[16] Directed by Erik White, it portrays an underground dance inside a school gym, where Brown meets a girl (Destiny Lightsy) that he is suddenly attracted to and with whom he wants to dance. The video features several dance sequences in which the males and females dance off against each other. During the sequences, Brown makes several movements toward his love interest. At the end, Brown and his love interest are about to kiss before the security guards arrive, and the whole gym is evacuated, with both of them pulled in separate directions. However, as soon as the guards find nobody there, they start dancing. The music video received two nominations at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards for "Best New Artist" and "Viewer's Choice", but lost to Avenged Sevenfold's "Bat Country" and Fall Out Boy's "Dance, Dance".^[17]

In popular culture

• In an episode of the MTV series When I Was 17, Jeremih reveals that "Run It!" was a favorite song of his.

Credits

• Scott Storch – songwriting, production
• Sean Garrett – songwriting, production
• Brian Stanley – mix engineer
• Val Braithwaite – assistant mix engineer
• Mike Tschupp – assistant mix engineer
• Herb Powers, Jr. – mastering engineer
• Charles McCrorey – recording engineer
• Conrad Golding – recording engineer
• Wayne Allison – recording engineer

Credits adapted from Chris Brown liner notes, Columbia Records.^[18]

Track listings

US CD single[19] "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) - 3:49 "Run It!" (Main Version) - 3:15 "Run It!" (Instrumental) - 3:14 "Run It!" (Video) - 4:09 European CD single[20] "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) - 3:49 "I May Never Find" - 4:35 European CD single[21] "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) - 3:49 "Run It! (Remix)" (feat. Bow Wow & Jermaine Dupri ) - 4:04 "Run It!" (Main Version - No Rap) - 3:15 "Run It!" (Instrumental) - 3:14 "Run It!" (Video) - 4:09 Special Dutch CD Edition[22][23] "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) - 3:50 "Run It!" (feat. The Partysquad) - 3:22

Vinyl[24] "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) - 3:50 "Run It!" (Main Version) - 3:14 Vinyl remix[25] "Run It! (Remix)" (feat. Bow Wow & Jermaine Dupri) - 4:04 "Run It! (Remix)"" (Instrumental) - 4:04

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2005–06) Peak position scope="row" Australia (ARIA)[12] 1 scope="row" Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[26] 12 scope="row" Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[27] 23 scope="row" Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[28] 26 scope="row" Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[29] 55 scope="row" Denmark (Tracklisten)[30] 13 scope="row" Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[31] 7 scope="row" France (SNEP)[32] 19 scope="row" Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 5 scope="row" Hungary (Single Top 40)[34] 10 scope="row" Ireland (IRMA)[35] 2 scope="row" Italy (FIMI)[36] 12 scope="row" Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 11 scope="row" New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 1 scope="row" Norway (VG-lista)[38] 13 scope="row" Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 5 scope="row" Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 34 scope="row" UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[40] 2 scope="row" US Billboard Hot 100[41] 1 scope="row" US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[42] 24 scope="row" US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[43] 1 scope="row" US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[44] 1 scope="row" US Rhythmic (Billboard)[45] 1

Certifications Region (provider) Certifications Digital download Australia (ARIA) Gold[13] Brazil (ABPD) Platinum[46] United States (RIAA) 3x Platinum[11] Ringtone Canada (Music Canada) Gold[47] United States (RIAA) Platinum[11]

Radio and release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
Worldwide[1]	June 30, 2005	Digital download	Zomba Records
United States	July 19, 2005	Rhythmic crossover	Jive Records Zomba Records
	October 3, 2005	Contemporary hit radio
Australia[48]	January 30, 2006	EP	Zomba Records
New Zealand[49]
Austria[50]		Single (featuring Juelz Santana)
Belgium[51]
Brazil[52]
Denmark[53]
Finland[54]
France[55]
Germany[56]
Ireland[57]
Italy[58]
Mexico[59]
Netherlands[60]
New Zealand[61]
Norway[62]
Spain[63]
Sweden[64]
Switzerland[65]
United Kingdom[66]

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 2005
• List of Billboard Mainstream Top 40 number-one songs of 2005
• List of number-one R&B singles of 2005 (U.S.)
• List of number-one singles in Australia in 2006
• List of number-one singles from the 2000s

References

1. Sources for "Run It!" Single release worldwide:
   • "Run It! – Single". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single". iTunes Store (Belgium). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single". iTunes Store (Denmark). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single". iTunes Store (Finland). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! - Single" (in French). iTunes Store (France). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single" (in German). iTunes Store (Germany). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single". iTunes Store (Ireland). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single" (in Italian). iTunes Store (Italy). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single" (in Spanish). iTunes Store (Mexico). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single" (in Dutch). iTunes Store (Netherlands). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single". iTunes Store (New Zealand). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single". iTunes Store (Norway). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single" (in Spanish). iTunes Store (Spain). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single" (in Swedish). iTunes Store (Sweden). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
   • "Run It! – Single". iTunes Store (United States). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
2. "Airplay Archive". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
3. Hoard, Christian (November 28, 2005). "Chris Brown". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
4. Kellman, Andy. "Chris Brown - Chris Brown". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
5. Lamb, Bill. "Run It! - Chris Brown". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
6. "Hot 100 (August 27, 2005)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
7. "Hot 100 (October 22, 2005)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
8. "Hot 100 (October 29, 2005)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
9. "Hot 100 (November 26, 2005)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
10. "Chris Brown - Run It! - Music Charts". aCharts.us. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
11. "American single certifications - Chris Brown - Run It!". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
12. "Australian-charts.com – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
13. "ARIA Charts — Accreditations — 2006 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved April 14, 2009.
14. "Charts.org.nz – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
15. "Swisscharts.com – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
16. "Run It!". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
17. "MTV Video Music Awards (2006)". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
18. Chris Brown (Media notes). Jive Records, Zomba Records. 2005.
19. http://www.amazon.com/Run-Chris-Brown/dp/B000B0WOHG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1462014574&sr=1-1&keywords=run+it+chris
20. https://www.discogs.com/it/Chris-Brown-4-Featuring-Juelz-Santana-Run-It/release/1797077
21. https://www.discogs.com/it/Chris-Brown-4-Featuring-Juelz-Santana-Run-It/release/4406729
22. https://www.discogs.com/it/Chris-Brown-4-Featuring-Juelz-Santana-Run-It-Special-Dutch-Edition-With-The-Partysquad-Remix/release/1186760
23. http://www.shazam.com/it/track/59389317/run-it-partysquad-remix
24. http://www.amazon.com/Run-Vinyl-Chris-Brown/dp/B000A6CLLK/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1462014574&sr=1-2&keywords=run+it+chris
25. http://www.amazon.com/Run-Vinyl-Chris-Brown/dp/B000A6CLLK/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1462014574&sr=1-2&keywords=run+it+chris
26. "Austriancharts.at – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
27. "Ultratop.be – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
28. "Ultratop.be – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
29. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200614 into search. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
30. "Danishcharts.com – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!". Tracklisten. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
31. "Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana: Run It!" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
32. "Lescharts.com – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
33. "Musicline.de – Brown,Chris Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
34. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
35. "Chart Track: Week 07, 2006". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
36. "Italiancharts.com – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!". Top Digital Download. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
37. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
38. "Norwegiancharts.com – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!". VG-lista. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
39. "Swedishcharts.com – Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana – Run It!". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
40. "Chris Brown Ft Juelz Santana: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
41. "Chris Brown – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Chris Brown.
42. "Chris Brown – Chart history" Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay for Chris Brown.
43. "Chris Brown – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Chris Brown.
44. "Chris Brown – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Chris Brown.
45. "Chris Brown – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Chris Brown.
46. "Brazilian single certifications - Chris Brown - Run It!". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
47. "Canadian single certifications - Chris Brown - Run It!". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
48. "Run It! – EP". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
49. "Run It! – EP". iTunes Store (New Zealand). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
50. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single" (in German). iTunes Store (Austria). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
51. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Belgium). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
52. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Brazil). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
53. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Denmark). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
54. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Finland). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
55. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single" (in French). iTunes Store (France). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
56. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single" (in German). iTunes Store (Germany). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
57. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Ireland). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
58. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single" (in Italian). iTunes Store (Italy). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
59. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single" (in Spanish). iTunes Store (Mexico). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
60. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single" (in Dutch). iTunes Store (Netherlands). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
61. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (New Zealand). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
62. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Norway). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
63. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single" (in Spanish). iTunes Store (Spain). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
64. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Sweden). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
65. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single" (in German). iTunes Store (Switzerland). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
66. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (United Kingdom). Apple. Retrieved December 16, 2011.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics