"How Do U Want It" is a song by American rapper
2Pac
Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the b ...
from his fourth studio album, ''
All Eyez on Me
''All Eyez on Me'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Sno ...
'' (1996). It was released on June 4, 1996 as a
double a-sided
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...
single with "
California Love
"California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper-producer Dr. Dre and American singer Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first si ...
" from the same album and was his final single to be released during his lifetime. The song features
R&B duo
K-Ci & JoJo
K-Ci & JoJo is an American R&B duo, consisting of brothers Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey (born September 2, 1969) and Joel "JoJo" Hailey (born June 10, 1971). Natives of Monroe, North Carolina, they are also the lead singers of the chart-topping R&B ...
, who at the time were best known as the lead singers of the group
Jodeci
Jodeci ( ) is an American R&B quartet consisting of members DeVanté Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and JoJo. Formed in 1989 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jodeci's members began their musical careers as two duos of brothers and, after years of lim ...
. The song reached number one on the U.S.
''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number seventeen in the
UK in 1996. The song received a
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
nomination in 1997.
Produced by
Johnny "J"
Johnny Lee Jackson (August 28, 1969 – October 3, 2008) was a Mexican-American multi-platinum songwriter, music producer and rapper best known for his early career with Death Row Records, and for his work with 2Pac on '' Me Against the Wor ...
, "How Do U Want" samples
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...
' 1974 song "Body Heat", and includes a
diss
Diss or DISS may refer to:
*Diss, Alberta, a place in Canada
*Diss, Norfolk, a market town in England, United Kingdom
**Diss railway station
**Diss Rugby Club
** Diss Town F.C.
*Diss grass, a Mediterranean grass
*Diss (music), a song whose primary ...
towards civil rights activist and fierce rap critic
C. Delores Tucker. Tucker later sued 2Pac's estate, claiming that comments in this song, and on the track "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" from the same album, inflicted emotional distress, were slanderous, and invaded her privacy. The case was later dismissed.
A music video was created for "How Do U Want It" and its
B-sides
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...
"
2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
"2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, ''All Eyez on Me'' (1996). The song features fellow West Coast rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg and was produced by Dat Nigga Daz. The song was released as a p ...
" and "
Hit 'Em Up".
Music videos
There were three videos filmed for this song:
A dirty version and a clean version, both directed by
Ron Hightower and produced by Tracy D. Robinson. These two versions are distinguished by music ratings (one is certified adult material). The videos portray a wild sex party with Jacuzzi, mechanical bull riding, cage dancing and pole stripping. The dirty version also features numerous porn stars, including
Nina Hartley
Marie Louise Hartman (born March 11, 1959), known professionally as Nina Hartley, is an American pornographic film actress described by CNBC as "a legend in the adult world".
Early life and education
Hartley was born on March 11, 1959 in Be ...
,
Heather Hunter,
Nadia Cassini
Gianna Lou Cassini ( Müller; born January 2, 1949), better known with her stage name Nadia Cassini, is a retired American actress, singer and showgirl who became famous in Italian exploitation films of the 1970s and early 1980s, particularly in ...
and
Angel Kelly.
The third version, known as the concert version, is mostly live on stage (not from the House of Blues live performance). There are cameo appearances by
K-Ci & JoJo
K-Ci & JoJo is an American R&B duo, consisting of brothers Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey (born September 2, 1969) and Joel "JoJo" Hailey (born June 10, 1971). Natives of Monroe, North Carolina, they are also the lead singers of the chart-topping R&B ...
, and fellow group member of
Digital Underground Shock G
Gregory Edward Jacobs (August 25, 1963 – April 22, 2021), known professionally as Shock G and by his alter ego Humpty Hump, was an American rapper and musician who was best known as the lead vocalist of the hip hop group Digital Underground. ...
both in the concert and studio segments.
Track listing
*A1. "How Do U Want It" (LP Version)
*A2. "
California Love
"California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper-producer Dr. Dre and American singer Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first si ...
" (Long Radio Edit)
*B1. "
2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
"2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, ''All Eyez on Me'' (1996). The song features fellow West Coast rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg and was produced by Dat Nigga Daz. The song was released as a p ...
" (LP Version)
*B2. "
Hit 'Em Up"
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Albums with the song
*''
All Eyez on Me
''All Eyez on Me'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Sno ...
''
*''
Greatest Hits
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...
''
*''
Nu-Mixx Klazzics''
*''
2Pac Live''
*''
Tupac: Live at the House of Blues''
*''
The Prophet Returns
''The Prophet Returns'' is a compilation album by United States, American hip hop artist Tupac Shakur, released on October 3, 2005 by Death Row Records and Koch Records. It mostly features songs from Shakur's 1996 album ''All Eyez on Me''.
Track ...
''
*''
Best of 2Pac''
See also
Hot 100 number-one hits of 1996 (USA)
The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is a chart that ranks the best-performing singles of the United States. Published by '' Billboard'' magazine, the data are compiled by Nielsen SoundScan based collectively on each single's weekly physical sales and ...
Notes
External links
Interview with Heather HunterMVDBase entry
{{authority control
1996 singles
Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Songs written by Quincy Jones
Tupac Shakur songs
Songs written by Leon Ware
Songs written by Tupac Shakur
1996 songs