"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 by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all tim ...

from his fourth studio album, '' All Eyez on Me'' (1996). It was released on June 4, 1996 as a double A-sided single with "

California Love "California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper Dr. Dre. The song was released December 3, 1995, as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first single as the newest artist ...

" 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 Charlotte, North Carolina, they are also the lead singers of the chart-topping R& ...

, who at the time were best known as the lead singers of the group

Jodeci Jodeci ( ) is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B quartet consisting of members DeVanté Swing, Dalvin DeGrate, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and K-Ci & JoJo, JoJo. Formed in 1988 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jodeci began as a duo of DeVanté Swing and JoJo ...

. The song reached number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming

Death Row Records Death Row Records is an American record label that was founded in 1991 by The D.O.C., Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, and Dick Griffey. The label became a sensation by releasing multi-platinum hip-hop albums by West Coast-based artists such as Dr. D ...

' first and only chart topping single, 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, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

nomination in

1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...

. Produced by Johnny "J", "How Do U Want It" samples

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...

' 1974 song "Body Heat", and includes a diss 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 vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a single usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or ...

" 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" and " Hit 'Em Up".

Music videos

There were three videos filmed for this song: A dirty version and a clean version were both directed by

Ron Hightower Ronald Hightower (born January 25, 1966, in Los Angeles, California) is an American adult-mainstream Film director, director who began his career as a pornographic actor. He has also directed music videos for various hip-hop recording artists, ...

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 1959), known professionally as Nina Hartley, is an American pornographic film actress and sex educator. By 2017 she had appeared in more than one thousand adult films. She has been described by ''Las Vegas Weekly'' as ...

, Heather Hunter, Nadia Cassini 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

, and fellow group member of

Digital Underground Digital Underground is an American alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. Its lineup grows with each album and tour. Digital Underground's leader and mainstay was Gregory "Shock G" Jacobs (also known as Humpty Hump). Shock G forme ...

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. "

" (Long Radio Edit) *B1. " 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" (LP Version) *B2. " Hit 'Em Up"

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

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