"808"
Single by Blaque
from the album Blaque
ReleasedMarch 9, 1999 (1999-03-09)
GenreR&B[1]
Length
  • 5:06 (album version)
  • 4:14 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Blaque singles chronology
"808"
(1999)		 "I Do"
(1999)

"808" is the debut single by American R&B/pop girl group Blaque from their self-titled debut album. Released to radio and music video stations in early 1999, "808" became the group's first top-10 hit in the United States, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching top five on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.

Composition

"808" is described as a sexy, tough, and bass-throbbing R&B slow jam and it was co-written by the late group-member Natina Reed and R. Kelly, with the former co-producing.[1][2] The song has lyrical content referencing 808 drum machines such as "boom-baby-boom" mimicking the song's drum patterns.[2] It runs at a tempo of 122 beats per minutes in the key of C# major.[3]

The remix for "808" was solely produced by Trackmasters and switched the original into an uptempo song with a sample of LL Cool J's "Going Back to Cali". With the exception of the rap during the bridge, the remix is a completely new song written by Kandi Burruss, who also provided background vocals.[4] This version of the song received mainstream pop airplay in early 2000.[5]

Music video

The music video for "808" was directed by Martin Weisz.

It starts with a zoom in into a reel-to-reel tape recorder before fading into a rocky, monochromatic classroom setting with Natina standing at a podium rapping her spoken intro. Brandi and Shamari magically appear into the classroom sitting down. When the members are singing at the podium, there are multiple tv screens behind them broadcasting other shots of them. After the first chorus, Blaque are individually shown in a recording booth type setting with anechoic chamber-like wall paddings. In this setting there appears to be zero gravity as the ladies are seen floating and flying in the air. They are also seen floating and teleporting in and out of the podium setting.

Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes makes a cameo appearance in the video, appearing in the classroom setting and on the many tv screens. There also appears to be multiple duplicates of her.

It premiered on BET the week ending on February 21, 1999 and on The Box the week after.[6][7] It later debuted on MTV the week ending May 16, 1999.[8]

The wardrobe and concept for the video was said to be inspired by the futuristic aesthetic of the 1997 film The Fifth Element.[9]

Track listing

CD single[10]
No.TitleLength
1."808" (LP version) 
2."808" (instrumental) 
3."808" (remix) 
4."808" (extended remix) 
5."808" (remix instrumental) 

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[23] Gold 700,000[24]

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States March 9, 1999 Cassette
[25]
March 15, 1999 Urban contemporary radio [26]
March 16, 1999 Rhythmic contemporary radio [26]
March 23, 1999 CD [27]
April 27, 1999 Maxi-CD · 12-inch vinyl [28]
United Kingdom June 21, 1999
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [29]

References

  1. 1 2 BET Presents: The Encore - Get To Know Shamari DeVoe (Blaque) (2021), retrieved June 7, 2022
  2. 1 2 Chuck, Taylor (March 20, 1999). "Review & Previews: New & Noteworthy". No. 111. Billboard. p. 25. This tough, bass-throbbing slow jam that's simply about sex ... is plenty sexy, but it's also fun to listen to. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. ↑ "Key & BPM for "808" by Blaque". Tunebat. June 7, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Here's another #TBT with my girls #Blaque..." Instagram. Retrieved June 7, 2022. Fun Fact: I wrote the #808remix for them.
  5. ↑ "Brandi D. (of Blaque) Talks New Music From Group, Being Groomed By Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, "Torch" Album (Exclusive)". youknowigotsoul.com. Retrieved June 7, 2022. "808" remix was huge for us on the Pop side of the world.
  6. ↑ Video Monitor. Billboard. March 6, 1999. p. 95.
  7. ↑ Video Monitor. Billboard. March 13, 1999. p. 102.
  8. ↑ Video Monitor. Billboard. May 29, 1999. p. 92.
  9. ↑ Blaque Interview (1999), retrieved June 12, 2022
  10. ↑ Amazon.com: 808: Blaque: Music
  11. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 23.
  12. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8378." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Blaque Ivory – 808". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Blaque Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Blaque Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Blaque Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1999". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  22. ↑ "HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS 1999". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  23. ↑ "American single certifications – Blaque – 808". Recording Industry Association of America.
  24. ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1999". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 4. January 22, 2000. p. 63. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  25. ↑ 808 - Blaque : Audio Cassette, Amazon, retrieved June 7, 2022
  26. 1 2 "New Releases / AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1290. March 12, 1999. pp. 95, 102.
  27. ↑ "808 - CD Single". Amazon. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Release "808" by Blaque - MusicBrainz". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  29. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting 21 June, 1999: Singles". Music Week. June 19, 1999. p. 27.
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