"Supersonic"
Single by J.J. Fad
from the album Supersonic
ReleasedApril 18, 1988[1]
Recorded1987
GenreHip hop
Length3:55
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Dania Birks
  • Juana Burns
  • Juanita Lee
  • Fatima Shaheed
  • Kim Nazel
Producer(s)
J.J. Fad singles chronology
"Anotha Ho"
(1987)		 "Supersonic"
(1988)		 "Way Out"
(1988)
Music video
"Supersonic" on YouTube

"Supersonic" is a song by J.J. Fad from their debut album of the same name.

Background

The first recording of "Supersonic" was released in 1987 by the original line-up of J.J. Fad as the B-side to "Anotha Ho" on Dream Team Records. The new line-up re-recorded and released "Supersonic" in April 1988 as a single; this version reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Songs and number 22 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. "Supersonic" stayed on the dance charts for eight weeks. The single was certified gold by RIAA,[1] and also got nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989, making them the first all-female rap group to be nominated for a Grammy award.[2]

Charts

Chart (1988) Peak
position
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[3] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] 30
U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles[5] 22
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play[6] 10

Year-end charts

Chart (1988) Position
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[7] 9

Samples and references in other songs

The song has been sampled and referenced by others in the music industry:

  • Fergie in her song "Fergalicious", including parts of the beat and ways in which the song is sung.[8] There has been much debate over whether or not this has been legal sampling, and a lawsuit was filed by former N.W.A. member Arabian Prince against Ruthless Records because he says the Black Eyed Peas did not provide them any royalties on the song. In a later interview with HipHopDX, Arabian Prince stated, “will.i.am did the right thing and the good thing by actually saying, ‘Okay, yeah, I got this from “Supersonic,” we’re gonna go ahead and get the publishing on this and pay royalties to me, whoever else and the girls.’ So that was a good thing.”[9]
  • In 2004, MF Doom sampled the beatboxing intro from the 1988 video for "Supersonic" in his song "Hoe Cakes" from his album Mm.. Food.
  • In 2006, Teriyaki Boyz referenced J.J. Fad and "Supersonic" in their single Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious).
  • In 2009, Beastie Boys reference J.J. Fad and "Supersonic" on their Grammy–nominated song "Too Many Rappers".
  • In 2012, Killer Mike of Run the Jewels referenced J.J. Fad and "Supersonic" in his song "Go!" from his album R.A.P. Music.
  • In 2013, Eminem referenced J. J. Fad and "Supersonic" in his single "Rap God".

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  2. ↑ "J.J.Fad Official Site". jjfad.com. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  3. ↑ RPM: issue date September 24, 1988
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 434.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 299.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 136.
  7. ↑ "Top 25 Dance Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49, no. 10. 24 December 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  8. ↑ "Fergie: Fergalicious sounds like J.J. Fad: Supersonic". soundsjustlike.com.
  9. ↑ Harling, Danielle (March 12, 2009). "Arabian Prince Sues Ruthless Records Over "Fergalicious"". hiphopdx.com.
  10. ↑ "American single certifications – J.J. FAD – SUPERSONIC". Recording Industry Association of America.
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