"Still Tippin" is the debut single by American rapper Mike Jones, released in 2004 as his debut and lead single from his album Who Is Mike Jones? (2005). Prior to this, it was also used as a single to promote Swisha House's compilation album, The Day Hell Broke Loose 2 (2003). The song features vocals from rappers Slim Thug and Paul Wall, the latter in his first single appearance.
| "Still Tippin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Mike Jones featuring Slim Thug & Paul Wall | ||||
| from the album Who Is Mike Jones? and The American Dream | ||||
| Released | 2004 | |||
| Recorded | 2003 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 4:32 (explicit version) 3:34 (radio edit) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Salih Williams | |||
| Mike Jones singles chronology | ||||
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| Slim Thug singles chronology | ||||
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| Paul Wall singles chronology | ||||
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| Audio | ||||
| "Still Tippin'" on YouTube | ||||
| "Still Tippin'" (radio edit) on YouTube | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Still Tippin' (featuring Mike Jones, Slim Thug & Paul Wall)" on YouTube | ||||
The beat was produced by Salih Williams, featuring a hypnotic refrain from a Swishahouse song of Slim Thug from years past. In an interview with MTV, Jones stated that the "tippin'" of the title is a synonym for "cruising" (i.e. driving). He also added that "tippin' on four 4s, wrapped in four Vogues" refers to rims with "the spokes that you see sticking out" wrapped in Vogue tires, which he explains "were made in 1994 by Cadillac and those were the most popular ones at the time".[1] Furthermore, the line is a reference to the slang for the Acres Homes area of Houston, Texas where the "fo-fo" comes from the Metro bus route number 44 which goes through the community.
The song's music video was directed by John "Dr. Teeth" Tucker, earning him an MTV Video Music Award nomination.[2] The last verse was given to rapper Paul Wall after fellow artist Chamillionaire had a dispute with both Paul Wall and Mike Jones, resulting in Chamillionaire's departure from Swishahouse.
Song versions
editOriginal version
editThe version of "Still Tippin'" released on Mike Jones's album (which contains a string piece sample taken from a 1990 recording of Gioachino Rossini's "William Tell Overture" by the South German Philharmonic Orchestra and Alfred Scholz) is actually a remix of the original version featuring Slim Thug, Chamillionaire and Mike Jones. When Chamillionaire and Mike Jones started their rivalry, Jones took the track, placed it on a different beat and cut Chamillionaire off it. He then got Paul Wall to record a verse and used it as a substitute for the cut verse. The original version of the song is sampled from Slim Thug's own song "I'm a Hoe (Freestyle)" (from his 1998 album I Represent This), and can be heard on the Rap-a-Lot Records compilation, The Day After Hell Broke Loose.
Other versions
editAccording to CD Now, the song was released in 2003 on Swishahouse's The Day Hell Broke Loose 2 AKA Major Without A Major Deal album, but due to word of mouth, and the infamous X-rated version seen on BET: Uncut released in spring of the following year, by late 2004 the song received major radio rotations, and an edited version of the video was released. The official remix known as the "Underground Remix" features Screwed Up Click members Lil' Keke & Big Pokey.[3] A remix of the song, called "Bitch What U Know About", features 50 Cent, Young Buck and Spider Loc. A freestyle by Ludacris is included on the mixtape The Preview called "Still Spittin'". Another official remix titled, "Still Tippin (It's a Man's World Remix)", featuring singer Nicole Wray can be found on the soundtrack of the movie, Hustle & Flow. The beat for the song "Still Tippin", was also used on Lupe Fiasco's mixtape in a song called "Switch". It is one of Lupe's most popular mixtape songs, garnering millions of views on YouTube.
Charts
editCertifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[10] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "So Who Is Mike Jones?". MTV News. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
- ^ Clarke, Michael D. (August 25, 2005). "Dr. Teeth chomps into Houston's rap scene". Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ^ "Mike Jones – Still Tippin Remix (2004, Vinyl)". Discogs.
- ^ "Mike Jones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ "Mike Jones Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ "Mike Jones Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ "Mike Jones – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 9, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
- ^ "Mike Jones Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- ^ "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - 2005". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- ^ "American single certifications – Mike Jones – Still Tippin'". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 21, 2014.