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{{short description|Song by Common}}
{{Infobox Single
{{Infobox song
| Name = Testify
| Cover = Common - testify.jpg
| name = Testify
| Artist = [[Common (rapper)|Common]]
| cover = Common - testify.jpg
| from Album = [[Be (Common album)|Be]]
| alt =
| B-side =
| type = single
| Released = [[September 27]], [[2005]]
| artist = [[Common (rapper)|Common]]
| Format = [[12-inch single]], [[CD single|CD]], [[Vinyl record|Vinyl]]
| album = [[Be (Common album)|Be]]
| released = September 27, 2005
| Recorded = [[Sony Studios]], [[New York City|New York]], [[New York|NY]] & Encore Studio, [[Burbank, CA|Burbank]], [[California|CA]]
| recorded = [[Sony Music Studios]], [[New York City|New York]], [[New York (state)|NY]] & Encore Studio, [[Burbank, CA|Burbank]], [[California|CA]]
| Genre = [[Chicago hip hop|Chicago]] [[Hip hop music|hip hop]]
| Length = 2:36
| studio =
| venue =
⚫
| Label = [[G.O.O.D. Music]]/[[Geffen Records]]
| genre = [[Conscious hip hop]]
⚫
| Writer = [[Common (rapper)|Lonnie Lynn]]<br>[[Kanye West]]<br>[[General Johnson]]<br>Angelo Bond<br>Gregory Perry
| Producer = [[Kanye West]]
| length = 2:36
⚫
| label = {{hlist|[[GOOD Music|GOOD]]|[[Geffen Records|Geffen]]}}
| Certification =
⚫
| writer = {{hlist|[[Common (rapper)|Lonnie Lynn]]|[[Kanye West]]|[[General Norman Johnson|General Johnson]]|Angelo Bond|Gregory Perry}}
| Last single = "[[Go! (Common song)|Go!]]"<br>(2005)
| producer = Kanye West
| This single = "Testify"<br />(2005)
| Next single = "[[Faithful (Common song)|Faithful]]"<br>(2005)
| prev_title = [[Go! (Common song)|Go!]]
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title = Faithful
| next_year = 2005
}}
}}


"'''Testify'''" is the fourth single from [[rapping|rapper]] [[Common (rapper)|Common]]'s [[2005 in music|2005]] album ''[[Be (Common album)|Be]]''. Clocking in at just above two and a half minutes, it is the second shortest track on ''Be'' (after the album's intro). It is produced by [[Kanye West]], whose beat heavily utilizes vocal [[sampling (music)|samples]] from "Innocent Til Proven Guilty" by [[Honey Cone]]. Spence D. of [[IGN|IGN.com]] comments on this saying: "'Testify' [...] features an intricate layering of vocals which provide such an hypnotic backdrop that you almost forget to listen to Common's compelling storytelling."<ref name="IGN">{{cite web | last = | first = Spence D. | url = http://music.ign.com/articles/634/634905p1.html | title = Be Review at IGN.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = May 26 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> The song's story is about a woman who manipulates a judge and jury to find her partner guilty of a crime she committed. After the case is settled, she starts laughing and reveals that she is the criminal. Sean Malcolm of AllHipHop.com considers Common to have "paint[ed] pictures of extravagant court trials" on "Testify."<ref name="AHH">{{cite web | last = Malcolm | first = Sean | url = http://www.allhiphop.com/reviews/index.asp?ID=585 | title = Be Review at AllHipHop.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = June 9 | accessyear = 2007}}</ref> The song was a critical hit garnering a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance|Best Rap Solo Performance]] at the [[48th Grammy Awards]].
"'''Testify'''" is the fourth single from [[rapping|rapper]] [[Common (rapper)|Common]]'s [[2005 in music|2005]] album ''[[Be (Common album)|Be]]''. Clocking in at just above two and a half minutes, it is the second shortest track on ''Be'' (after the album's intro). It is produced by [[Kanye West]], whose beat heavily utilizes vocal [[sampling (music)|samples]] from "Innocent Til Proven Guilty" by [[Honey Cone]]. Spence D. of [[IGN|IGN.com]] comments on this saying: "'Testify' [...] features an intricate layering of vocals which provide such an hypnotic backdrop that you almost forget to listen to Common's compelling storytelling."<ref name="IGN">{{cite web | author = Spence D. | url = http://music.ign.com/articles/634/634905p1.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051120051503/http://music.ign.com/articles/634/634905p1.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 20, 2005 | title = Be Review at IGN.com | publisher = | accessdate = May 26, 2007}}</ref> The song's story is about a woman who manipulates a judge and jury to find her partner guilty of a crime ''she'' committed. After the case is settled, she starts laughing
that she is the criminal. Sean Malcolm of AllHipHop.com considers Common to have "paint[ed] pictures of extravagant court trials" on "Testify."<ref name="AHH">{{cite web | last = Malcolm | first = Sean | url = http://www.allhiphop.com/reviews/index.asp?ID=585 | title = Be Review at AllHipHop.com | format = | publisher = | accessdate = June 9, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071015093027/http://allhiphop.com/reviews/index.asp?ID=585 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = October 15, 2007}}</ref> The song was a critical hit garnering a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance|Best Rap Solo Performance]] at the [[48th Grammy Awards]].


A remix featuring [[soul music|soul]] singer Darien Brockington and a different beat was recorded.
A remix featuring [[soul music|soul]] singer Darien Brockington and a different beat was recorded.


==Music video==
==Music video==
The single received a type of [[promotional video]] known as a "mini-movie"; a term coined by [[Michael Jackson]] to describe a music video with a complex plot and a suitably long running time, often with intermissions between the song's parts. The video features acting parts from [[Taraji P. Henson]], [[Bill Duke]], [[Steve Harris (actor)|Steve Harris]] and [[Wood Harris]] and is directed by [[Anthony Mandler]]. It was played mostly on specialist channels such as [[MTV2]]. It was nominated as the Video of the Year at the 2006 [[BET Hip Hop Awards]].
The single received a type of [[music video|promotional video]] known as a "mini-movie"; a term coined by [[Michael Jackson]] to describe a music video with a complex plot and a suitably long running time, often with intermissions between the song's parts. The video features acting parts from [[Taraji P. Henson]], [[Bill Duke]], [[Steve Harris (actor)|Steve Harris]] and [[Wood Harris]] and is directed by [[Anthony Mandler]]. It was played mostly on specialist channels such as [[MTV2]]. It was nominated as the Video of the Year at the 2006 [[BET Hip Hop Awards]].


A shorter video featuring only the musical parts of the mini-movie was also released. The finale of the music video is heavily influenced by the twist ending of ''[[The Usual Suspects]]''.
A shorter video featuring only the musical parts of the mini-movie was also released. The finale of the music video is heavily influenced by the ending of ''[[The Usual Suspects]]''.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==

===A-side===
===A-side===
# "Testify (Radio Edit)" (2:50)
# "Testify (Radio Edit)" (2:50)
Line 36: Line 41:
# "Testify (LP)" (2:50)
# "Testify (LP)" (2:50)
# "Testify (Instrumental)" (2:50)
# "Testify (Instrumental)" (2:50)
==Personnel==
*Produced by [[Kanye West]]
*Recorded by [[Andrew Dawson (record producer)|Andrew Dawson]] at [[Sony Music Studios|Sony Studios]] and Encore Studios, [[Burbank, California|Burbank]]
*Assistant Recording Engineers: Taylor Dow and Ric McRae
*Mixed by [[Manny Marroquin]] at Larrabee North Studio, [[North Hollywood, Los Angeles|North Hollywood]]
*Assistant Mix Engineer: Jared Robbins


==Chart positions==
==Chart positions==
Line 49: Line 60:
|-
|-
|}
|}

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{Reflist}}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of Common songs]]
*[[List of Common songs]]


⚫
==References==
⚫
{{Reflist}}


{{Common}}
{{Common singles}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Testify (Common Song)}}
[[Category:2005 singles]]
[[Category:2005 singles]]
[[Category:Common (rapper) songs]]
[[Category:Common (rapper) songs]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Anthony Mandler]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Anthony Mandler]]
[[Category:GOOD Music singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Common (rapper)]]
[[Category:Songs written by Kanye West]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Kanye West]]
[[Category:Songs written by General Johnson (musician)]]

Latest revision as of 00:13, 19 July 2023

"Testify"
Single by Common
from the album Be
ReleasedSeptember 27, 2005
RecordedSony Music Studios, New York, NY & Encore Studio, Burbank, CA
GenreConscious hip hop
Length2:36
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kanye West
Common singles chronology
"Go!"
(2005) 		"Testify"
(2005) 		"Faithful"
(2005)

"Testify" is the fourth single from rapper Common's 2005 album Be. Clocking in at just above two and a half minutes, it is the second shortest track on Be (after the album's intro). It is produced by Kanye West, whose beat heavily utilizes vocal samples from "Innocent Til Proven Guilty" by Honey Cone. Spence D. of IGN.com comments on this saying: "'Testify' [...] features an intricate layering of vocals which provide such an hypnotic backdrop that you almost forget to listen to Common's compelling storytelling."[1] The song's story is about a woman who manipulates a judge and jury to find her partner guilty of a crime she committed. After the case is settled, she starts laughing that she is the criminal. Sean Malcolm of AllHipHop.com considers Common to have "paint[ed] pictures of extravagant court trials" on "Testify."[2] The song was a critical hit garnering a nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 48th Grammy Awards.

A remix featuring soul singer Darien Brockington and a different beat was recorded.

Music video

[edit]

The single received a type of promotional video known as a "mini-movie"; a term coined by Michael Jackson to describe a music video with a complex plot and a suitably long running time, often with intermissions between the song's parts. The video features acting parts from Taraji P. Henson, Bill Duke, Steve Harris and Wood Harris and is directed by Anthony Mandler. It was played mostly on specialist channels such as MTV2. It was nominated as the Video of the Year at the 2006 BET Hip Hop Awards.

A shorter video featuring only the musical parts of the mini-movie was also released. The finale of the music video is heavily influenced by the ending of The Usual Suspects.

Track listing

[edit]

A-side

[edit]
  1. "Testify (Radio Edit)" (2:50)
  2. "Testify (Instrumental)" (2:50)

B-side

[edit]
  1. "Testify (LP)" (2:50)
  2. "Testify (Instrumental)" (2:50)

Personnel

[edit]

Chart positions

[edit]
Chart (2005) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles 9
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 44

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Spence D. "Be Review at IGN.com". Archived from the original on November 20, 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2007.
  2. ^ Malcolm, Sean. "Be Review at AllHipHop.com". Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
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