Supersonic (J. J. Fad song)
| "Supersonic" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by J.J. Fad | ||||
| from the album Supersonic | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 3:55 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | ||||
| J.J. Fad singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Supersonic" on YouTube | ||||
"Supersonic" is a song by J.J. Fad from their debut album of the same name. 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. In 1988, the new line-up re-recorded and released "Supersonic" as a single; this version reached #10 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Songs and #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]
The song has been sampled by others in the music industry like Fergie in her song "Fergalicious", including parts of the beat and ways in which the song is sung.[3] 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.”[4]
Usage in pop culture
- In 1998, the German electro-dance music group Music Instructor sampled the song on their single "Super Sonic" from the album Electric City of Music Instructor. DJ Icey and Brainbug also did remixes.
- In 2004, rapper MC Cookie covered the song on her only album Boom Box.[5]
- In 2004, rapper MF Doom sampled the song on his song "Hoe Cakes".
- In 2006, singer Fergie sampled the song on her single "Fergalicious" from her debut album The Dutchess.
- In 2006, Teriyaki Boyz referenced the song in their track "Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious)" from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift soundtrack.
- In 2012, rapper Killer Mike referenced the song in his track "Go!" from the album R.A.P. Music.
- In 2013, rapper Eminem referenced and interpolated "Supersonic" in his song "Rap God" from his album The Marshall Mathers LP 2.
- In 2016, Run the Jewels referenced the song in the track "Call Ticketron" from the album Run the Jewels 3.
- In 2019, the song is featured in the second trailer for the 2020 film Sonic the Hedgehog.
Charts
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 30 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles | 22 |
| U.S. Billboard Dance Chart | 10 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[6] | Gold | 500,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
- ^ "J.J.Fad Official Site". jjfad.com. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
- ^ "Fergie: Fergalicious sounds like J.J. Fad: Supersonic". soundsjustlike.com.
- ^ Harling, Danielle (March 12, 2009). "Arabian Prince Sues Ruthless Records Over "Fergalicious"". hiphopdx.com.
- ^ MC Cookie Boom Box
- ^ "American single certifications – J.J. FAD – SUPERSONIC". Recording Industry Association of America.