"Clap Back"
Single by Ja Rule
from the album Blood in My Eye
B-side"The Crown"
ReleasedOctober 14, 2003 (2003-10-14)
Recorded2003
GenreEast Coast hip hop · hardcore hip hop
Length4:56
Label
Songwriter(s)Jeffery Atkins, Scott Storch
Producer(s)Scott Storch
Ja Rule singles chronology
"Reign"
(2003) 		"Clap Back"
(2003) 		"Wonderful"
(2004)

"Clap Back" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule, released as the only single from his fifth studio album, Blood in My Eye (2003). It was produced by American producer Scott Storch, who helped write the song along with Ja Rule and Irv Gotti. In the United States, the song was released along with "The Crown" (featuring Sizzla) from Blood in My Eye, and in the UK the song was released alongside "Murder Reigns" (titled "Reigns"), the final single from Ja Rule's previous studio album The Last Temptation (2002).

The song is a diss track directed at 50 Cent and Eminem,[1] with lines such as "Like Bush and Saddam, I'm-a find out where Em Laden's hiding and bomb him first", "And God gave me his blessings to handle my business, All these wanksta snitches, let the nina blow kisses, If she some how misses, he gon' meet the mistress, And 'Clap that boy' like Birdman and Clipse".[citation needed] Another line, "Fuck the Dog, beware of Rule, 'cause I'm the problem", was also interpreted as being aimed at DMX.[citation needed]. The song is the origin of the popular slang 'clap back' in street lingo, meaning to respond or retaliate to personal attack or criticism.[1]

Video

The video features a snippet of "The Crown" in the beginning and then switches to "Clap Back". Benzino, Hussein Fatal and various Murder Inc artists appear.

Track listing

US CD single[2]

  1. "Clap Back" (radio edit) – 4:16
  2. "Clap Back" (album version) – 4:57
  3. "The Crown" (featuring Sizzla; radio edit) – 3:45
  4. "Clap Back" (video) – 5:33

Charts

Chart performance for "Clap Back"
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[3] 43
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 54
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[5] 5
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[6] 15
Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 39
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[9] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 47
Scotland (OCC)[11]
with "Reigns" 		15
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 9
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[13]
with "Reigns" 		3
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 44
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 17
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[16] 12
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[17] 25

References

  1. ^ a b "What's a 'Clapback'?". Merriam-Webster. January 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "Clap Back – Ja Rule > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  3. ^ "Ja Rule – Clap Back". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  4. ^ "Ja Rule – Clap Back" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  5. ^ "Ja Rule – Clap Back" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  6. ^ "Ja Rule – Clap Back" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  7. ^ "Ja Rule – Clap Back" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  8. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ja Rule". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 2, 2004". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  10. ^ "Ja Rule – Clap Back". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  11. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  13. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  14. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  15. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  16. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  17. ^ "Ja Rule Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
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