"Dirt off Your Shoulder"
Single by Jay-Z
from the album The Black Album
ReleasedMarch 2, 2004
Recorded2003
GenreEast Coast hip hop
Length3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Timbaland
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Change Clothes"
(2003) 		"Dirt off Your Shoulder"
(2004) 		"99 Problems"
(2004)

"Dirt off Your Shoulder" is the second single released from Jay-Z's 2003 album The Black Album.

In 2004, the song was combined with the Linkin Park single "Lying from You" and released as a single for the mash-up album Collision Course.

Political influence

On April 17, 2008, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama referenced the song in gesture, in response to sharp attacks from his then-rival Hillary Clinton and a debate which was widely criticized for focusing on campaign gaffes rather than on candidates' policy positions.[1][2] Referencing his opponents' "textbook Washington" tactics, focusing on personal attacks and trivial issues, Obama used Jay-Z's hand signal to "brush the dirt" off his shoulders.[3] When asked whether Obama was deliberately referencing the song, a campaign spokesman said, "He has some Jay-Z on his iPod."[4]

Clinton later made the same gesture during her appearance before the House Select Committee on Benghazi.[5]

Formats and track listings

A-Side

  1. Dirt off Your Shoulder (Radio Edit)
  2. Dirt off Your Shoulder (LP)
  3. Dirt off Your Shoulder (Instrumental)

B-Side

  1. Encore (Radio Edit)
  2. Encore (LP)
  3. Encore (Instrumental)

99 Problems/Dirt off Your Shoulder, Pt. 1

  1. 99 Problems (Explicit)
  2. Dirt off Your Shoulder (Explicit)

99 Problems/Dirt off Your Shoulder, Pt. 2

  1. 99 Problems (Explicit)
  2. Dirt off Your Shoulder (Explicit)
  3. 99 Problems (Video)
  4. Dirt off Your Shoulder (Video)

99 Problems/Dirt off Your Shoulder, Vinyl

A-Side

  1. 99 Problems (Explicit)
  2. 99 Problems (Clean)

B-Side

  1. Dirt off Your Shoulder (Explicit)
  2. Dirt off Your Shoulder (Clean)

Charts

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In the U.S. the song peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it Jay-Z's third highest peak on the chart at the time (tied with "Swagga Like Us").

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 19, 2004 (2004-01-19) Rhythmic contemporary · urban contemporary radio Roc-A-Fella, IDJMG [17]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kurtz, Howard (April 18, 2008). "Performance By ABC's Moderators Is a Matter Of Debate". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 18, 2008.
  2. ^ Whitcomb, Dan (April 18, 2008). "ABC criticized for handling of Democratic debate". Reuters. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  3. ^ Melber, Ari (April 17, 2008). "Obama Meets Jay-Z in YouTube Mashup Slamming Clinton & Debate". The Nation. Retrieved April 18, 2008.
  4. ^ Wiltz, Teresa (April 19, 2008). "Obama Has Jay-Z on His IPod and The Moves To Prove It". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  5. ^ Reilly, Mollie (October 22, 2015). "Hillary Clinton Gets That Dirt Off Her Shoulder". HuffPost. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  6. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  8. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  9. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  13. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  14. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2004". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  15. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – Jay-Z – Dirt off Your Shoulder". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1538. January 16, 2004. p. 24. Retrieved July 9, 2022.

External links

Jay-Z songs
Authority control databases
Categories