"Hit Me Off"
Single by New Edition
from the album Home Again
ReleasedJuly 29, 1996 (1996-07-29)
Recorded1996[1]
Length4:21
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Phillip "Silky" White
New Edition singles chronology
"N.E. Heart Break"
(1989) 		"Hit Me Off"
(1996) 		"I'm Still in Love with You"
(1996)
Music video
"Hit Me Off" on YouTube

"Hit Me Off" is a song by American R&B group New Edition, released in July 1996 as the first single from the group's sixth studio album, Home Again (1996), as well as their first single in seven years. Featuring lead vocals from all six New Edition members, it samples "Storm King" by Bob James, "I Got Cha Opin" by Black Moon, and "One Nation Under a Groove" by Funkadelic.

"Hit Me Off" debuted and peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 while topping the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for three weeks, their fifth number-one hit on the listing. It sold 600,000 copies domestically and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It was also certified gold in New Zealand, where it reached number two. The song was performed along with "I'm Still in Love with You" on the TV series Family Matters in the eighth season episode named after the group's album.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a smoker". He added, "Vocally, time has treated the lads extremely well. The high-pitched squeak and tenor harmonies have been replaced by swarthy machismo and mature baritone. Despite the individual styles developed via solo careers, the act's chemistry is well intact, and the members appear to have fallen into group mode with ease. They make excellent use of Silky's chilled jeep/funk groove (which pops with a cool sample from Blackmoon's "I Gotcha Opin") and seductive chorus chant. Needless to say, this is a smash. Jam on it."[2]

Track listing

  1. "Hit Me Off" (N.E. Spyder and Shaq D) – 6:00
  2. "Hit Me Off" (The Trackmasters E.C. Joint) – 4:27
  3. "Hit Me Off" ("G" Formulated mix)(version) – 5:01
  4. "Hit Me Off" (Franktified club version) – 7:34
  5. "Hit Me Off" (LP version) – 4:21

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[28] Gold 5,000*
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 600,000[29]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 16, 1996
MCA [31]
United Kingdom July 29, 1996
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [32]
Japan August 21, 1996 CD [33]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Inside New Edition's Overdue Renaissance". Rolling Stone. January 23, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (July 20, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 57. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  3. ^ "New Edition – Hit Me Off". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9921." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9913." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 49. December 7, 1996. p. 48. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  7. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 34. August 24, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "New Edition – Hit Me Off" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 35, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "New Edition – Hit Me Off" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  11. ^ "New Edition – Hit Me Off". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "New Edition – Hit Me Off". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  15. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  16. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  17. ^ "New Edition Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "New Edition Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "New Edition Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  20. ^ "New Edition Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  21. ^ "New Edition Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  22. ^ "RPM Year End Dance Top 50". RPM. Retrieved September 15, 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  23. ^ "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  24. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  25. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-40.
  26. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-45.
  27. ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 32.
  28. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – New Edition – Hit Me Off". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  29. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 3. BPI Communications Inc. January 18, 1997. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  30. ^ "American single certifications – New Edition – Hit Me Off". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  31. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1154. July 12, 1996. pp. 36, 42. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  32. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 27, 1996. p. 43. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  33. ^ "ヒット・ミー・オフ | ニュー・エディション" [Hit Me Off | New Edition] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
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