"Vivrant Thing"
Single by Q-Tip
from the album Violator: The Album and Amplified
Released5 October 1999 (US)[1]
30 April 2000 (UK)
Recorded1999
GenreHip hop
Length3:11
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)Kamaal Fareed, Barry White
Producer(s)Q-Tip[2][3][4][5]
Q-Tip singles chronology
"Get Involved"
(1999) 		"Vivrant Thing"
(1999) 		"Hot Boyz"
(1999)

"Vivrant Thing" is the first single released by Q-Tip on his debut solo album Amplified. It was produced by Q-Tip himself, and is credited as such in the liner notes of Violator: The Album, A Tribe Called Quest's compilation The Anthology, and the 12-inch vinyl/CD single.[2][3][4][5] Jay Dee is only credited in the liner notes of Amplified, as they were considered a production duo solely for that album. "Vivrant Thing" became the fourth rap song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Airplay chart since its 1992 inception. The single also reached number seven on the main Hot R&B Singles & Tracks chart, with its performance being driven overwhelmingly by airplay due to its lack of domestic availability in any configuration besides 12-inch vinyl.[6]

The single was a success, charting the Billboard Hot 100 at number 26, making it Q-Tip's highest charting solo single to date, as well as his only Top 40 solo single to date. The beat contains a sample of "I Wanna Stay" by the Love Unlimited Orchestra. The remix features stanzas by rappers Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes.

The song was used as the opening scene on the television series, The Game, in the episode, "The List Episode", on March 30, 2008. The beat was frequently used in the animated series MTV Downtown. It was heard once in the PEN15 episode, "Miranda".

Critical reception

Kris Ex of Rolling Stone called the song an "undeniable groove vehicle".[7] Steve Jones of USA Today also described the tune as "bouncy and insistent".[8]

Music video

The music video was directed by Hype Williams.

Charts

References

  1. ^ Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing AllMusic. Accessed on February 10, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Exclusive: Q-Tip Interview moovmnt.com Retrieved on May 26, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Violator: The Album (Album credits). Various artists. Violator Records. 1999. 314 558 941-1.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ a b The Anthology (Album credits). A Tribe Called Quest. Jive Records. 1999. 01241-41679-1.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ a b Vivrant Thing (Single credits). Various artists. Violator Records. 1999. DEF 354-1.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Faison, Datu (October 16, 1999). "Datu Faison's Rhythm Section". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 42. BPI Communications. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  7. ^ Ex, Kris (January 20, 2000). "Q-Tip: Amplified". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007.
  8. ^ Jones, Steve (November 30, 1999). "Q-Tip, Amplified". USA Today. p. 04.D. Archived from the original (Transcription of original review at talk page) on January 4, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  11. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "Q-Tip Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Q-Tip Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Q-Tip Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Q-Tip Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  16. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2021.


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