Dirt off Your Shoulder
"Dirt off Your Shoulder" is the second single released from Jay-Z's 2003 album The Black Album.
"Dirt off Your Shoulder" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Jay-Z | ||||
from the album The Black Album | ||||
Released | March 2, 2004 | |||
Recorded | 2003 | |||
Genre | East Coast hip hop | |||
Length | 3:59 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Timbaland | |||
Jay-Z singles chronology | ||||
|
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.
The track references the first bars of Scarlatti's Sonata in F minor, although the time signature is changed.
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
- Dirt off Your Shoulder (Radio Edit)
- Dirt off Your Shoulder (LP)
- Dirt off Your Shoulder (Instrumental)
B-Side
- Encore (Radio Edit)
- Encore (LP)
- Encore (Instrumental)
99 Problems/Dirt off Your Shoulder, Pt. 1
- 99 Problems (Explicit)
- Dirt off Your Shoulder (Explicit)
99 Problems/Dirt off Your Shoulder, Pt. 2
- 99 Problems (Explicit)
- Dirt off Your Shoulder (Explicit)
- 99 Problems (Video)
- Dirt off Your Shoulder (Video)
99 Problems/Dirt off Your Shoulder, Vinyl
A-Side
- 99 Problems (Explicit)
- 99 Problems (Clean)
B-Side
- Dirt off Your Shoulder (Explicit)
- Dirt off Your Shoulder (Clean)
Charts
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 (tied with "Swagga Like Us").
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian Singles Chart | 6 |
Ireland (IRMA) | 23 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[6] | 12 |
US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 5 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 3 |
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[9] | 2 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100 | 21 |
See also
References
- Kurtz, Howard (2008-04-18). "Performance By ABC's Moderators Is a Matter Of Debate". Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
- Whitcomb, Dan (2008-04-18). "ABC criticized for handling of Democratic debate". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
- Melber, Ari (2008-04-17). "Obama Meets Jay-Z in YouTube Mashup Slamming Clinton & Debate". The Nation. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
- Wiltz, Teresa (2008-04-19). "Obama Has Jay-Z on His IPod and The Moves To Prove It". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
- Reilly, Mollie (2015-10-22). "Hillary Clinton Gets That Dirt Off Her Shoulder". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.