Touch It (Busta Rhymes song)

"Touch It" is a song by Busta Rhymes. Released on December 13, 2005, it was the first single from Rhymes' Aftermath/Interscope debut, The Big Bang. The song charted well in New Zealand peaking at number one on the RIANZ Singles Chart. The song features a minimalistic beat provided by Swizz Beatz, and a sample from the song "Technologic" by electronic duo Daft Punk. The song in turn was subsequently borrowed back in their live album, Alive 2007.

For the song by Monifah, see Touch It (Monifah song).
"Touch It"
Single by Busta Rhymes
from the album The Big Bang
ReleasedDecember 13, 2005
Recorded2005
Genre
Length3:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Swizz Beatz
Busta Rhymes singles chronology
"Where's Your Money?"
(2005)		 "Touch It"
(2005)		 "I Love My Bitch"
(2006)
Music video
"Touch It" on YouTube

History

The release date for the single in the UK was 15 May 2006. However, due to UK chart rules allowing songs to chart on download sales alone, one week before the single's physical release, "Touch It" managed to make the top 40, entering at #23 on download sales only. After the physical single release, the song climbed to #6, its peak position. The song had a strong chart run initially, spending seven weeks inside the top 30 there, however, because the physical copies of the single were deleted, the single was withdrawn from the chart due to new chart rules stating that singles could only remain in the chart for two weeks after their physical deletion. This is why the record seemingly fell from the UK top 75 from the top 30. The song was also popular on the charts in the U.S., peaking at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the chart in New Zealand.

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2005–06) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 14
Netherlands (Dutch Singles Chart) 34
New Zealand Singles Chart 1
Swiss Singles Chart 26
UK Singles Chart 6
US Billboard Hot 100 16
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 3
US Billboard Hot Rap Tracks 2
US Billboard Pop 100 31

Year-end charts
Chart (2006)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[1]
73

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[2] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Touch It (Remix)
"Touch It (Remix)"
Single by Busta Rhymes featuring Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose & DMX
ReleasedMay 2006
Recorded2006
GenreHip hop
Length3:57
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Swizz Beatz
Busta Rhymes singles chronology
"Touch It (Remix)"
(2006)		 "I Love My Bitch"
(2006)
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Touch It"
(2006)		 "Touch It (Remix)"
(2006)		 "I Love My Chick"
(2006)
Rah Digga singles chronology
"Touch It (Remix)"
(2006)
Missy Elliott singles chronology
"We Run This"
(2006)		 "Touch It (Remix)"
(2006)		 "Love Me or Hate Me (Remix)"
(2006)
Lloyd Banks singles chronology
"Karma"
(2004)		 "Touch It (Remix)"
(2006)		 "Hands Up"
(2006)
Papoose singles chronology
"Touch It (Remix)"
(2006)
DMX singles chronology
"Touch It (Remix)"
(2006)

After the release of "Touch It", a series of remixes were set into play. The main remix features Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose and DMX. The result was five popular versions of the song and a video, each featuring different well-known hip-hop artists. An EP was released on iTunes featuring four of the remixes on March 7, 2006. The final full-length remix had an accompanying video.

Remix video

In the opening of the video, the head cheerleader and the rest of the girls are in burgundy and silver outfits. Busta Rhymes then arrives and decides who runs the city. Upon the entrance of each performer, they mention something positive happening. After Bust and Spliff finish their battle (freestyle), the cheerleaders sing and step to the "Touch It" beat. An electronic machine makes a zapping-sound and a bolt of green lighting appears in the background.

In each scene, all the rappers wear colors that match the background. Usually, after one rapper finishes their verse the others appear and start strutting and dancing on beat. The screen shows two or more sides of the other backgrounds and their rappers. After Busta Rhymes, the other rappers appear in this order: Mary J. Blige in white, Rah Digga in pink, Missy Elliott in purple, Lloyd Banks in blue, Papoose in green and DMX in black (he has his hood up). Busta Rhymes and his friend, Spliff Star, appear in red at the beginning and in yellow at the end. Each singer appears with different outfits, such as Busta's white T-shirt, Papoose's, DMX's, Lloyd Banks' jackets, and the ladies' fur coats. During Mary J. Blige's part, her alter ego, Brooke Lynn, appears dressed in a matching white costume. Other cameo appearances in the music video are of Sean Paul, DJ Kayslay, Deelishis, producer Swizz Beatz, Winky Wright, Félix Trinidad, Black Rob and Spliff Star.

At the 2006 BET Awards, Busta performed the Video Remix live on stage, along with will.i.am, Elliott, Banks, Blige, Papoose, and Rah Digga. DMX was absent for the performance, but his part was played on the screens onstage. The performance also featured a surprise final verse by Eminem, who began with some of Busta's lines from A Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario".

Official remixes and versions
  • Touch It (Remix Version) [Featuring Mary J Blige, Missy Elliott, Rah Digga] (Dirty) - 3:57
  • Touch It (Remix Version) [Featuring Mary J Blige, Missy Elliott, Rah Digga] (Clean)- 3:57
  • Touch It (Remix Version) [Featuring Lloyd Banks, Papoose] (Dirty) - 3:57
  • Touch It (Remix Version) [Featuring Lloyd Banks, Papoose] (Clean) - 3:57
  • Touch It (Remix) [Featuring DMX] (Dirty) – 3:55
  • Touch It (Remix) [Featuring DMX] (Clean) – 3:55
  • Touch It (The Remix) [Featuring Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Rah Digga, Lloyd Banks, Papoose and DMX] (Dirty) - 4:00
  • Touch It (The Remix) [Featuring Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Rah Digga, Lloyd Banks, Papoose and DMX] (Clean) - 4:00
  • Touch It (Rockwilder Raw S**t Remix)

Dedication

Busta Rhymes' bodyguard and entourage member, Israel Ramirez, was fatally shot outside the set of this song's music video during filming in Brooklyn on February 5, 2006. The police have still not found a suspect. In the remix version video, the cheerleader scene is preceded by a slideshow of Israel "Izzy" Ramirez with a message from Busta Rhymes to the deceased telling him how much he meant to him and how he would not be forgotten.

Nominations and success

Along with the video for the original version of the song, a new video was created, featuring abridged versions of all six guest artists' verses. The video also includes cameos from Brooke Valentine, DJ Kay Slay, Sean Paul, Swizz Beatz, Spliff Star, and boxing champions Félix Trinidad and Winky Wright, who had fought in May 2005.

It was nominated for Best Male Video, and Best Rap Video at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. Busta Rhymes himself placed it # 1 on his BET Top 25 countdown. It debuted on BET 106 & Park in the spring and received major airplay. It also spun the career of Papoose. The remix was also nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 2007 Grammy Awards.

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References
  1. "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
  2. "American single certifications – Busta Rhymes – Touch It". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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