Vivrant Thing

"Vivrant Thing" is the first single released by Q-Tip on his debut solo album Amplified. The song is also featured in A Tribe Called Quest's 1999 compilation The Anthology. It was produced by Q-Tip himself,[2] although Jay Dee was also in the credits (they were a production duo). "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.[3]

"Vivrant Thing"
Single by Q-Tip
from the album Violator: The Album and Amplified
Released	October 5, 1999[1]
Recorded	1999
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:11
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Fareed, Yancey, White
Producer(s)	Q-Tip[2]
Q-Tip singles chronology
"Get Involved" (1999) "Vivrant Thing" (1999) "Hot Boyz" (1999)

The single was a success, charting the Billboard Hot 100 at number 26, making it Q-Tip's highest charting 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".[4] Steve Jones of USA Today also described the tune as "bouncy and insistent".[5]

Music video

The music video was directed by Hype Williams.

Charts

Chart (1999-2000)	Peak position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[6]	39
US Billboard Hot 100[7]	26
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8]	7
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[9]	10
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[10]	15

References

1. Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing AllMusic. Accessed on February 10, 2019.
2. Exclusive: Q-Tip Interview moovmnt.com Retrieved on 2010-05-26.
3. Faison, Datu (October 16, 1999). "Datu Faison's Rhythm Section". Billboard. BPI Communications. 111 (42): 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
4. Ex, Kris (January 20, 2000). "Q-Tip: Amplified". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007.
5. 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.
6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
7. "Q-Tip Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
8. "Q-Tip Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
9. "Q-Tip Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
10. "Q-Tip Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics