Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)
"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" is a song by American rapper Pras, featuring rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard and R&B singer Mýa. Produced by Pras and Wyclef Jean, with co-production from Jerry 'Wonda" Duplessis and Che Pope, it interpolates Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 single "Islands in the Stream" as written by the Bee Gees. Also featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Bulworth, the song was released as Pras' debut solo single and the second from his debut solo album Ghetto Supastar on June 6, 1998.
"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"
June 6, 1998
4:26
- Wyclef Jean
- Pras
A worldwide commercial success, the song became a number-one hit in New Zealand and throughout Europe, including Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In the United States, "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" peaked at number 15 for five consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and in 1999, received a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 41st Grammy Awards.
Background[edit]
"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" was written by Pras, Wyclef Jean, and Ol' Dirty Bastard. The song contains an interpolation from Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 single "Islands in the Stream." Due to the clip, its writers, brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, are also credited as songwriters on "Ghetto Supastar".[1] The song also samples from "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved," as written by James Brown, Bobby Byrd, and Ron Lenhoff and performed by the former.
According to Mya, Interscope Records tried to consult more established singers to sing the chorus on the song, including Mary J. Blige.[2] It was not until Ol' Dirty Bastard joined the project, that he – after listening to her self-titled debut album – persuaded Pras and Jean to use her vocals on the track.[2]
Critical reception[edit]
In his review for Entertainment Weekly, David Browne for wrote: "This left-field remake of the Kenny Rogers-Dolly Parton hit "Islands in the Stream" is a far better showcase for Mya; with her buttery rendering of the song’s hooky chorus, she paints herself as the world’s most streetwise, levelheaded groupie. As for the rest of the track, its combination of slinky guitar, scratching, and scratchy ODB growl (or is that now "scratchy Big Baby Jesus growl"?) makes it a dozen times more fun than Bulworth itself."[3]
Music video[edit]
Francis Lawrence directed the video, which features Bulworth stars Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, and Joshua Malina. In a play on the theme of the film, which is a prominent white politician acting like a Black American, Bulworth – as played by Beatty – in the music video begins to stretch his mouth, revealing himself to be Pras in a mask, who has just become the first African-American US president. Shortly after Pras gets pushed in an elevator, he takes off his suit and performs.
Apart from Mya and Ol' Dirty Bastard, Wyclef Jean also appears on the set playing the bass guitar riff at the end of the song. The music video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film. It also received three nominations at the 1998 Billboard Video Music Awards for Best New Artist Clip (Pop), Best New Artist Clip (Rap), and Best New Artist Clip (R&B).
Cover versions[edit]
"Weird Al" Yankovic included the song in his polka medley "Polka Power!" from his 1999 album Running with Scissors. The Bee Gees recorded a version of "Islands in the Stream" with the chorus of "Ghetto Supastar" replacing the final chorus for their retrospective 2001 compilation Their Greatest Hits: The Record. It also appeared on their 2004 Number Ones and on the 2010 Mythology box set.[4]
In August 2011, Taylor Swift covered "Ghetto Supastar" during the North American leg of her Speak Now World Tour. In each city, she chose to pay tribute to a homegrown artist. In Washington, D.C., she performed an acoustic version of "Ghetto Supastar", given that Mýa is from Washington, D.C. Swift referred to the song as her "seventh grade anthem".[5][6][7]
In 2017, singer/actress Vanessa Hudgens posted a video of herself singing "Ghetto Supastar" a capella on Instagram.[8]