I'll Be (song)

"I'll Be"
Single by Foxy Brown featuring Jay Z
from the album Ill Na Na
B-side	"La Familia"
Released	March 4, 1997
Format	CD maxi-single 12"
Recorded	1996
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:00
Label	Violator Def Jam
Writer(s)	Shawn Carter Jean-Claude Olivier Samuel Barnes Angela Winbush René Moore Bobby Watson Bruce Swedien
Producer(s)	Trackmasters
Foxy Brown singles chronology
"Get Me Home" (1996) "I'll Be" (1997) "Big Bad Mamma" (1997) Jay Z singles chronology "Can't Knock the Hustle" (1996) "I'll Be" (1997) "Feelin' It" (1997)

"I'll Be" is a song recorded by American rapper Foxy Brown for her debut studio album Ill Na Na (1996), featuring American rapper Jay Z. It was released as the lead single from the album on March 4, 1997 by Violator and Def Jam Recordings. The song was written by Shawn Carter, Jean-Claude Olivier, Samuel Barnes, Angela Winbush, René Moore, Bobby Watson and Bruce Swedien with production by Trackmasters, and samples René & Angela's 1985 song "I'll Be Good". It was recorded at Chung King Studios in New York City, while the mixing of the track was finished at The Hit Factory. "I'll Be" is a hip hop and R&B song with explicit lyrics that revolve around sex and money.

"I'll Be" received positive reviews from music critics and was a commercial success. In the United States, it peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming both Brown and Jay Z's highest charting single at the time. On the Hot Rap Singles chart, it reached number two and also peaked inside the top forty in other countries, such as Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. "I'll Be" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) two months after its release. It has sold over 800,000 copies and became one of the best-selling records of 1997.^[1] To date it remains Brown's only solo top forty single and her only single to earn a certification.

An accompanying music video was directed by Brett Ratner. "I'll Be" was nominated for Top Hot Rap Single at the 1997 Billboard Music Awards and was ranked number fifty-two on VH1's "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs" list.^[2]

Track listings and formats

• US CD Single^[3]

1. "I'll Be" (LP Version) – 3:00
2. "I'll Be" (Instrumental)
3. "La Familia" (Unreleased LP Version)

• UK CD Single^[4]

1. "I'll Be" (D&A Radio Mix) – 3:00
2. "I'll Be" (Radio Edit) – 2:30

• US CD Maxi-Single^[5]

1. "I'll Be" (LP Version) – 3:00
2. "I'll Be" (D&A Remix) – 4:47
3. "I'll Be" (Foxy Brown Mix) – 7:18
4. "I'll Be" (DM Club Mix) – 8:38

Credits and personnel

• Foxy Brown – vocals
• Jay Z – vocals, songwriter
• Jean-Claude Olivier – songwriter
• Samuel Barnes – songwriter
• Angela Winbush – songwriter
• René Moore – songwriter
• Bobby Watson – songwriter
• Bruce Swedien – songwriter
• Trackmasters – producer, executive producer
• Chris Lighty – executive producer
• Steve Stoute – executive producer
• Mike Fronda – engineer, recording
• Bill Essex – mixer
• Tom Coyne – mastering

Credits and personnel adapted from Ill Na Na album liner notes.^[6]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997) Peak position Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 48 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 33 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 20 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 51 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[11] 9 US Billboard Hot 100[12] 7 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 5 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[14] 2 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[15] 22 US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard) 4

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position US Billboard Hot 100[16] 54

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[17]	Gold	800,000[1]
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
2. Singh, Amrit (September 29, 2008). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
3. I'll Be (US CD Single liner notes). Foxy Brown featuring Jay Z. Rush Associated Labels. 1997. 314 574 028-2.
4. I'll Be (UK CD Single liner notes). Foxy Brown featuring Jay Z. Rush Associated Labels. 1997. 571 042-2.
5. I'll Be (US CD Maxi-Single liner notes). Foxy Brown featuring Jay Z. Rush Associated Labels. 1997. 571 043-2.
6. Ill Na Na (Inlay cover). Foxy Brown. Violator. 1996. 314 533 684-2.
7. "Offiziellecharts.de – Foxy Brown feat. Jay-Z – I'll Be". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Foxy Brown feat. Jay-Z – I'll Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
9. "Charts.org.nz – Foxy Brown feat. Jay-Z – I'll Be". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
10. "Swedishcharts.com – Foxy Brown feat. Jay-Z – I'll Be". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
11. "Foxy Brown: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
12. "Foxy Brown – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Foxy Brown. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
13. "Foxy Brown – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Foxy Brown. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
14. "Foxy Brown – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rap Songs for Foxy Brown. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
15. "Foxy Brown – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Foxy Brown. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
16. "Billboard Top 100 - 1997". Retrieved 2010-08-28.
17. "American single certifications – Foxy Brown – I'll Be". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 18, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics