What Would You Do? (City High song)

"What Would You Do?" is a song by American hip hop trio City High. It was released in March 2001 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album (2001). The track was originally included on the 1999 soundtrack of the film Life, starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.[1] The version of the song on their debut album differs from that included on the Life soundtrack, as it features a sample of Dr. Dre's hit song "The Next Episode".[2]

"What Would You Do?"
Single by City High
from the album City High
ReleasedMarch 27, 2001 (2001-03-27)
StudioTrackhouse, Booga Basement (New Jersey, US)
Length
  • 3:32 (Life)
  • 2:54 (City High)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
City High singles chronology
"What Would You Do?"
(2001)		 "Caramel"
(2001)
Music video
"What Would You Do?" on YouTube

"What Would You Do?" peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two in Australia and Ireland, and number three in the United Kingdom. The song was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in the 2002 edition of the Grammys but lost to Destiny's Child's "Survivor".[3][4]

Content

The song, along with the accompanying music video, was likely intended as a motivational anthem for single parents dealing with poverty and especially acknowledging all the single mothers who feel forced into prostitution due to the need to support their children. It encourages them to keep strong and keep going on for the sake of their loved ones. However, it has also come under criticism for its victim-blaming approach, for example the verse where the woman is accused of making "tired excuses".[5][6]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the City High liner notes.[2]

Studios

  • Recorded at Trackhouse Recording Studios and Booga Basement (New Jersey, US)
  • Mixed and mastered at The Hit Factory (New York City)

Personnel

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[49] Gold 35,000^
South Africa (RISA)[50] Platinum 50,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Platinum 600,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States March 27, 2001 Rhythmic contemporary radio
[52]
June 5, 2001 Contemporary hit radio [53]
United Kingdom September 24, 2001
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [54]
Australia October 1, 2001 CD [55]

References
  1. "Life Soundtrack". Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  2. City High (US CD liner notes). City High. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 2001. 0694908902.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. "44th Annual Grammy Award Nominations". Variety. January 4, 2002. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. "2001 Grammy Winners". Grammy Awards. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  5. Jobin, Zach (September 3, 2014). "Can We Talk About City High's 'What Would You Do' for a Second?". Thought Catalog. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  6. Weeks, Katherine (May 9, 2014). "The Worst Song of All Time". Women Make Waves. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  7. What Would You Do? (US CD single liner notes). City High. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 2001. 0694974892.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. What Would You Do? (UK CD single liner notes). City High. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 2001. IND97617.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. What Would You Do? (UK 12-inch single sleeve). City High. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 2001. INT97617.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. What Would You Do? (UK cassette single sleeve). City High. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 2001. INC97617.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. What Would You Do? (European CD single liner notes). City High. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 2001. 497 631-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. What Would You Do? (Australian CD single liner notes). City High. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 2001. 497 632-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "City High – What Would You Do?". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. "Issue 632" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  15. "City High – What Would You Do?" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  16. "City High – What Would You Do?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  17. "Singles : Top 50". Jam!. May 31, 2001. Archived from the original on June 6, 2001. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  18. "City High – What Would You Do?". Tracklisten.
  19. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 43. October 20, 2001. p. 9. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  20. "City High – What Would You Do?" (in French). Les classement single.
  21. "City High – What Would You Do?" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  22. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What Would You Do?". Irish Singles Chart.
  23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  24. "City High – What Would You Do?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  25. "City High – What Would You Do?". Top 40 Singles.
  26. "City High – What Would You Do?". VG-lista.
  27. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. "Music Divas & Rock Bands Top South African Certifications". RISA. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. "City High – What Would You Do?". Singles Top 100.
  30. "City High – What Would You Do?". Swiss Singles Chart.
  31. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  32. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  33. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  34. "City High Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  35. "City High Chart History (Hot R&B Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  36. "City High Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  37. "City High Chart History (Mainstream Top 40)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  38. "City High Chart History (Rhythmic Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  39. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001". ARIA. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  40. "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 52. December 22, 2001. p. 14. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  41. "Best of Singles 2001". IRMA. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  42. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  43. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  44. "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  45. "Swiss Year-End Charts 2001" (in German). Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  46. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  47. "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  48. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  49. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  50. "Mi2N: Music Divas & Rock Bands Top South African Certifications". Music Industry News Network. May 2, 2002. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  51. "British single certifications – City High – What Would You Do". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  52. "CHR/Rhythmic: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1394. March 23, 2001. p. 53. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  53. "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1404. June 1, 2001. p. 44. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  54. "New Releases – For Week Starting September 24, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 22, 2001. p. 35. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  55. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st October 2001" (PDF). ARIA. October 1, 2001. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
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