U Know What's Up

Background

"U Know What's Up" was composed by Edward "Eddie F." Ferrell, Darren Lighty, Clifton Lighty, Balewa Muhammad, Anthony Hamilton, and Veronica McKenzie for Donell Jones' second studio album, Where I Wanna Be (1999). Production on the song was helmed by Ferrell and Darren Lighty for Untouchables Entertainment. Originally envisioned as a Southern-inspired track titled "When You Hear the Car Horn Blow" and heavily influenced by Hamilton, the song was extensively reworked after being played for Jones, who liked the music but was unhappy with the lyrics. Muhammad originally pushed for 50 Cent to appear as a guest vocalist on the remix version of "U Know What's Up", having been impressed by his 1999 debut single, "How to Rob," but was ultimately overruled. He later acknowledged that TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes' involvement helped elevate the song to crossover success.

Commercial performance

"U Know What's Up" became Jones' biggest-selling single yet and marked his international breakthrough, achieving strong chart positions and impressive sales worldwide. In the United States, the song topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, while also peaking at 23 on the US Rhythmic Airplay chart. In December 1999, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments figures in excess of 500,000 units. The following year, Billboard ranked it fifth on its Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year-end chart.

Internationally, the song performed well in the United Kingdom, reaching number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and claiming the top spot on the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart. It has since been certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of 600,000 units. Elsewhere in Europe, the single charted within the top 10 in Ireland. It also entered the top 15 in Scotland and reached the top 30 in the Netherlands. "U Know What's Up" further peaked at number nine on both the Canadian Dance/Urban chart and a composite European Hot 100 Singles.

Music video

A music video for "U Know What's Up" was directed by Bille Woodruff and partly filmed at Castle Green, a hotel in Pasadena, California, built in 1893 by George Gill Green. Using the remix version of the song, it features appearances from Lopes as well as cameos from J-Bo and Sean Paul of YoungBloodZ, T.I., Usher and Big Boi of OutKast, all of whom were (including Jones) part of the LaFace Records label. At the beginning of the video, a sign in front of the hotel says La Face Place, in reference to the record label. The clip premiered on BET on the week ending September 12, 1999.

The video begins with Left Eye at her apartment receiving a phone call, presumably from Jones, informing her that the music video for the song is being aired on TV. She turns to the TV screen behind her playing the video, which shows Jones at a hotel party, and proceeds to watch it. As it turns out, Left Eye is not the only person watching the video, as the video pans across the building showing Usher and his girlfriend at his apartment, and Big Boi hosting a music video premiere at his apartment. Midway through the video, Left Eye leaves her apartment and recites her verse in the song while walking across the corridor, presumably to join Jones at a similar party at the back of the building, which is revealed as the camera pulls back from the corridor. At the end, the video pulls back to reveal Jones watching it at his apartment with his girlfriend.

Track listings

US CD and cassette single

1. "U Know What's Up" (album version) – 4:02
2. "Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)" (excerpt) – 2:05
3. Album snippets – 5:46

US 12-inch single :A1. "U Know What's Up" (clean version edit) – 4:02 :A2. "U Know What's Up" (instrumental) – 4:02 :A3. "U Know What's Up" (clean acapella) – 3:45 :B1. "U Know What's Up" (clean version) – 4:02 :B2. "U Know What's Up" (album version) – 4:02 :B3. "U Know What's Up" (dirty version) – 4:02

Australian CD single

1. "U Know What's Up" (clean version) – 4:02
2. "U Know What's Up" (album version featuring Left Eye) – 4:03
3. "U Know What's Up" (instrumental) – 4:02
4. Album snippets – 5:46 UK CD1
5. "U Know What's Up" (album version) – 4:01
6. "U Know What's Up" (album version featuring Left Eye) – 4:03
7. "U Know What's Up" (video version) – 3:55

UK CD2

1. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B radio edit) – 3:36
2. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B main mix) – 7:04
3. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B The Edge dub) – 7:20

UK 12-inch single :A1. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B main mix) – 7:04 :A2. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B main instrumental) – 7:04 :B1. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B The Edge dub) – 7:20 :B2. "U Know What's Up" (album version) – 4:03

UK cassette single and European CD single

1. "U Know What's Up" (album version featuring Left Eye) – 4:03
2. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B radio edit) – 3:36

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

References

1. (August 20, 2021). "Halftime Chat with Donell Jones: My Life, My Journey, My Music". Halftime Chat.
2. (January 14, 2026). "50 Cent Almost Replaced Left Eye on Donell Jones’ “You Know What’s Up”". Halftime Chat.
3. "Donell Jones: U Know What's Up".
4. (October 2, 1999). "Video Monitor".
5. (1999). "U Know What's Up". [[LaFace Records]], Untouchables Records.
6. (1999). "U Know What's Up". LaFace Records, Untouchables Records.
7. (1999). "U Know What's Up". LaFace Records, Untouchables Records.
8. (2000). "U Know What's Up". LaFace Records, [[Arista Records]], Untouchables Records.
9. (1999). "U Know What's Up". LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records.
10. (1999). "U Know What's Up". LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records.
11. (1999). "U Know What's Up". LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records.
12. (1999). "U Know What's Up". LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records.
13. (1999). "U Know What's Up". LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records.
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