"Ghetto Supastar" is a 1998 hip hop song by
American rapper Pras, featuring rapper Ol'
Dirty Bastard and R&B singer Mýa.
The track was produced by Wyclef Jean and
Jerry 'Wonda" Duplessis for Pras' debut solo
studio album, Ghetto Supastar.
It also features on the soundtrack for the
motion picture Bulworth.
"Weird Al" Yankovic also included the song
in his polka medley "Polka Power!" from his
1999 album Running with Scissors.
Background
The song was written by Prakazrel Michael,
Wyclef Jean, Russell Jones, Barry Gibb, Robin
Gibb, and Maurice Gibb.
The song was released on June 6, 1998 in the
United States.
The single was a commercial success; it peaked
at number fifteen for 5 consecutive weeks
on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight
on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs.
The single was certified platinum in the United
States by Recording Industry Association of
America.
"Ghetto Supastar" was a critical and commercial
success worldwide, peaking at number two in
the United Kingdom, Sweden and Australia,
number four in Spain, number nine in Canada,
as well as topping the charts in eight countries.
The chorus is a reworking of the chorus of
the 1983 Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton hit
"Islands in the Stream", written by the Bee
Gees.
In 1999, the song received a nomination for
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at
the 41st Grammy Awards.
There was a non-album remix version of the
song that was performed live many times with
Canibus.
Music video
Francis Lawrence directed the video, which
features actress Halle Berry and actors Warren
Beatty, 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 in the music video
actually begins to stretch his mouth, pulling
his face off to show it's really a mask, and
revealing himself to be Pras, who is really
the first African-American U.S. president
in disguise.Shortly after Pras gets pushed
in an elevator,Takes of his suit and performs.
Wyclef Jean also appears on the set playing
the bass guitar riff at the end of the song.
It was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award
for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film.
Another three nominations on the 1998 Billboard
Video Music Awards for Best New Artist Clip,
Best New Artist Clip, and Best New Artist
Clip.
It won an 8th Annual MVPA Award in 1999.
Tracklisting
German CD single
"Ghetto Supastar" - 4:26
"Ghetto Supastar" - 4:26
"Ghetto Supastar" - 4:08
"Don't Be Afraid" - 4:48
UK CD single
"Ghetto Supastar" - 4:26
"Ghetto Supastar" - 4:26
"Don't Be Afraid" - 4:48
12" vinyl
"Ghetto Supastar" - 4:26
"Ghetto Supastar" - 4:26
"Ghetto Supastar" - 4:26
"Ghetto Supastar" - 4:08
Personnel
Written by P. Michel, W. Jean, B. Gibb, M.
Gibb, R. Gibb, J. Brown, B. Byrd, R. Lenhoff
Contains a sample from "The Dream Shatterer"
by Big Punisher
Contains an interpolation of "Islands In The
Stream" by the Bee Gees and samples "Get Up,
Get Into It, Get Involved" by James Brown
Taken from the soundtrack of Bulworth
Engineered by Chris Theis and Phil Blackman
Soundtrack executive producer: Karyn Rachtman
Original sound recordings owned by Interscope
Records
Universal Music Ltd. are exclusive licensees
for the United Kingdom
Distributed by BMG Records Ltd.
Pras appears courtesy of Refugee Camp Entertainment
/ RuffHouse / Columbia Records
ODB appears courtesy of Elektra Entertainment
Group
Mýa appears courtesy of University Music
Entertainment / Interscope
Charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
External links
Mýa chart history
Pras discography
Fugees historyline
Allmusic charts
