You Don't Know (Eminem song)

"You Don't Know"
Single by Eminem featuring 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Ca$his
from the album Eminem Presents: The Re-Up
ReleasedNovember 7, 2006 (US)
December 11, 2006 (UK)
Recorded2006
Genre
Length4:17
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Eminem singles chronology
"Smack That"
(2006) 		"You Don't Know"
(2006) 		"Jimmy Crack Corn"
(2007)
50 Cent singles chronology
"Hands Up"
(2006) 		"You Don't Know"
(2006) 		"Jimmy Crack Corn"
(2007)
Lloyd Banks singles chronology
"Hands Up"
(2006) 		"You Don't Know"
(2006) 		"Help"
(2006)
Cashis singles chronology
"You Don't Know"
(2006) 		"Jimmy Crack Corn"
(2007)
Music video
"You Don't Know" on YouTube

"You Don't Know" is the lead single from the Shady compilation album Eminem Presents: The Re-Up. The song is performed by Eminem featuring artists 50 Cent, and Lloyd Banks, and features the new vocals from Cashis.

Critical reception

AllMusic called this song "the excellent all-star single "You Don't Know" plus highlight by same critic.[1] B. Love was positive: "When Em snatches the mic and takes the lead on songs like the title track, "You Don't Know" (which everyone just rips), he makes a strong case for his claim to be the tightest emcee in the game" and he added: "Em isn't the only one sounding hungry again; Fif is sounding better than he has since his debut. (...) Its batting lead off on the aforementioned posse cut "You Don't Know."[2] RapReviews noted that 2 new rappers Bobby Creekwater and Cashis can be heard in following lyrics:[3] ""Pistol play ricochet, see where the victim lay Slumped over bleeding J.F.K. A.K. 'til your chest plate cave I'll ride to the death, do you rep that way? Forever I'ma be a Shady 7-4 gangsta, Plus I'll survive everything you got in that chamber I thrive off of danger, jumpin in all beef You keep talking shit now the squad called me"

The Guardian thought that Eminem lost creativity but the song was praised: "Eminem's production is barely more inspiring than his talent-spotting. He's been working from the same murky sonic palette since The Marshall Mathers LP: portentous gothic dirges thick with grumbling strings and minor-chord synthesizers. That formula is fiercely potent on You Don't Know, leavened by 50 Cent's sing-song chorus..."[4]

Music video

The video appeared on MTV's Sucker Free, and BET's 106 & Park as a "New Joint", on November 7, 2006. The video reached number 1 on MTV's Total Request Live. Tony Yayo, The Alchemist, Young Buck, D12, Bobby Creekwater, Obie Trice, Mobb Deep, Trick Trick, Dr. Dre & Stat Quo all have cameo appearances. Obie Trice appeared as a helicopter coordinator carrying Lloyd Banks. The video is prison themed with each of the four featured artists portraying highly dangerous criminals. All four are wearing prison outfits and are significantly covered in chains and cuffs, and all four are transported in separate vehicles to a heavily guarded arena. 50 Cent is transported in maximum security prison plane (Boeing C17), Cashis in a train, Lloyd Banks in a helicopter and Eminem is transported in a heavy security transfer truck. The video seems to reference movies such as The Silence of the Lambs with Eminem being restrained in a similar trolley and muzzle to that of Hannibal Lecter's. Eminem also imitates Hannibal Lecter's trademark lip-licking motion to Jodie Foster when, in the beginning of the video, Eminem is visited at his cell by an FBI Agent who looks similar to Foster's character in The Silence of the Lambs. Also, the video references the action film Con Air when Eminem and his fellow prisoners are transported by airplane. This video is also notable for featuring Obie Trice wearing a prototype of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones two years before they were released.

The song has over 455 million views on YouTube.[5]

Chart positions

"You Don't Know" was released in the UK on December 11, 2006. It managed to chart from download sales alone, peaking at #32. The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest debut for a single on this chart for 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, and Cashis.[6] It was Eminem's fifth highest debut, after "We Made You", at number 9, "Forever", with Drake, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne, at number 8, "Love the Way You Lie", with Rihanna, at number 2, and "Not Afraid", which became the sixteenth overall and second rap song to debut at number 1. The song is featured in the WWE film The Condemned. This song is also used by the Boston Celtics for their player introductions at the TD Garden.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."You Don't Know" (performed by Eminem, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Cashis)
4:17
2."Get Low" (performed by Stat Quo)
3:19[7]
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.

Charts

Chart (2006–2007) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[8] 7
Brazil (ABPD)[9] 15
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[11] 7
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 32
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 12
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] 87
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[15] 16
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[16] 40

Certifications

Certifications for You Don't Know
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[17] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[18] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[20] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Jeffries, David. "Eminem Presents: The Re-Up - Eminem - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Eminem Presents - The Re-Up". HipHopDX. 6 December 2006.
  3. ^ "Eminem :: Eminem Presents The Re-Up :: Shady/Interscope Records". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (8 December 2006). "CD: Eminem, Presents the Re-Up". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  5. ^ 50 cent - you don't know - YouTube. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  6. ^ Eminem Presents: The Re-Up singles charts and awards at Allmusic.
  7. ^ "iTunes - Music - You Don't Know - Single (UK Only Version) by 50 Cent, Cashis, Eminem & Lloyd Banks". iTunes. January 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Eminem, 50 Cent & Lloyd Banks introd. Cashis – You Don't Know" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "Brazil" (PDF). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  10. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Don't Know". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "Eminem, 50 Cent & Lloyd Banks introd. Cashis – You Don't Know". VG-lista. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  14. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  15. ^ "Eminem – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "Eminem Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  18. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Eminem – You Don't Know" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "British single certifications – Eminem – You Don't Know". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  20. ^ "American single certifications – Eminem – You Don't Know". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 28, 2018.