Boy You Knock Me Out

"Boy You Knock Me Out"
Single by Tatyana Ali
from the album Kiss the Sky
B-side"Love the Way You Love Me"
ReleasedFebruary 1, 1999 (1999-02-01)
Studio
Length
  • 4:10 (album version)
  • 4:00 (single edit)
  • 3:41 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)StoneBridge
Tatyana Ali singles chronology
"Daydreamin'"
(1998) 		"Boy You Knock Me Out"
(1999) 		"Everytime"
(1999)
Audio
"Boy You Knock Me Out" on YouTube

"Boy You Knock Me Out" is a song by American actress and singer Tatyana Ali from her only studio album, Kiss the Sky (1998). Written by Kelly Price, StoneBridge, and Nick Nice, the track samples "Summer Madness" by Kool & the Gang and "What You Won't Do for Love" by Bobby Caldwell. Released via MJJ Music and Epic Records on February 1, 1999, the song reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and entered the top 40 of the charts in France, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand. The single version of the song, known as the "Big Willie Style" edit, features Will Smith performing a rap.

Background

Tatyana Ali was recruited by her co-star on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith, to launch her own music career, and she postponed attending Harvard University so she could record Kiss the Sky.[1][2] "Boy You Knock Me Out" was written by Kelly Price, Nick Nice, and StoneBridge, who also produced the song. The track samples elements from Kool & the Gang's 1974 instrumental "Summer Madness"—written by the band, Alton Taylor, and Robert Mickens—and interpolates Bobby Caldwell's 1978 song "What You Won't Do for Love"—written by Caldwell and Alfons Kettner. Ali recorded the track at StoneBridge Productions in Stockholm, Sweden, and at Titan Recording Studio in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. Smith performs a rap verse on the "Big Willie Style" single version.[3][4]

Release and reception

Although MJJ Music and Work Group serviced "Boy You Knock Me Out" to US radio in October 1998, it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 like its predecessor, "Daydreamin'".[5][6] The single did appear on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles & Tracks and Rhythmic Top 40 charts, stalling at numbers 68 and 40, respectively, in January 1999.[7][8] On February 1, 1999, the single was released in the United Kingdom and became Ali's highest-charting song, debuting and peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart six days after its release.[9][10] In Ireland, the single reached number 19.[11] The song entered the top 10 in Iceland, peaking at number six in March 1999.[12] That same month, the single peaked at number 12 in New Zealand and number 32 in France.[13][14] "Boy You Knock Me Out" was certified gold in New Zealand (5,000 sales) and silver in the UK (200,000 shipments).[15][16]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Kiss the Sky album booklet.[3]

Studios

  • Recorded at StoneBridge Productions (Stockholm, Sweden) and Titan Recording Studio (Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles)
  • Mixed at Enterprise II Studio (Burbank, California)

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[22] 6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 14
France (SNEP)[14] 32
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[12] 6
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 19
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[24] 21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25] 77
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 12
Scotland (OCC)[26] 10
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 3
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[27] 1
US Hot R&B Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[7] 68
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[8] 40

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[15] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] Silver 200,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 26, 1998 Urban radio
  • MJJ Music
  • Work
 [5]
November 3, 1998 Rhythmic contemporary radio [28]
United Kingdom February 1, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
  • MJJ Music
  • Epic
 [9]
United States February 2, 1999 Contemporary hit radio
  • MJJ Music
  • Work
 [29]

References

  1. ^ Crowe, Jerry (August 27, 1998). "Not Just 'Daydreamin' '". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ali Scores Knockout with Debut Single". Radio & Records. No. 1255. July 3, 1998. p. 37.
  3. ^ a b Kiss the Sky (US CD album booklet). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Work Group. 1998. OK 68656.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ a b Boy You Knock Me Out (UK CD1 liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1999. 666937 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ a b "AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1271. October 23, 1998. p. 57.
  6. ^ "Tatyana Ali Chart History (The Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. January 30, 1999. p. 26.
  10. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Boy You Knock Me Out". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (19.3–26.3 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 19, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali feat. Will Smith – Boy You Knock Me Out". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Tatyana Ali feat. Will Smith – Boy You Knock Me Out" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Scapolo, Dean (2007). The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006. Wellington: Dean Scapolo and Maurienne House. ISBN 978-1877443-00-8.
  16. ^ a b "British single certifications – Tatyana Ali – Boy You Knock Me Out". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  17. ^ Boy You Knock Me Out (UK CD2 liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1999. 666937 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Boy You Knock Me Out (UK cassette single sleeve). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1999. 666937 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Boy You Knock Me Out (European CD1 liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1999. EPC 666737 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Boy You Knock Me Out (European CD2 liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1999. EPC 666737 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Boy You Knock Me Out (Australian CD single liner notes). Tatyana Ali. MJJ Music, Epic Records. 1999. 666921 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ "Tatyana Ali feat. Will Smith – Boy You Knock Me Out" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  23. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 8. February 20, 1999. p. 8.
  24. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 13, 1999". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  25. ^ "Tatyana Ali feat. Will Smith – Boy You Knock Me Out" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  27. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  28. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1272. October 30, 1998. p. 50.
  29. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1284. January 29, 1999. p. 44.