Around the Way Girl

"Around the Way Girl"
Single by LL Cool J
from the album Mama Said Knock You Out
Released	November 20, 1990
Recorded	March 1989 – August 1990
Genre	Golden age hip hop East Coast hip hop new jack swing R&B[1] pop[2]
Length	4:02
Label	Def Jam Columbia
Songwriter(s)	James Smith Rick James Marlon Williams
Producer(s)	Marley Marl, DJ Eddie F (remix)
LL Cool J singles chronology
"The Boomin' System" (1990) "Around the Way Girl" (1990) "Mama Said Knock You Out" (1991)

"Around the Way Girl" is the third single by LL Cool J from his 1990 album Mama Said Knock You Out. The song later appeared on LL Cool J's 1996 greatest hits album, All World: Greatest Hits. "Around the Way Girl" peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming LL Cool J's first top 10 single. It was also a hit on the R&B and dance music charts, where it peaked at #5 and #7, respectively. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified "Around the Way Girl" Gold on January 15, 1991, for sales of over 500,000 copies.

The song prominently samples Mary Jane Girls' 1983 breakout hit song, "All Night Long," along with Keni Burke's 1982 hit "Risin' to the Top", from which "All Night Long" had originally taken its bassline. The "All Night Long" sample ("you got me shook up, shook down, shook out on your loving...") is heard during the song's intro and at the end of the choruses, while the melody from "Risin' to the Top" is sampled during the verses.

Music video

The music video was filmed in what used to be a warehouse on Borden Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. The clip was directed by Paris Barclay.[3][4]

Single track listing

A-side

1. "Around The Way Girl" (LP Version)- 4:05
2. "Around The Way Girl" (Untouchables Remix feat. Chad Jones)- 4:32

B-side

1. "Around The Way Girl" (Instrumental)- 3:51
2. "Murdergram" (LP Version)- 3:52

Official versions

• "Around the Way Girl" (Album Version) / (LP Version) - 4:05
• "Around the Way Girl" (Instrumental) - 3:51
• "Around the Way Girl" (Untouchables Remix feat. Chad Jones) - 4:32

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Around the Way Girl" Chart (1990-1991) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 45 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] 27 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 9 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[8] 7 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9] 5 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[10] 1

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Around the Way Girl" Chart (1991) Position US Billboard Hot 100[11] 64

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Around the Way Girl"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Around the Way Girl - LL Cool J | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic.
2. "Around the Way Girl - LL Cool J | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic.
3. "Big Lez Revisits Making the "Around The Way Girl" Video". rockthebells.com. Rock The Bells. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
4. "LL Cool J: Around the Way Girl". imdb.com. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
5. "L.L. Cool J – Around the Way Girl". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
6. "L.L. Cool J – Around the Way Girl". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
7. "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
8. "LL Cool J Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
9. "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
10. "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
11. "Billboard Top 100 - 1991". Archived from the original on 2009-07-07. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
12. "American single certifications – L.L. Cool J – Around the Way Girl". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 27, 2023.