Do the Right Thing (song)

"Do the Right Thing"
Single by Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I.
from the album A Shade of Red
B-side	"A Shade of Red"
Released	1989 (1989)
Length	4:05
Label	Virgin 10
Songwriter(s)	David "Redhead" Guppy Markell Riley
Producer(s)	The Redhead Kingpin Markell Riley
Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. singles chronology
"Superbad, Superslick" (1989) "Do the Right Thing" (1989) "We Rock the Mic Right" (1990)
Audio
"Do the Right Thing" on YouTube

"Do the Right Thing" is a song by American hip hop and new jack swing group Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. from their debut album, A Shade of Red (1989). The track was written for but not used in the Spike Lee film of the same name, but two years later, the song was featured on the soundtrack of Wes Craven's horror film The People Under the Stairs,[1] playing over the end credits. The group's third single, "Do the Right Thing" became their highest-charting song, peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, number seven in the Netherlands, and number four in New Zealand.

Track listings

7-inch single[2][3] A. "Do the Right Thing" (U.S. radio mix) – 4:05 B. "A Shade of Red" – 4:47 US 12-inch single[4] A1. "Do the Right Thing" (Jazzy 12-inch) – 5:15 A2. "Do the Right Thing" (Jazzy 7-inch) – 3:34 B1. "Do the Right Thing" (Sky 12-inch) – 6:04 B2. "Do the Right Thing" (Sky instrumental) – 4:52 US cassette single[5] "Do the Right Thing" (U.S. radio mix) – 4:04 "Do the Right Thing" (12-inch mix) – 6:20

UK mini-CD single[6] "Do the Right Thing" (U.S. radio mix) – 4:05 "Do the Right Thing" (12-inch mix) – 6:20 "A Shade of Red" UK 12-inch single 1[7] A1. "Do the Right Thing" (12-inch mix) – 6:20 A2. "Do the Right Thing" (U.S. street mix) – 3:39 B1. "Do the Right Thing" (Butcher mix) – 2:25 B2. "Do the Right Thing" (acapella) – 2:30 UK 12-inch single 2[8] A1. "Do the Right Thing" (Happiness remix) B1. "Do the Right Thing" (212 "Sky" King Remix) B2. "Do the Right Thing" (Happiness 7-inch remix)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1989–1990) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 56 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 20 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[11] 9 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 41 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 7 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 11 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 16 UK Singles (OCC)[17] 13 US Dance Music/Club Play Singles (Billboard)[18] 12 US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[18] 21 US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[18] 8 West Germany (GfK)[19] 12

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 65 Chart (1990) Position New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 15

References

1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19 ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 454. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
2. Do the Right Thing (US 7-inch single sleeve). Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. Virgin Records. 1989. 7-99203.
3. Do the Right Thing (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. 10 Records. 1989. TEN 271.
4. Do the Right Thing (US 12-inch single sleeve). Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. Virgin Records. 1989. 0-96552.
5. Do the Right Thing (US cassette single sleeve). Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. Virgin Records. 1989. 7 99203-4.
6. Do the Right Thing (UK mini-CD single liner notes). Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. 10 Records. 1989. TENCD 271.
7. Do the Right Thing (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. 10 Records. 1989. TENX 271.
8. Do the Right Thing (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. 10 Records. 1989. TENR 271.
9. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
10. "Redhead Kingpin & the F.B.I. – Do the Right Thing" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
11. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6614." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 34. August 26, 1989. p. IV.
13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
14. "Redhead Kingpin & the F.B.I. – Do the Right Thing" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
15. "Redhead Kingpin & the F.B.I. – Do the Right Thing". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
16. "Redhead Kingpin & the F.B.I. – Do the Right Thing". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
18. "Redhead Kingpin and the F.B.I. Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Redhead Kingpin & the F.B.I. – Do the Right Thing" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
20. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
21. "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 17, 2021.