Tonight's da Night

"Tonight's da Night"
Single by Redman
from the album Whut? Thee Album
ReleasedMay 4, 1993
Recorded1992
Genre
Length3:22
LabelDef Jam
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Redman singles chronology
"Time 4 Sum Aksion"
(1993)
"Tonight's da Night"
(1993)
"Rockafella"
(1994)

"Tonight's da Night" is the third single released by Redman from his debut album, Whut? Thee Album. It features a jazzy beat produced by Erick Sermon and Redman himself, and contains samples from many songs, including "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls, "The Payback" by James Brown, "Tonight's the Night" by Raydio, and "A Few More Kisses to Go" by Isaac Hayes. The song starts off with Redman rapping about being "smooth to any groove", and he is then interrupted by Hurricane G who wants him to rap some "rough shit".[1] Redman goes on to talk about guns and other illegal things. A remix can be found on Redman's second album, Dare Iz a Darkside.

It is a popular song within hip hop and was name-dropped on Common's song "Sum Shit I Wrote". Common also sampled some of its lyrics for the chorus of "Soul by the Pound" (Thump Mix). Some of its lyrics are parodied on "Clockwork" by Dilated Peoples. The line "I'm after the gold and after that the platinum" was sampled in the hook for the song "What I'm After" by fellow New Jersey natives Lords of the Underground. It has been featured on many compilations including Hip Hop Forever, Def Jam's Greatest Hits: Hardcore and Da Undaground Sound, Vol. 1: East Side.

MC Eiht's song "One Less Nigga" mentions this at one point when the line "Tonights the night, like Redman" is recited.

Harlem rapper Party Arty in the song "Da Graveyard", on Big L's first album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous, says "so mess around you'll be a dead man/ I get hype, tonight's the night like Redman".

Track listing

A-side
  1. "Tonight's da Night" (LP version) –3:22
  2. "Tonight's da Night" (instrumental) –3:05
B-side
  1. "I'm a Bad" –2:53
  2. "Rated 'R'" –3:22

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[2] 78
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[3] 60
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[4] 20

References

  1. ^ Diaz, Angel. "Hurricane G's Voice Will Live On". Complex. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Redman Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "Redman Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Redman Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2024.