What Would You Do
City High
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Boys and girls want to hear a true story Saturday night was at this real wild party They had the liquor overflowin' the cup About five or six strippers tryin' to work for a buck And I took one girl outside wit' me Her name was Loni She went to Junior High wit' me I said, why you up in there dancin' for cash? I guess a whole lots changed since I seen you last She said [Chorus:] What would you do if your son was at home Crying all alone on the bedroom floor 'cause he's hungry And the only way to feed him is ta Sleep wit' a man for a little bit of money And his daddy's gone So we're smokin' rock now In and out of lock down I ain't gotta job now So for you this is just a good time But for me this is what I call life Girl, you ain't the only one wit' a baby That's no excuse to be livin' all crazy Then she looked me right square in the eye And said, everyday I wake up hopin' to die She said, n**** I know about pain 'cause Me and my sista ran away So my daddy couldn't rape us Before I was a teenager I done been through more sh** You can't even relate ta [Repeat Chorus] (Then she said, what would you do if) Get up on my feet and let go of every excuse (What would you do) 'cause I wouldn't want my baby to go through what I went through (C'mon, what would you do) Get up on my feet, stop makin tired excuses (What would you do) Girl I know if my mother can do it, baby you can do it [Repeat Chorus] What would you do if your son was at home Crying all alone on the bedroom floor 'cause he's hungry And the only way to feed him is to Sleep wit' a man for a little bit of money And his daddy's gone So we're smokin rock now In and out of lock down I ain't gotta job now So for you this is just a good time But for me this is what I call life, see'mon [Repeat Chorus]
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: Calvin Broadus, Delmer Drew Arnaud, Dwight Williams, Jewell Caples, Ricardo Brown, Keith Blair, Paul Crossdale
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
15 facts about this song
Genre"What Would You Do" by City High is a crossover hit that merges the styles of R&B, hip hop, and soul.
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Song's ThemeThe song tells the story of a young single mother struggling to support her child by working as a stripper.
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Commercial SuccessThe song enjoyed significant commercial success, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart and number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
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CameosThe music video for "What Would You Do" features an appearance by actress and singer Eve.
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Awards"What Would You Do" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2002.
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InspirationsThe lyrics of the song were inspired by the 1996 film "The Show," which explored the emotional and physical struggles of women working in the adult entertainment industry.
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ReceptionThe song received widespread acclaim from music critics for its social issues-driven lyrics and catchy, soulful rhythm.
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AlbumIt is part of their self-titled debut album, "City High" released in 2001.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been covered and sampled by several artists, showcasing its enduring popularity.
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SamplesThe song samples the 1979 hit single "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick.
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Writing CreditsThe song was written by Ryan Toby and Robby Pardlo, the two male members of City High.
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ProducerThe music producer for this song was Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis, a well-known figure in the music industry who as worked with artists like The Fugees and Mary J. Blige.
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Band's Success“What Would You Do” can be considered City High's breakout single, bringing them international recognition.
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Use in MediaThe song was featured in the soundtrack for "Life," a comedy-drama film starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.
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Pop CultureMore than two decades after its release, the song continues to be a staple in pop culture, often referenced in television shows and films.
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Citation
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"What Would You Do Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/10369266/City+High/What+Would+You+Do>.
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