Temptations (song)

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"Temptations"
Single by 2Pac
from the album Me Against the World
ReleasedAugust 29, 1995
Recorded1993 (remix:1994)
StudioUnique Studios
(New York City)
GenreHip hop
Length5:00
Label
Songwriter(s)Tupac Shakur
Producer(s)Easy Mo Bee
2Pac singles chronology
"So Many Tears"
(1995) 		"Temptations"
(1995) 		"California Love"
(1995)
Music video
"Temptations" on
YouTube

"Temptations" is a song by American

Computer Love" by Zapp, and the theme focuses on relationship and infidelity issues. Debuting at number sixty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100, the song did fairly well in the United States
. It was also well received by critics, with many writers commenting on its romantic tone.

The song's music video does not have any

Treach, Jada Pinkett Smith, Marcus Chong, and Kenya Moore. Taking place in a hotel, the video opens and closes with the concierge (Ice-T) complaining about Coolio (a bellboy). The main plot of the video follows Coolio while he is working in the hotel
.

Writing and composition

The idea for "Temptations" began in late 1993 when

Computer Love." Despite being frequently sampled in the past by other artists, Shakur proposed that they simply speed up the tempo of "Computer Love" and use a low frequency automatic filter to retrieve the song's bassline.[1]

"Temptations" (1995)
The bassline is sampled from the
hip-hop.[1]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

After adding new

Sly & the Family Stone[2] and the guitar from "In the Rain" by The Dramatics. The song also features Mo Bee and some of his friends singing harmonies.[1]

"Temptations" deals with a male-female relationship, where Shakur is—in Mo Bee's word's—basically saying to his significant other, "I like the time I'm spendin' with [you], but baby, I'm busy."[3] Other than the theme of the relationship issues, the song also focuses on the ability for anyone to feel lonely. The lines "'cause even thugs get lonely, understand. Even the hardest of my homies need attention; catch you blowin' up the telephone, reminiscing." from the third verse, are explained by William Buckholz in his 2011 book, Understand Rap: Explanations of Confusing Rap Lyrics You and Your Grandma Can Understand. He states that despite having a "tough" attitude and exterior, thugs are not emotionless. Buckholz goes on to say that there are times where everyone longs for the company of someone—be a friend or significant other—so they can share feelings and troubles with.[4]

Music video

Despite being the only rapper to perform in the song's musical composition, the music video neglects an appearance by Shakur because of his incarceration for alleged

Cheryl James, Coolio, Crystal Waters, DJ Spinderella, Ice-T, Isaac Hayes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jasmine Guy, Kenya Moore, Shock G, Joe Torry, Taye Diggs, Treach, Warren G, and Yo-Yo.[6][7]

Fellow rapper Coolio took the main role in the "Temptations" music video.

Nelson said the video's production was ambitious, stating: "It's an incredible challenge to make a creative clip of a song without the artist." He goes onto say that Coolio helped enormously because he was the first to commit to his role as the bellboy. Nelson says that Coolio's role "provides the thread that weaves together the entire concept of the video."[7] Yvette Lang, who executive produced the clip for F.M. Rocks, described the filming to be like a "big party" to show their support for Shakur.[7] Ice-T's role as the hotel concierge was not originally intended. At first, there was a comedian set to play his role, but he ended up cancelling at the last minute. Since Ice-T was only available to shoot in the morning, Nelson decided to make him the concierge. The director called it a "strange blessing" since he is more memorable as a concierge, rather than his intended role.[7]

"I shot the clip as if it were a movie, and the preview edit is the equivalent of a film trailer. We both wanted the video to be sexy and erotic, but not sleazy. It definitely pushes the envelope, but then it throws comedy to keep things from getting too serious."

— David Nelson, Billboard[7]

The music video opens with Ice-T, the concierge, and Coolio, the bellboy, in a hotel

strip poker, lesbian affairs, and several sexual scenarios. The bellboy eventually is invited into one of the rooms and the music comes to an end. The video ends with a scene of Ice-T continuing to complain about the bellboy's work ethics.[7]

Controversy

The Los Angeles Times inquires that the video deals with acts which lead to Shakur's imprisonment, commenting: "The clip itself practically invites that kind of scrutiny. The hotel setting and explicit sex echo Shakur's own crimes, which involved sodomy occurring in a hotel."[6] Nelson denies these claims, insisting that it is purely coincidental that Shakur was imprisoned for similar occurrences.[6]

Critical reception

Steve Huey at

Tribune Company that Tupac is apologizing to his listeners and defining his stance on moral rights and wrongs.[11]

Chart performance

"Temptations" did fairly well on United States charts. It spent six weeks on the

Hot Rap Singles,[13] and spent fourteen weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, debuting at number thirty-five.[14]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 68
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 35
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[17] 13

Formats and track listings

References

Literature
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d Brown 2005, p. 49
  2. ^ Thompson 2001, p. 53
  3. ^ Sandy & Daniel 2010, pp. 31–35
  4. ^ Buckholz 2012, p. 43
  5. ^ Violanti, Anthony (1995-04-17). "Tupac Shakur Takes on a World of Persecution". The Buffalo News.
  6. ^ a b c d Hochman, Steve (1995-09-24). "2Pac's Pals Turn Out for Tupac-Less Video". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Atwood, Brett (1995-09-23). "Takes More Than Prison To Stop 2Pac". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 38. Prometheus Global Media. p. 101.
  8. Rovi
    . Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  9. ^ Coker, Cheo (1998-02-02). "Me Against The World | Album Reviews | Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  10. ^ Pareles, Jon (1995-04-09). "Recordings View; Confessions of a Rapper Who Done Wrong". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  11. Tribune Company
    . Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  12. ^ "2Pac - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  13. ^ "2Pac | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  14. ^ "2Pac – Chart history | Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  15. ^ "2Pac Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  16. ^ "2Pac Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  17. ^ "2Pac Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
  18. Compact Disc). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. 957242.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  19. ^ "Temptations [CD/Cassette Single] - 2Pac | Release Information | 2Pac". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  20. ^ "Temptations" (12" promo). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. DMD 2241.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ "Temptations" (Cassette single). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. 981204.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. Compact Disc promo). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. PRCD6376.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link
    )
  23. ^ "Temptations" (Cassette Maxi single). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. 957244.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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