"What's Luv?" is a song by American rapper Fat Joe, released through Atlantic Records and Fat Joe's Terror Squad Productions as the second single from his fourth studio album, Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) (2001). The song features additional vocals from singer Ashanti and from rapper Ja Rule on the remix and album version of the song. "What's Luv?" was produced by Irv Gotti and Chink Santana. The lyrics of the song's chorus are based in part on the title refrain of the 1984 Tina Turner hit "What's Love Got to Do with It". The song additionally includes a lyric ("I'm not a hater, I just crush a lot") that references the 1998 song "Still Not a Player" by Big Pun. Fat Joe, Ja Rule, and the song's two producers are credited as the writers of "What's Luv?", as are Big Pun and the lyricist of "What's Love Got to Do with It", Terry Britten.
"What's Luv?", released in the United States on February 4, 2002, peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart that April, becoming Fat Joe's highest-charting single as a lead artist. The single stayed on the chart for 20 weeks, giving Ashanti her second top-10 single and Fat Joe his first. The song additionally topped the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks and Rhythmic Top 40 charts. "What's Luv?" made Ashanti the first female artist to simultaneously occupy the top two positions on the Hot 100. The single was also a success internationally, reaching the top five in Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Production Producer Chris Lighty had introduced Fat Joe to producer Irv Gotti. After attending the funeral for rapper Big Pun together, Gotti offered "What's Luv?" to Fat Joe, with the chorus having already been written by Ja Rule. Fat Joe said that Ashanti recorded vocals for the demo, with the plan being to replace her on the record with Jennifer Lopez to appeal to the Latin market. When Joe heard the demo, he insisted on doing the record with Ashanti instead.
Music video The video for "What's Luv?" was filmed in New York City, at Fordham University. The music video features cameo appearances from DJ Kay Slay, Capone, Young Noble, Kastro, Treach, Fat Joe's son Ryan, Tony Sunshine, Maia Campbell as Tony's former then Joe's love interest and Remy Martin. Tommy Davidson and Miguel A. Núñez Jr. also appear in the video since the song was included in the 2002 film Juwanna Mann, in which Davidson and Núñez star, which plays on a TV behind Tony and Maia.
In the video, Joe starts dancing with some backup dancers, and also at times with Ashanti. One scene shows him attending a basketball game with two women as they watch from the stands. A scene with Ashanti shows her walking into a men's locker room, and rounding up with some men as she sings her verses from the song.
Track listings
US 12-inch single A1. "What's Luv?" (clean version featuring Ashanti) – 3:51 A2. "What's Luv?" (dirty version featuring Ashanti) – 3:51 A3. "What's Luv?" (instrumental) – 3:51 B1. "Definition of a Don" (clean version featuring Remy) – 3:54 B2. "Definition of a Don" (dirty version featuring Remy) – 3:54 B3. "Definition of a Don" (instrumental) – 3:55
European CD single "What's Luv?" (explicit version featuring Ashanti) "Hustlin'" (featuring Armageddon)
UK CD single "What's Luv?" (clean version featuring Ashanti) – 3:51 "What's Luv?" (explicit version featuring Ashanti) – 3:51 "Hustlin'" (featuring Armageddon) – 3:34 "What's Luv?" (video—clean version featuring Ashanti) – 3:51
UK 12-inch single and Australian CD single "What's Luv?" (clean version featuring Ashanti) – 3:51 "What's Luv?" (explicit version featuring Ashanti) – 3:51 "Hustlin'" (featuring Armageddon) – 3:34
Credits and personnel Credits are lifted from the European CD single liner notes.
Studio Recorded at The Crackhouse Studios (New York City)
Personnel
Fat Joe – writing (as Joseph Cartagena), vocals, executive production Ja Rule – writing (as Jeffrey Atkins), vocals Christopher Rios – writing Irv Gotti – writing (as Irving Lorenzo), production, mixing Chink Santana – writing (as Andre Parker), production Terry Britten – lyricist of "What's Love Got to Do with It" Ashanti – vocals Armageddon – co-executive production Rob "Reef" Tewlow – co-executive production Milwaukee Buck – recording Thomas Bricker – art direction and design Piotr Sikora – photography
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2002) Peakpositionscope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row" Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) 12 Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS) 10scope="row" Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 4scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row" Romania (Romanian Top 100) 23scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"scope="row"
Year-end charts Chart (2002) Position Australia (ARIA) 49 Australian Urban (ARIA) 15 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 89 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 67 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 81 France (SNEP) 86 Germany (Media Control) 95 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 39 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 37 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 21 UK Singles (OCC) 75 UK Airplay (Music Week) 43 UK Urban (Music Week) 4 US Billboard Hot 100 8 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard) 17 US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard) 4 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 17 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard) 2
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesFebruary 4, 2002February 25, 2002Contemporary hit radioAustraliaMay 6, 2002CDUnited KingdomMay 13, 2002
References