"Stand Up" is a song by American rapper Ludacris, released as the second single from his fourth album, Chicken-n-Beer (2003), on September 2, 2003. It contains a guest appearance from American rapper Shawnna, who provides a call-and-response dichotomy with Ludacris for the song's chorus. Production was handled by Roc-A-Fella Records producer Kanye West, while co-production was helmed by Ludacris, both of whom wrote the song.
"Stand Up" became Ludacris's first song to peak atop the US Billboard Hot 100, rising to number one on the week dated December 6, 2003. It also topped three other Billboard charts and entered the top 20 in Canada, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. It received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Rap Solo Performance at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, losing to Eminem's "Lose Yourself".
Music video A music video was made for "Stand Up", directed by Dave Meyers. Ludacris raps at a night club with many bizarre elements, such as a huge beer bottle, which he drinks from, a giant sneaker that he later wears, disabled people in wheelchairs dancing, a woman whose behind grows to a humongous proportion after kissing Ludacris, him and another woman as toddlers, and much more, with scenes mostly alluding to the song's lyrics. Chingy, Katt Williams, 2 Chainz, Scooter Braun, Kanye West (the song's producer), Tyra Banks and Lauren London made cameo appearances in the video.
Charts Weekly charts Chart (2003–2004) PeakpositionCanada CHR (Nielsen BDS)7
Year-end charts Chart (2003)PositionUK Urban (Music Week)29US Billboard Hot 10051US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)26US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard)14US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)31
Chart (2004)PositionUS Billboard Hot 10045US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)53US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard)23US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)40US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)36
Decade-end charts Chart (2000–2009)PositionUS Billboard Hot 10087
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesSeptember 2, 2003October 6, 2003Contemporary hit radioUnited KingdomNovember 10, 2003Def Jam SouthAustraliaJanuary 19, 2004CD
Certifications
Remixes and cover versions An official remix was also recorded, in which Ludacris' third verse was removed and replaced with a verse from Kanye West. The remix appeared on the Akademiks: JeaniusLevelMusikKanye West Vol. 2 and Kon The Louis Vuitton Don mixtapes.
Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine covered the song as a lounge-style version on his 2004 album, I'd Like a Virgin.
Ludacris also made a remix of the song for the Atlanta Falcons.
Ludacris mixed this song with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" in a faster tone for some club radio stations.
In popular culture "Stand Up" appeared in a commercial for the all-new 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan that appeared during Super Bowl LIII on February 3, 2019. The commercial features Ludacris performing the song at an opera and also featured Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner and Free Willy.
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