Songoftheday 9/27/21 -I'm considered legendary up in this m*therf*cker, veteran in this game and still bringin' ruckus...

 

 

"Who Dat" - JT Money featuring Solé

from the album Pimpin' On Wax (1999)

Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5 (one week)

Weeks in the Top-40: 12

Today's song of the day comes from rapper JT Money, who's moniker uses the initials for his name Jeffrey Thompkins. Hailing from Miami, JT was signed by Luke Campbell of the 2 Live Crew to his label Luke along with rapper Debonaire as the Poison Clan. That duo released their first album 2 Low Life Muthas in 1990, which climbed to #42 on the R&B Albums sales chart. With their act subtitled "The Baby 2 Live Crew", their single "Dance All Nite" rose to #51 on Billboard magazine's R&B chart in the beginning of 1991. Their third release, Ruff Town Behavior, made the R&B Albums chart at #12 and even reached #97 on the all-genre Billboard 200 sales tally. The record also scored a second minor R&B hit in 1993 with "Put Shit Pass No Ho", written by JT. which peaked at #94. But after leaving Luke Records over a money dispute, a fourth album with Warlock Records, Strait Zooism relatively stiffed down at #80 on the R&B Albums list, and JT Money left and the group disintegrated. 

Going solo, JT Money signed with the indie distribution powerhouse Priority Records under the Freeworld label, and released his debut solo set Pimpin' On Wax in 1999. The lead single from the set was "Who Dat", which featured female rapper Solé. Born Tonya Johnston in Missouri, Solé also got her first exposure with the song as well. Written by the pair with producer Christopher Stewart, along with label head Tony Mercedes, DiAndre Davis, and Tab Nkhereanye, the record is a gutteral flex rap centered by the "Who Dat" chant. That "whodatwhodatwhodat" hook got enough people buying the single to not only bring it to the charts, but to the upper level of the pop mainstream as both of the rappers' first and biggest hit. JT's verse is borderline cringey with perceived homophobic slurs, but Sole's retort may mean he's talking about women riding his appendage. Nevertheless it's a mess, and the prison setting of the music video didn't help...

 

 "Who Dat" became the first and biggest hit for both JT Money and Solé in May of 1999. The song also spent two weeks at #2 on Billboard's R&B chart, while topping their Rap Singles list. Internationally, the single was a minor hit in the Netherlands at #72. The Pimpin' On Wax album, released as the song was peaking in May, rose to 28 on the Billboard 200 sales tally, and all the way to #8 on the R&B Albums chart. Despite the success, no other singles came from the record.

JT Money followed up with his sophomore effort Blood Sweat and Years in 2001. First single "Hi-Lo" was his second and final R&B hit as a lead artist at #64. Despite reaching #48 on the Billboard 200 and scoring his second top ten R&B Album at #9, it sold considerably less, and Money left priority. He has since released three more albums independently, the most recent being 2015's Pimpin' Gangsta Party. But the rapper and Sole will both be back to the series in reversed roles.

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Here's JT Money and Solé appearing live on BET's Teen Summit in 1999...

Up tomorrow: The Latin invasion arrives with a former boybander going crazy.