Songoftheday 12/5/23 -Any other night you'd be at home waitin' on me, any other night you'd be actin' like a bugaboo...

 

 

"Sick Of Being Lonely" - Field Mob

from the album From The Roota To The Toota (2002)

Billboard Hot 100 peak: #18 (one week)

Weeks in the Top-40: 9

 

Today's song comes from the rap duo Field Mob, who were friends from childhood in the southern Georgia city of Albany. At the close of the 1990's, Shawn Johnson and Darion Crawford, who dubbed themselves Shawn J and Smoke, were signed to the local indie label Southern House, where they released their debut single "Project Dreamz". After the song clipped Billboard magazine's R&B chart at #91, and got a lot of attention regionally, Field Mob was bought out by MCA Records, who released their debut album 613: From Ashy To Classy (you'll see a pattern of great albums titles from the guys. The record went to #194 on the Billboard 200 sales tally, and #35 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

 

With momentum from the good critical and commercial reaction to their debut, the duo released their sophomore effort From The Roota To The Toota in the autumn of 2002. The lead single from the record was "Sick Of Being Lonely", written by Johnson and Crawford with Phalon "Jazze Pha" Alexander. My first thought it that the title is an unusual choice for a pair of rap guys, but it's a fake-out, the record starts with uncredited singer Torica, in the point of view of a woman whose man has continuously left her waiting at home while he's out gallivanting.  Then the pair come in with the rap verses, saying their trying to call them (from the club, mind) and she ain't answerin'. He even admits "I know I'm wrong for goin' and comin' home at 'bout four in the morn'". They each go through weirder and weirder flexes and begs to stay, but it's their delivery that makes me perk up. It's like its Outkast where both of them are Andre 3000, but somehow crazier appearing than Ludacris. The production from Jazze Pha is tight, and it really breaks the usual rap club track monotony (also, the chorus helps a lot). The music video builds on their crazy character, to the point that they walk a pig into the club, then in the interlude you somehow find its fate...

"Sick Of Being Lonely" became Field Mob's first crossover top-40 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 in March of 2003, while reaching #10 on their R&B Singles chart and #5 on their Rap Singles list. On the radio, the song climbed to #24 on the Mainstream Top-40 airplay chart, and #10 on the dance/R&B-oriented Rhythmic format. The From The Roota To The Toota album, released in October of 2002, peaked at #33 on the Billboard 200 sales tally, and #4 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list. 

A second single from the album, "All I Know", featured Cee-Lo Green from the group Goodie Mob (before he became a solo star) as well as Jazze Pha. The track,which showed a more focused and passioned performance, rose to #77 on the R&B singles chart.

Field Mob will be back to the series.

(7/10)

Up tomorrow: Pretty isn't invisible, says this country newcomer.