Songoftheday 09/18/24 - I think I might wife her, you know powder blue Roc-a-wear suit white Nikes...
"No Better Love" - Young Gunz f/Rell
from the album Tough Luv (2004)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #36 (one week)
Weeks in the Top-40: 4
Today's song comes from the Philadelphia-based hip-hop duo Young Gunz, who scored a top-20 crossover hit on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 in the autumn of 2003 with "Can't Stop Won't Stop", which was originally on a label compilation from Roc-A-Fella Records. A remix of the track also appeared on their debut album Tough Luv, which arrived in the beginning of the following year. The next release from "Young Chris" Ries and Hanif "Neef" Muhammad was "No Better Love", which featured SoCal singer/songwriter Rell (born Wilbur Gerrell Gaddis), Rell was another protege of Jay-Z's and the A-list rapper gave an assist to both of the singer's charting singles, both from movie soundtracks. "Love For Free", from Streets Is Watching, slipped on to the Hot 100 at #86 while reaching #28 on the R&B singles chart in 1998. Four years later, their reunion on "It's Obvious" from The Transporter hit #71 on the R&B Singles list. (The latter is a decent Timbaland-produced jam.)
The lyrics of "No Better Love" finds the pair attempting to propose a relationship with their women, but delve into course lyrics like "twat tight plus she cook up a meal" on Chris' verse and Neef with the even more wack "It was the beginning of time and you was like nine but god damn you was fine use to stay on my mind". Rell comes in with the chorus cooing how they really need her though for what its worth since they both still brag about the bevy of women on the side. (Neef's voice sounds eerily like Tupac Shakur here.) The production from co-writers Chad Hamilton and Ryan Presson is smooth because of the sample of Luther Vandross' "Better Love", giving himself and Nat Adderley Jr writing credit.
"No Better Love" became Young Gunz' second and final hit on Billboard's Hot 100 in March of 2004, while peaking at #15 on their R&B Singles chart and #11 on the Rap Singles list. On the radio, the song rose to #12 on the Mainstream R&B chart, and #28 on the dance/R&B-oriented Rhythmic format. The Tough Luv album, released in February of that year, spent a week at #1 on the R&B Albums chart, and came in at #3 on the Billboard 200 sales tally.
A third and final single from the record, "Friday Night", cribbed from Run-DMC and Grandmaster Flash records. It stalled under the R&B top-40 at #44 (#29 on the R&B Airplay list) and #21 on the Rap Singles chart, but only "bubbled under" the Hot 100 at #115.
In 2005, Young Chris and Neef returned with their second and so-far last studio album Brothers From Another. Despite high-profile cameos from Jay-Z, Kanye West, and John Legend, it came in at an underwhelming #15 on the Billboard 200 (and #4 on the R&B albums list). The lead single from the record, "Set It Off" produced by Swizz Beatz, stopped in the lower half of the R&B singles chart at #52.
The pair left Roc-A-Fella as well as each other, with Young Chris attempting a solo career that never panned out, even after releasing the floodgates of indie releases. Rell's recording career also fell flat, having more success as a songwriter for Usher and the like.
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Up tomorrow: Dancehall star has a lasting romance.
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