Peak
1
Weeks
23
Score
5,593
Chart Year
2003
Directed by Damon Johnson, Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell in March 2003,[3] the music video for "21 Questions" depicts 50 Cent being arrested and confined to prison, where he tries to keep in touch with his girlfriend, played by Meagan Good. In prison, he is constantly harassed by a rival inmate (Tyson Beckford). The video ends with a continuation of the beginning, showing 50 Cent and his girlfriend watching from their home as the police arrest Beckford instead; the prison scenes are revealed to be a hypothetical scenario imagined by a worried 50 Cent. The video has cameo appearances by Nate Dogg (who provides vocals on the chorus and the outro)[3] and fellow G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Young Buck as other inmates. On April 15, 2003, the video debuted on MTV's Total Request Live at number six, reached number one two days later, and stayed on the chart for 50 days.[3][4] It also reached number two on the MuchMusic video chart
Inspiration for this song came when 50 Cent heard a romantic LL Cool J song, and the girl riding next to him was clearly enjoying it. This convinced him to write a song revealing his softer side and his appreciation for women - something that most gangsta rappers shied away from. The song finds 50 asking a girl if she would still love him even if he wasn't rich and famous. This samples a 1978 song called "It's Only Love Doing Its Thing," which was written by Jimmie and Vella Cameron. The Canadian producer Dirty Swift (Kevin Risto), who was half of the Midi Mafia production team, put the track together. He delivered the beat to an executive at Universal Music, which was trying to sign 50 Cent to a record deal. This executive passed the track on the 50, who put lyrics to it. When 50 signed with Dr. Dre's Shady/Aftermath label, he recorded the song for his first album. Nate Dogg sings the chorus on this song, which was Dr. Dre's idea (50 planned to do it himself). Nate had a great track record in this line of work, dating back to his 1994 Warren G. collaboration "Regulate," and continuing on the Snoop Dogg track "Never Leave Me Alone" and the Ludacris song "Area Codes." Released as 50 Cent's second single, this hit #1 in the US in May 2003, less than three months after his first single, "In Da Club," topped the chart. 50's label was planning to release a more uptempo song as his second single, but DJs were already playing "21 Questions," so it made sense to put it out. When this song hit, its producer Dirty Swift concocted an answer song (in the very literal sense) called "21 Answers," which he had the female rapper Lil' Mo record. We counted them up and "21 Questions" actually contains 23 different questions.
New York City You are now rocking, with 50 Cent You gotta love it I just wanna chill and twist the lah Catch stunts in my 7-45 You drive me crazy, shorty, I Need to see you and feel you next to me I provide everything you need and I Like your smile I don't wanna see you cry Got some questions that I got to ask and I Hope you can come up with the answers babe Girl, it's easy to love me now Would you love me if I was down and out? Would you still have love for me? Girl, it's easy to love me now Would you love me if I was down and out? Would you still have love for me girl? If I fell off tomorrow would you still love me? If I didn't smell so good would you still hug me? If I got locked up and sentenced to a quarter century Could I count on you to be there to support me mentally? If I went back to a hoopty from a Benz, would you poof and disappear Like some of my friends? If I was hit and I was hurt would you be by my side? If it was time to put in work would you be down to ride? I'd get out and peel a nigga cap and chill and drive I'm asking questions to find out how you feel inside If I ain't rap 'cause I flipped burgers at Burger King Would you be ashamed to tell your friends that you feelin' me? In the bed if I used my tongue would you like that? If I wrote you a love letter would you write back? Now we can have a lil' drink, you know a nightcap And we could go do what you like, I know you like that (like that) Girl, it's easy to love me now Would you love me if I was down and out? Would you still have love for me? Girl, it's easy to love me now (woo) Would you love me if I was down and out? Would you still have love for me girl? Now would you leave me if your father found out I was thuggin'? Do you believe me when I tell you, you the one I'm loving? Are you mad 'cause I'm asking you twenty-one questions? Are you my soulmate? 'Cause if so, girl you a blessing Do you trust me enough, to tell me your dreams? I'm staring at ya trying to figure how you got in them jeans If I was down would you say things to make me smile? I treat you how you want to be treated just teach me how If I was with some other chick and someone happened to see? And when you asked me about it I said it wasn't me Would you believe me? Or up and leave me? How deep is our bond if that's all it takes for you to be gone? We only humans girl we make mistakes, to make it up I do whatever it take I love you like a fat kid love cake You know my style I say anything to make you smile Girl, it's easy to love me now Would you love me if I was down and out? Would you still have love for me? Girl, it's easy to love me now Would you love me if I was down and out? Would you still have love for me Could you love me in a Bentley? (Girl) Could you love me on a bus? I'll ask twenty-one questions, and they all about us Could you love me in a Bentley? Could you love me on a bus? I'll ask twenty-one questions, and they all about us
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 22, 2003 | 74 | 52 |
| 2 | Mar 29, 2003 | 47 | 79 |
| 3 | Apr 5, 2003 | 21 | 105 |
| 4 | Apr 12, 2003 | 15 | 111 |
| 5 | Apr 19, 2003 | 10 | 116 |
| 6 | Apr 26, 2003 | 5 | 121 |
| 7 | May 3, 2003 | 5 | 121 |
| 8 | May 10, 2003 | 4 | 122 |
| 9 | May 17, 2003 | 2 | 124 |
| 10 | May 24, 2003 | 2 | 124 |
| 11 | May 31, 2003 | 1 | 125 |
| 12 | Jun 7, 2003 | 1 | 125 |
| 13 | Jun 14, 2003 | 1 | 125 |
| 14 | Jun 21, 2003 | 1 | 125 |
| 15 | Jun 28, 2003 | 3 | 123 |
| 16 | Jul 5, 2003 | 5 | 121 |
| 17 | Jul 12, 2003 | 5 | 121 |
| 18 | Jul 19, 2003 | 11 | 115 |
| 19 | Jul 26, 2003 | 16 | 110 |
| 20 | Aug 2, 2003 | 22 | 104 |