2002 single by Monica
"
All Eyez on Me
" is a song by American singer
Monica
. It was written in collaboration with
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
and
LaShawn Daniels
for her original third studio album
of the same name
, while production was helmed by the former. The song incorporates excerpts of "
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
" (1983) by American singer
Michael Jackson
. Due to the inclusion of the sample,
Quincy Jones
and
James Ingram
are also credited as songwriters.
[1]
A lighthearted party jam that is built on a danceable groove, "All Eyez on Me" talks about self-confidence.
[2]
[3]
Picked as the album's leading single and Monica's first release on
Clive Davis
' then newly founded
J Records
label, "All Eyez on Me" was released to US radio on July 1, 2002. Its impact on the charts, however, was moderate in comparison with previous releases as it reached the top 20 in Belgium and the top 40 in Australia and New Zealand but failed to reach the upper half of the US
Billboard
Hot 100
.
[4]
The lukewarm response to the track and its follow-up "
Too Hood
" eventually resulted in the reconstruction of the same-titled album, which received a Japan-wide release only and was subsequently retooled into a new version, branded
After the Storm
(2003).
[5]
Writing and recording
[
edit
]
"All Eyez on Me" was written by Monica along with songwriter
LaShawn Daniels
and producer
Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
.
[6]
Recorded at the latter's Patchwerk recording studios in
Atlanta, Georgia
, it is one out of nine songs the singer wrote or co-wrote for the album.
[6]
She has described the track as a "party record" and "a feel-good song for the summer," stylistically comparing it with
Michael Jackson
's 1983 song "
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
" from his album
Thriller
(1982), which the song partially samples.
[1]
Due to this,
Quincy Jones
and
James Ingram
are also credited as songwriters.
[6]
"The same way that 'P.Y.T.' was, I was hoping 'All Eyez on Me' would be ? more relaxing and you could have a good time," she later told
MTV News
. "It's not based on anything emotional or anything sad."
[1]
Jackson hand-delivered the original masters of the song for the production.
[1]
The song's title also is a nod to rapper
Tupac Shakur
, whose
same titled song from 1996
served as "somewhat of an inspiration," Monica also remarked. "I always liked the idea of 'all eyes on me,' even from his perspective. Because sometimes that's what our life becomes. I thought that would grab the attention of a lot of people."
[7]
In an interview with
Vibe
, she replied, that "All Eyez on Me" was "not one of those vain, stuck-up songs, like, 'Everybody's lookin' at me'."
[7]
On her decision to release "All Eyez on Me" as the lead single from its parent album, she elaborated: "The world has had plenty of tragedy to deal with recently so I wanted to do something that had a 'feel good' flavor to it [...] So when you go out and have a good time, if you get dressed up in the right thing, all eyes will be on you."
[2]
The song was later omitted from
After the Storm
, the re-tooled version of the album, since Monica felt that it "was a great song, but it didn't reflect the rest of the album, it was misleading."
[8]
Chart performance
[
edit
]
First released stateside, "All Eyez on Me" debuted at number-one on the US
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles
chart in the week of June 29, 2002.
[9]
A week later, it entered
Billboard
'
s
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
chart as the Hot Shot Debut of the week, debuting at number 67.
[10]
In August 2002, it entered the
Billboard
Hot 100
at number 70.
[11]
The song eventually reached and peaked at number 69 a week later, becoming Monica's least successful lead single up to then as well her lowest-charting single since 1999's "
Street Symphony
."
[12]
Slightly more successful on
Billboard
'
s component charts, "All Eyez on Me" reached number 19 on the
Rhythmic Top 40
chart and the top 40 on the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
,
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
, and
Top 40 Mainstream
charts.
[4]
[12]
Elsewhere, "All Eyez on Me" enjoyed similar success.
[12]
It entered the top 20 in both regions of Belgium, peaking at number 11 on the Wallonian
Ultratip
chart,
[13]
while also reaching number 12 on the Flemish equivalent.
[14]
The song also charted at number 29 in New Zealand and number 39 in Australia,
[15]
[11]
and reached the lower halves of the national top 100 singles charts in
Germany
and
Switzerland
.
[16]
[17]
Though generally mildly successful, as of 2021, "All Eyez on Me" remains her latest entry on all these chart as no further singles by Monica have been released or charted there ever since.
[17]
Music video
[
edit
]
An accompanying
music video
for "All Eyez on Me" was directed by
Chris Robinson
and filmed at several locations in
Beverly Hills
and
Mid-City West, Los Angeles
,
California
between July 14?15, 2002.
[18]
On the concept of the video, Monica commented: "The theme of the video is me just getting up, going about a normal day," she said. "I got a chance to just go shopping and stuff like that, but this scene is more of me dancing and having a good time, like the song says, in the club. So that's basically the whole theme of it. Just to have a good time."
[2]
[19]
The video features guest appearances by rappers
Missy Elliott
,
Jermaine Dupri
,
Ludacris
,
Trina
, and
Mia X
, producer Rodney Jerkins and Monica's younger brother Montez Arnold. "All Eyez on Me" was partially choreographed by Devyne Stephens.
[19]
The video world premiered at the end of
BET
's documentary series
Access Granted
on July 26, 2002.
[18]
Track listings
[
edit
]
All tracks written by
Monica Arnold
,
LaShawn Daniels
,
Rodney Jerkins
,
James Ingram
, and
Quincy Jones
.
[6]
CD single
Title
| Producer(s)
|
---|
1.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Radio Edit)
| Jerkins
| 3:58
|
---|
2.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Blacksmith Club Radio Mix featuring
Rahzel
)
| | 4:22
|
---|
3.
| "All Eyez on Me" (MaUVe Vocal Mix)
| | 7:33
|
---|
4.
| "All Eyez on Me" (MaUVe Dub Mix)
| | 7:14
|
---|
12-inch single 1
Title
| Producer(s)
|
---|
1.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Radio Edit)
| | 3:58
|
---|
2.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Instrumental)
| Jerkins
| 3:58
|
---|
3.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Radio Mix)
| | 3:58
|
---|
4.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Acappella)
| | 3:58
|
---|
12-inch single 2
Title
| Producer(s)
|
---|
1.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Blacksmith Club Rub)
| - Jerkins
- Daniels
[a]
- Blacksmith
[b]
| 4:27
|
---|
2.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Blacksmith Clubstrumental)
| - Jerkins
- Daniels
[a]
- Blacksmith
[b]
| 4:27
|
---|
3.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Radio Edit)
| | 3:58
|
---|
4.
| "All Eyez on Me" (Instrumental)
| Jerkins
| 3:58
|
---|
Notes
- ^a
denotes vocal producer(s)
- ^b
denotes additional producer(s)
Sample credits
Credits and personnel
[
edit
]
Credits lifted from the liner notes of
All Eyez on Me
.
[6]
Charts
[
edit
]
Weekly charts
[
edit
]
|
Year-end charts
[
edit
]
|
Release history
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
c
d
Reid, Shaheem (May 8, 2002).
"Monica Brings New Perspective to Third Album"
.
MTV News
.
Archived
from the original on September 30, 2007
. Retrieved
November 1,
2007
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
Entertainment Editors (June 22, 2002).
"Superstar Monica Selects Self-Titled Album"
.
Business Wire
. Find Articles
. Retrieved
August 10,
2008
.
[
dead link
]
- ^
Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (December 16, 2009).
"All 'Eyez' On Monica"
.
Essence
. Retrieved
May 15,
2021
.
- ^
a
b
"Monica | Awards"
.
AllMusic
. Archived from
the original
on February 18, 2016
. Retrieved
March 12,
2020
.
- ^
Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (June 27, 2003).
"Monica triumphs over tragedy
After the Storm
"
.
Enquirer
. Retrieved
June 1,
2007
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
All Eyez on Me
(booklet). Monica. J Records. 2002.
{{
cite AV media notes
}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (
link
)
- ^
a
b
Moss, Corey (July 3, 2002).
"Monica's Next Album Showcases Her Newfound Potty Mouth"
.
MTV News
. Retrieved
May 25,
2021
.
- ^
Reid, Shaheem (April 17, 2003).
"Monica Revises Leaked LP With Help From Missy Elliott"
.
MTV News
. Archived from
the original
on January 11, 2008
. Retrieved
May 25,
2021
.
- ^
"Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: June 29, 2002"
.
Billboard
. Archived from
the original
on September 24, 2012
. Retrieved
July 29,
2008
.
- ^
"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: July 6, 2002"
.
Billboard
. Archived from
the original
on September 24, 2012
. Retrieved
August 10,
2008
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Monica Chart History (Hot 100)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^
a
b
c
"Monica Album & Song Chart History"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved
March 12,
2020
.
- ^
a
b
"
Monica ? All Eyez on Me"
(in French).
Ultratip
. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^
a
b
"
Monica ? All Eyez on Me"
(in Dutch).
Ultratip
. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^
a
b
"
Monica ? All Eyez on Me"
.
Top 40 Singles
. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^
a
b
"
Monica ? All Eyez on Me"
.
ARIA Top 50 Singles
. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^
a
b
"MONICA - ALL EYEZ ON ME (SONG)"
.
Australian-Charts
. Archived from
the original
on October 17, 2012
. Retrieved
August 10,
2008
.
- ^
a
b
"Episode Detail: Monica"
.
TVGuide
. Archived from
the original
on September 30, 2012
. Retrieved
October 13,
2008
.
- ^
a
b
"
"Monica's "All Eyez on Me" Video Shoot"
"
.
WireImages.com
. Archived from
the original
on June 5, 2011
. Retrieved
November 1,
2007
.
- ^
"
Issue 661"
ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles
. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
- ^
"
Monica ? All Eyez on Me"
(in German).
GfK Entertainment charts
. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ^
"Monica Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^
"Monica Chart History (Pop Songs)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^
"Monica Chart History (Rhythmic)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^
"Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2002"
(PDF)
.
Music Week
. January 18, 2003. p. 32
. Retrieved
August 4,
2023
.
- ^
"Going for Adds"
(PDF)
.
Radio & Records
. No. 1459. June 28, 2002. p. 26
. Retrieved
May 5,
2021
.
- ^
"New Releases"
.
netcd.co.nz
. October 7, 2002. Archived from
the original
on October 10, 2002
. Retrieved
November 8,
2023
.
- ^
"The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles ? Week Commencing 14th October 2002"
(PDF)
.
ARIA
. October 14, 2002. p. 26. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on November 6, 2002
. Retrieved
May 5,
2021
.