Wikipedia

Locked Up (song)

"Locked Up" is a song by American singer and rapper Akon featuring fellow American rapper Styles P, taken as the lead single from the former's debut album, Trouble. The single was released in the United States on April 5, 2004, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Locked Up" peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Ireland and the United Kingdom and the top 20 of the charts in France, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland.

"Locked Up"
Single by Akon featuring Styles P
from the album Trouble
ReleasedApril 5, 2004 (2004-04-05)
Genre
Length3:56
Label
Songwriter(s)Akon
Producer(s)Akon
Akon singles chronology
"Operations of Nature"
(1996) 		"Locked Up"
(2004) 		"Find Us"
(2004)
Music video
"Locked Up ft. Styles P" on YouTube

Background

edit

Although it was widely regarded that "Lonely" offered the album's best option in terms of commercial breakthrough and lead single as well as first single, SRC A&R and producer Knobody chose "Locked Up" as the first and lead single because he wanted to break Akon in the streets first, and then cross-over. In an interview for HitQuarters, he claimed: "Locked Up" is a street record. I thought that was the place for us to start to get a fan-base, knowing that weight. We thought really carefully about the record, what touches people and will get people's attention – so we added references of his kin and kith sending him magazines, money-orders, to visit him, ask where his lawyer is, accept his phone calls and ask "where're my niggaz on lockdown." The song was designed a breakout hit for Akon, something that could shape the future of his personal life and widely successful musical career. I worked on what I call "drops" – points in the record where it feels different, to break the monotony and make it a little more interesting."[2]

Remixes and other versions

edit

Knobody produced an alternate of the song, featuring Styles P, which appears as both a B-side on the single and as a bonus track on the UK version of the album.

In 2004, T-Pain sampled the song in a parody recording "I'm Fucked Up", which became a main factor in him getting signed to Konvict Kartel. New Zealand rapper Savage appears on a remix on the song that was later included on his debut album, Moonshine, in 2005.

The same year, the song was sampled in the track "Won't Let Me Out" by C-Murder. A music video was produced to promote the single. The video was directed by FlyyKai, and was edited to both the album version and the remix featuring Styles P. The French CD single also has a remix featuring French rapper Booba, which is also Akon's favorite "Locked Up" remix.[3]

Another remix featuring Styles and British rapper Taz was included on the UK version of Trouble.

A remixed version of the song was released on September 4, 2020, by American rapper 6ix9ine titled "Locked Up, Pt. 2" appears on his second studio album, TattleTales (2020).[4]

A version by EDM artists Steve Aoki and Trinix was released in August 2023; it appeared on Aoki's eighth album Hiroquest 2: Double Helix, released in November of the same year.

Track listings

edit

UK CD single

  1. "Locked Up" – 3:56
  2. "Locked Up" (featuring Styles P) – 3:50
  3. "Locked Up" (featuring Taz and Styles P) – 3:54
  4. "Locked Up" (Video) (featuring Taz and Styles P) – 3:54

UK 12-inch vinyl

  1. "Locked Up" – 3:56
  2. "Locked Up" (featuring Styles P) – 3:50
  3. "Locked Up" (featuring Taz and Styles P) – 3:54
  4. "Locked Up" (Instrumental) – 3:56

German CD single

  1. "Locked Up" (featuring Azad) – 3:50
  2. "Locked Up" (Without Rap) – 3:33
  3. "Locked Up" (featuring Styles P) – 3:50
  4. "Gunshot" – 2:56

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[33] Platinum 60,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[35] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

edit
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States April 5, 2004
[36]
September 14, 2004 Contemporary hit radio [37]
United Kingdom February 21, 2005
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [38]
Australia May 16, 2005 CD [39]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Akon's 7 Biggest Hits". HNHH. August 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Interview With Knobody". HitQuarters. September 27, 2005. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  3. ^ DH.be. ""Je représente le Sénégal aux Etats-Unis"". DH.be (in French). Retrieved October 19, 2017. Ma version préférée est celle avec Booba. (My favorite version is the one with Booba)
  4. ^ TattleTales, Spotify, September 4, 2020, retrieved September 5, 2020
  5. ^ "Issue 801" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  6. ^ "Akon – Locked Up" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  7. ^ "Akon – Locked Up" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  8. ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1576. October 8, 2004. p. 44. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 12. March 19, 2005. p. 41. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  10. ^ "Akon – Locked Up" (in French). Les classement single.
  11. ^ "Akon – Locked Up" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Locked Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "Akon – Locked Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  15. ^ "Akon – Locked Up" Canciones Top 50.
  16. ^ "Akon – Locked Up". Swiss Singles Chart.
  17. ^ "Akon: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  18. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  19. ^ "Akon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Akon Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Akon Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  22. ^ "Akon Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  23. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2004". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  24. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2004". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  25. ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 29.
  26. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2005" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  27. ^ "Year End European Hot 100 Singles Chart 2005 01 – 2005 52" (PDF). Billboard. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via VNU Media.
  28. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2005" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  29. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2005" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  30. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2005" (in German). Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  31. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  32. ^ "2005 Urban Top 40" (PDF). Music Week. January 14, 2006. p. 22. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  33. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Akon – Locked Up" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  34. ^ "British single certifications – Akon – Locked Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  35. ^ "American single certifications – Akon – Locked Up". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  36. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1549. April 2, 2004. p. 22. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  37. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1572. September 10, 2004. p. 22. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  38. ^ "Reviews: Singles". Music Week. February 12, 2005. p. 29.
  39. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 16/05/2005" (PDF). ARIA. May 16, 2005. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 19, 2005. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Locked_Up_(song)&oldid=1253164128"