Hands Up (TLC song)

"Hands Up" a song by American girl group TLC. It was written and produced by both Babyface and Daryl Simmons for the band's fourth studio album, 3D (2002). A sensual mid-tempo song that deals with romantic betrayal, it was selected and released as the album's second single in the United States in November 2002, following lead single "Girl Talk" (2002). Arista Records consulted several producers to remix the song for its single release, including Richard X, LaMarquis Jefferson, and Jermaine Dupri.

"Hands Up"
Single by TLC
from the album 3D
ReleasedNovember 5, 2002
Length3:48
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Babyface
  • Daryl Simmons
TLC singles chronology
"Girl Talk"
(2002)		 "Hands Up"
(2002)		 "Damaged"
(2003)

Released to positive reviews, "Hands Up" garnered TLC a nomination at the 2004 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Commercially, the song was less successful than previous singles; it became the band's first single release to neither enter the US Billboard Hot 100 nor the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. An accompanying music video, directed by Matthew Rolston and set at a sex club, features a cameo appearance by Countess Vaughn.

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor from Billboard found that the song lacked the qualities of previous hits such as "No Scrubs" or "Waterfalls with "its creeping, downtempo "Hernando's Hideaway" vibe." However, he also acknowledged that "with a few listens, the track's "my man's a dog" theme gains favor and slowly tickles its way into the brain. T-Boz's trademark husky vocals add to the appeal."[1] In his review of parent album 3D, Andy Battaglia from The A.V. Club noted: "In TLC's universe, the sensual call-out to Krispy Kremes on "Hands Up" sounds just as heartfelt as the adultery-inspired sadness of "So So Dumb." Legions of R&B acts waver through regrettably blank genre plays, but few make them as rich and worthwhile as TLC."[2] Dimitri Ehrlich from Vibe described "Hands Up" a as "a film noir–like tale of romantic betrayal. There's a confrontation inside an ATL club, replete with swarming hoochies and a cheating man caught red-handed [...] When the song ends, we're still waiting for Lopes's piercing lines. Without her, the story is incomplete. And in her absence, her presence is everywhere."[3]

Music video
The music video for Hands Up" was filmed in Los Angeles.[4]

A music video for "Hands Up" was shot on January 9 and 10, 2003 in Los Angeles.[4] T-Boz and Chilli reunited with Matthew Rolston, director of their videos for "Creep" and "Red Light Special", to film the visuals.[4] In it, both band members are at a futuristic strip club called Left Eye, named after Lisa Lopes' nickname.[4] The venue, which is flooded with music and people, breaks off into a ladies-only section and a gentlemen's lounge. In the ladies-only lounge of the club, T-Boz and Chilli pass the time scanning half-naked men with UPC tattoos, while also watching them pose, giving massages and stripping for other visitors.[4] Looking through a peephole, they see T-Boz's boyfriend, played by actor Marvin Jordan,[5] in the side of the club that caters to men, going crazy over the women around him.[4] Actress Countess Vaughn plays the madam of the venue in the video.[5] ´

Track listing
European CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Damaged" (Radio Mix)
Austin3:51
2."Hands Up" (So So Def Remix featuring Clipse)
4:15
European enhanced CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Damaged" (Radio Mix)
  • Austin
  • Watkins
Austin3:51
2."Hands Up" (Richard X Extended Remix)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
4:37
3."Hands Up" (Richard X Radio Remix)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Richard X[A]
3:50
4."Hands Up" (So So Def Remix featuring Clipse)
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Wallace
  • Combs
  • Jordan
  • Babyface
  • Simmons
  • Dupri[A]
  • Jefferson[B]
4:15
5."Hands Up" (music video)  4:01

Notes

  • ^[A] denotes additional producer
  • ^[B] denotes additional co-producer

Sample credits

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of 3D.[6]

Charts

References
  1. "Reviews & Previews – Spotlights". Billboard. January 18, 2003. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  2. Battaglia, Andy (November 27, 2002). "TLC: 3D". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  3. Ehrlich, Dimitri. "TLC – 3D (Arista)". Vibe. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  4. Reid, Shaheem (January 9, 2003). "TLC Bust Their Creeping Men". MTV.com. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  5. "TLC making videos for Girl Talk, Hands Up & Damaged". Access Granted. Retrieved July 24, 2023 – via YouTube.
  6. 3D (Media notes). TLC. Arista Records. 2002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. "Chart Log UK (1994–2010): DJ T – Tzant". Zobbel.de. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  8. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  9. "TLC Chart History (Hot Singles Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  10. "TLC Chart History (Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  11. "2003 Urban top 30" (PDF). Music Week. January 17, 2004. p. 18. Retrieved August 4, 2023.


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