Mesmerize (song)

For the Chapterhouse song, see Mesmerise (song).

"Mesmerize" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released on December 16, 2002, as the second single from his fourth studio, album The Last Temptation (2002). Containing a sample from the 1974 song "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, the song was produced by Irv Gotti and features R&B artist Ashanti. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2003, making it Ashanti's and Ja Rule's fourth top-10 hit as a duet.

"Mesmerize"
Single by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
from the album The Last Temptation
B-side	"Pop Niggas"
Released	December 16, 2002 (2002-12-16)
Length	4:38
Label	Def Jam Murder Inc.
Songwriter(s)	Jeffrey Atkins Ashanti Douglas Andre Parker Irving Lorenzo Thomas Bell Linda Creed
Producer(s)	Irv Gotti Chink Santana
Ja Rule singles chronology
"Thug Lovin'" (2002) "Mesmerize" (2002) "Reign" (2003)
Ashanti singles chronology
"Baby" (2002) "Mesmerize" (2002) "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" (2003)
Music video
"Mesmerize" on YouTube

Music video

Inspired by the musical number "You're the One that I Want" from the 1978 musical film Grease, the music video begins with Irv Gotti a group of men dressed in black discussing their connections in Los Angeles, California and Houston, Texas (a reference to Murder Inc.'s affiliation with Death Row Records and Rap-A-Lot Records) and their plan for a revolution in a strategy room. Ja Rule enters dressed in a preppy sweater, greatly surprising the other men, and explains that his girl wants him to forsake the street life. Meanwhile, some of Ashanti's friends are having a slumber party (with the Ashanti album cut "Movies" playing in the background) and playing scrabble when Ashanti emerges dressed in flashy black leather attire, explaining that her guy wants her to be more street.

The song begins with the two meeting up at an amusement fair. As they sing, they partake in various carnival attractions, such as game booths and bumper cars. The song ends abruptly with Ja Rule's friends emerging from a black van and asking him if he's riding with them. After he hesitates and turns to Ashanti, she accepts. They enter the van and after a few quick cuts they emerge and Ja Rule begins rapping "Destiny", the closing track from the album. The video ends with a crowd of men marching the streets and holding up various signs, including tributes to late rappers Tupac Shakur and DJ Jam-Master Jay from Run-D.M.C.

The street scene was filmed outside Cathedral High School on Bishops Road (formerly Stadium Way), an up-hill climb towards Dodger Stadium. The carnival scenes were filmed in Los Angeles at Cathedral High School's graveyard field. The entire campus was the site of the old Calvary Cemetery, northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Track listings

US 12-inch single[1] A1. "Mesmerize" (radio) A2. "Mesmerize" (street) A3. "Mesmerize" (instrumental) B1. "Pop N****s" (radio) B2. "Pop N****s" (street) B3. "Pop N****s" (instrumental) Australian CD single[2] "Mesmerize" (radio edit) "Mesmerize" (album version) "Pop Niggas" (album version) "Mesmerize" (video) European CD single[3] "Mesmerize" (radio edit) "Pop Niggas" (album version)

UK CD single[4] "Mesmerize" – 4:38 "Between Me and You" (featuring Christina Milian) – 4:10 "Mesmerize" (instrumental) – 4:38 "Mesmerize" (video) – 3:44 UK 12-inch single[5] A1. "Mesmerize" – 4:38 A2. "Pop N****s" – 4:29 B1. "Mesmerize" (instrumental) – 4:38 UK cassette single[6] "Mesmerize" – 4:38 "Between Me and You" (featuring Christina Milian) – 4:10 "Mesmerize" (instrumental) – 4:38

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2002–2003) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 5 Australian Urban (ARIA)[8] 3 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[9] 8 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[10] 6 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[11] 19 Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[12] 11 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] 45 France (SNEP)[14] 66 Germany (Official German Charts)[15] 71 Ireland (IRMA)[16] 19 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 38 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 33 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 3 Scotland (OCC)[20] 18 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 79 UK Singles (OCC)[22] 12 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[23] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[24] 2 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[25] 19 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 5 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[27] 2 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[28] 3 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[29] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position Australia (ARIA)[30] 35 Australian Urban (ARIA)[31] 20 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 40 UK Singles (OCC)[33] 123 US Billboard Hot 100[34] 25 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[35] 49 US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard)[36] 8 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 24 US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[38] 18

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[39]	Platinum	70,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[40]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[41]	Gold	400,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	December 16, 2002	Rhythmic contemporary urban radio	Murder Inc. Def Jam	[42]
	January 27, 2003	Contemporary hit radio		[43]
Australia	March 10, 2003	CD	Murder Inc.	[44]
United Kingdom	March 17, 2003	12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Murder Inc. Def Jam	[45]

References

1. Mesmerize (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Ja Rule. Def Jam Recordings, Murder Inc. Records. 2002. 440 063 773-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. Mesmerize (Australian CD single liner notes). Ja Rule. Murder Inc. Records. 2003. 063 701-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
3. Mesmerize (European CD single liner notes). Ja Rule. Murder Inc. Records. 2003. 063 773-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. Mesmerize (UK CD single liner notes). Ja Rule. Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings. 2003. 077 958-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. Mesmerize (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Ja Rule. Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings. 2003. 077 958-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. Mesmerize (UK cassette single sleeve). Ja Rule. Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings. 2003. 077 958-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. "Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
8. "Issue 682" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
9. "Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
10. "Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in French). Ultratip.
11. "Canadian Digital Song Sales: Page 1". Billboard.
12. "Canadian Top 20 in 2003" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
13. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 15. April 5, 2003. p. 13. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
14. "Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in French). Les classement single.
15. "Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mesmerize". Irish Singles Chart.
17. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
18. "Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
19. "Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". Top 40 Singles.
20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
21. "Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". Swiss Singles Chart.
22. "Ja Rule: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
23. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
24. "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
25. "Ashanti Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
26. "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
27. "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
28. "Ja Rule Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
29. "Ja Rule Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
30. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2003". ARIA. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
31. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2003". ARIA. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
32. "End of Year Charts 2003". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
33. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
34. "Top 100 Songs of 2003 – Billboard Year End Charts". Bobborst.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
35. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2003". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
36. "Year in Music: Hot Rap Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. December 27, 2003. p. YE-65.
37. "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 14.
38. "Year in Music: Hot Rhythmic Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 52. December 27, 2003. p. YE-81.
39. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
40. "Brazilian single certifications – Ja Rule – Mesmerize" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
41. "British single certifications – Ja Rule ft Ashanti – Mesmerize". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
42. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1483. December 13, 2002. p. 26. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
43. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1488. January 24, 2003. p. 30. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
44. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 10th March 2003" (PDF). ARIA. March 10, 2003. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2003. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
45. "New Release Countdown: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 15, 2003. p. 21. Retrieved September 2, 2021.