Snoop's Upside Ya Head

"Snoop's Upside Ya Head" is a song by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg, released as the first single from his second album, Tha Doggfather (1996). The song heavily samples "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops)" by the Gap Band and features new vocals from Gap Band's lead singer Charlie Wilson. It was released as a single by Death Row, Interscope and MCA in the UK on September 14, 1996^[1] and was Snoop's second European hit. The single was released one day after Death Row labelmate Tupac Shakur died from injuries sustained in a drive by shooting the week prior.

"Snoop's Upside Ya Head"
Single by Snoop Doggy Dogg featuring Charlie Wilson
from the album Tha Doggfather
Released	September 14, 1996 (1996-09-14)
Recorded	1996
Genre	G-funk
Length	4:28 (album version) 5:17 (video)
Label	Death Row Interscope MCA
Songwriter(s)	Calvin Broadus
Producer(s)	DJ Pooh
Snoop Doggy Dogg singles chronology
"2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" (1996) "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (1996) "Never Leave Me Alone" (1996)
Charlie Wilson singles chronology
"Stomp" (1996) "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (1996) "Vapors" (1997)
Music video
"Snoop's Upside Ya Head" on YouTube

Critical reception

Everett True from Melody Maker wrote in his review of the single, "Slick, smooth and sinuous cover of The Gap Band. Lacks bite."^[2]

Music video

In the accompanying music video for "Snoop's Upside Ya Head", an imaginary execution takes place where Snoop Doggy Dogg manages to escape from the electric chair (It refers to the end of Snoop's real life murder trial by verdict of not guilty). After that protesters are outside some with signs stating "we love you Snoop" and others stating "fry 'em". Later Snoop saves a news reporter and drives away in his car and manages to escape the cops briefly. Apparently the news reporter helped Snoop escape as shown briefly in the music video.

Later he performs in an outdoor concert for his awaiting fans and in the progress gets arrested by the cops and is put back in jail. While in jail he performs again for the inmates later showing Snoop in 2021; still an inmate rocking the jail. It stars Vincent Schiavelli as the prison governor, Wilson as the prison guard, and Uncle Junebug as the old Snoop in prison. DJ Pooh makes a cameo appearance as a DJ in the prison. The music video was released in November 1996.

Track listing

• UK 12" single^[1]

A1. "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (Album Version) (featuring Charlie Wilson) — 4:29

B1. "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (Radio Edit) (featuring Charlie Wilson) — 4:29

B2. "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (Instrumental) — 4:29

Charts

Chart performance for "Snoop's Upside Ya Head"

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[3]	46
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4]	8
Germany (GfK)[5]	34
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6]	7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7]	32
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[8]	39
Scotland (OCC)[9]	24
UK Dance (OCC)[10]	1
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[11]	3
UK Singles (OCC)[12]	12
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[13]	37
US Rap Songs (Billboard)[14]	5

Certifications

Certifications for "Snoop's Upside Ya Head"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[15]	Gold	5,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Snoop Doggy Dogg* Featuring Charlie Wilson – Snoop's Upside Ya Head". Discogs. 1996. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
2. True, Everett (December 7, 1996). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 38. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
3. "Snoop Doggy Dogg – Snoop's Upside Ya Head". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
4. "Snoop Doggy Dogg – Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
5. "Snoop Doggy Dogg – Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
6. "Snoop Doggy Dogg – Snoop's Upside Ya Head". Top 40 Singles.
7. "Snoop Doggy Dogg – Snoop's Upside Ya Head" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
8. "Snoop Doggy Dogg – Snoop's Upside Ya Head". Singles Top 100.
9. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
10. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
11. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
12. "Snoop Dogg: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
13. "Snoop Dogg Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
14. Snoop Dogg Billboard chart
15. "New Zealand single certifications – Snoop Dogg – Snoop's Upside Your Head". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.