Gossip Folks

2002 single by Missy Elliott featuring Ludacris

"Gossip Folks"
Single by Missy Elliott featuring Ludacris
from the album Under Construction
ReleasedDecember 9, 2002 (2002-12-09)
Studio
  • Hit Factory Criteria (Miami, Florida)
  • PatchWerk (Atlanta, Georgia)
Length3:54
Label
  • The Goldmind Inc.
  • Elektra
Songwriter(s)
  • Missy Elliott
  • Tim Mosley
  • Christopher Bridges
Producer(s)Timbaland
Missy Elliott singles chronology
"Honk Your Horn"
(2002) 		"Gossip Folks"
(2002) 		"Fighting Temptation"
(2003)
Ludacris singles chronology
"Why Don't We Fall in Love"
(2002) 		"Gossip Folks"
(2002) 		"Act a Fool"
(2003)
Music video
"Gossip Folks" on YouTube

"Gossip Folks" is a song by American rapper Missy Elliott featuring fellow American rapper Ludacris, released as the second single from her fourth studio album, Under Construction (2002), on December 9, 2002. Written alongside producer Timbaland, it peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, topped the Billboard Dance Club Play chart, and reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart.

Background

The song is Missy's response to different rumors about her (e.g., her sexual orientation, her weight), and essentially tells those who spread these rumors to mind their own business. The refrain of "Gossip Folks" samples the 1981 song "Double Dutch Bus" by Frankie Smith.

Music video

The music video for "Gossip Folks" was directed by Dave Meyers. In the beginning Elliott is walking through the hallway when students start announcing her entrance and begin to start rumors about her.

As Missy's verse starts, Missy and the students begin dancing through the chorus. The second verse starts in the cafeteria where Missy has her group of students have a food fight with another group. Also in the cafeteria are Tweet, Eve, and Trina impressing while sitting on a cafeteria table.

In the middle of the video a clip of "Funky Fresh Dressed" featuring Ms. Jade was played. The "Funky Fresh Dressed" segment of the video features Elliott and Ms. Jade with their green shades in a classroom. Missy begins to aggravate the teacher Faizon Love while Ms. Jade takes over the class with a yardstick as a symbol of power. Ludacris's verse begins directly after the "Funky Fresh Dressed" segment. He appears to be the principal.

The bus driver who appears in the last 10 seconds is Darryl McDaniels (DMC of Run-DMC). Toward the end of the video a mural dedicated to the late R&B/hip hop stars Aaliyah (1979–2001), Lisa Lopes (1971–2002), and Jam Master Jay (1965–2002) is shown. The video features several young dancers, including Monica Parales of former girl group School Gyrls and Alyson Stoner of The JammX Kids. Monica Parales auditioned for the role of Lead Kid Dancer in "Work It", but lost the role to Alyson Stoner. Monica eventually co-starred with Alyson in "Gossip Folks" and "I'm Really Hot". The music video also stars dancer and actress Jenna Dewan from Step Up.[1]

Tributes in the end of the video

Track listings

US 12-inch single[2]

A1. "Gossip Folks" (amended version)
A2. "Gossip Folks" (album version)
B1. "Gossip Folks" (instrumental)
B2. "Gossip Folks" (a cappella)
B3. "Gossip Folks" (TV track)

UK CD single[3]

  1. "Gossip Folks" (Fatboy Slim radio remix) – 3:31
  2. "Gossip Folks" (Fatboy Slim remix) – 6:42
  3. "Gossip Folks" (original version) – 3:54
  4. "Gossip Folks" (Fatboy Slim remix video)

UK 12-inch single[4]

A. "Gossip Folks" (Fatboy Slim remix) – 6:42
B. "Gossip Folks" (original version) – 3:54

European CD single 1[5]

  1. "Gossip Folks" (Fatboy Slim remix) – 6:42
  2. "Gossip Folks" (original version) – 3:54

European CD single 2[6]

  1. "Gossip Folks" (Mousse T. & Royal Garden remix radio) – 3:37
  2. "Gossip Folks" (Fatboy Slim remix) – 6:42

Australian CD single[7]

  1. "Gossip Folks" (Fatboy Slim radio remix) – 3:31
  2. "Gossip Folks" (Fatboy Slim remix) – 6:42
  3. "Gossip Folks" (original version) – 3:54
  4. "Gossip Folks" (Mousse T.'s original alternative) – 3:47
  5. "Gossip Folks" (Mousse T.'s Pogo remix extended) – 5:04
  6. "Gossip Folks" (Mousse T. & Royal Garden remix extended) – 5:19
  7. "Gossip Folks" (original video)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2002–2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 22
Australian Urban (ARIA)[9] 8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 24
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[11] 14
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[12] 39
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[13] 10
Denmark (Tracklisten)[14] 6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 20
Germany (Official German Charts)[16] 28
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 28
Italy (FIMI)[18] 32
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 40
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 50
Scotland (OCC)[21] 13
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 24
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 50
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 9
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[25] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 8
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[27]
Fatboy Slim mixes 		1
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[28]
Fatboy Slim remix 		11
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] 5
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[30] 2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[31] 8
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[32] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (2003) Position
UK Singles (OCC)[33] 107
US Billboard Hot 100[34] 43
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[35] 44
US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard)[36] 19
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 67
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[38] 27

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States December 9, 2002
[39]
January 27, 2003 Contemporary hit radio [40]
United Kingdom March 10, 2003
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [41]
Australia March 24, 2003 CD [42]

References

  1. ^ Whatever Happened to the Little Girls From Missy Elliott's Music Videos?
  2. ^ Gossip Folks (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Missy Elliott. The Goldmind Inc., Elektra Records. 2003. 67356-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Gossip Folks (UK CD single liner notes). Missy Elliott. The Goldmind Inc., Elektra Records. 2003. E7380CD, 7559-67380-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Gossip Folks (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Missy Elliott. The Goldmind Inc., Elektra Records. 2003. E7380T.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Gossip Folks (European CD single liner notes). Missy Elliott. The Goldmind Inc., Elektra Records. 2003. 7559-67381-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Gossip Folks (European CD single liner notes). Missy Elliott. The Goldmind Inc., Elektra Records. 2003. 7559-67389-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Gossip Folks (Australian CD single liner notes). Missy Elliott. The Goldmind Inc., Elektra Records. 2003. 7559-67385-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris – Gossip Folks". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  9. ^ "Issue 691" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris – Gossip Folks" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  11. ^ "Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris – Gossip Folks" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  12. ^ "Top 50 Singles". Jam!. Archived from the original on April 24, 2003. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  13. ^ "Canadian Top 20 in 2003" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  14. ^ "Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris – Gossip Folks". Tracklisten. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 14. March 29, 2003. p. 10. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris – Gossip Folks" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  17. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Gossip Folks". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  18. ^ "Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris – Gossip Folks". Top Digital Download. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  19. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  20. ^ "Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris – Gossip Folks" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  22. ^ "Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris – Gossip Folks". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  23. ^ "Missy Elliott feat. Ludacris – Gossip Folks". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  24. ^ "Missy Elliott: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  25. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  26. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  27. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  28. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  29. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  30. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  31. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  32. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  33. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  34. ^ "2003 Year End Charts – The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  35. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2003". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  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. ^ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 26.
  39. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1482. December 6, 2002. p. 18. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  40. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1488. January 24, 2003. p. 30. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  41. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 10 March 2003: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 8, 2003. p. 21. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  42. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 24th March 2003" (PDF). ARIA. March 24, 2003. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2003. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
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