Mesmerize (song)

"Mesmerize" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule. It was released in December 2002 as the second single from his fourth album The Last Temptation. The song was produced by Irv Gotti and features R&B artist Ashanti. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 2003, behind Jennifer Lopez and LL Cool J's "All I Have", making it Ashanti's and Ja Rule's fourth top ten hit as a duet.

"Mesmerize"
Single by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
from the album The Last Temptation
ReleasedDecember 16, 2002
January 16, 2003
Recorded2002
Genre
Length4:38 (album/single version)
5:51 (music video)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Ja Rule singles chronology
"Thug Lovin'"
(2002)		 "Mesmerize"
(2002)		 "Reign"
(2003)
Ashanti singles chronology
"Baby"
(2002)		 "Mesmerize"
(2002)		 "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)"
(2003)

The song contains a sample from the 1974 song "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" performed by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.

Music video

The music video was inspired by the musical number "You're the One that I Want" from the 1978 musical film Grease.

The video begins with a group of men dressed in black discussing their plan for a revolution in a strategy room. Ja Rule enters dressed in a preppy sweater, much to the surprise of the other men. He explains that his girl wants him to leave the street life behind. 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. She explains that her guy wants her to be more street.

The song begins and we see 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 says she's riding if he's riding. 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.

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 249,000[24]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Australian-charts.com – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  2. "Ultratop.be – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  3. "Ultratop.be – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in French). Ultratip.
  4. "Canadian Digital Song Sales: Page 1". Billboard.
  5. "Lescharts.com – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in French). Les classement single.
  6. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mesmerize". Irish Singles Chart.
  8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  9. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  10. "Charts.nz – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". Top 40 Singles.
  11. "Swisscharts.com – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". Swiss Singles Chart.
  12. "Ja Rule: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  13. "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  15. "Ja Rule Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
  16. "Ja Rule Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  17. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2003". ARIA. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  18. "End of Year Charts 2003". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  19. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  20. "Top 100 Songs of 2003 - Billboard Year End Charts". Bobborst.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  21. "Billboard Year End Charts". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  22. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  23. "British single certifications – Ja Rule ft Ashanti – Mesmerize". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 9, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Mesmerize in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  24. Copsey, Rob (January 28, 2020). "Ashanti's Top 10 biggest hits on the Official UK Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 29, 2020.



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