| "(Always Be My) Sunshine" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]()  | ||||
| Single by Jay-Z featuring Foxy Brown and Babyface | ||||
| from the album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 | ||||
| Released | October 14, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1997 | |||
| Genre | East Coast hip hop | |||
| Length | 4:43 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool | |||
| Jay-Z singles chronology | ||||
  | ||||
| Babyface singles chronology | ||||
  | ||||
| Foxy Brown singles chronology | ||||
  | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "(Always Be My) Sunshine" on YouTube | ||||
"(Always Be My) Sunshine" is a hip hop song by American rapper Jay-Z with guest vocals from fellow femcee Foxy Brown and R&B singer-songwriter Babyface who performs the song's chorus. It serves as the first single from his second album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997). The track features production by Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool. Vanderpool samples MC Lyte's "Cha Cha Cha", Alexander O'Neal's "Sunshine", Kraftwerk's "The Man-Machine" and The Fearless Four's "Rockin' It" for the track's beat. In addition, George Fonenette plays keyboards on this song. The song's lyrics helped indicate Jay-Z's change from his Mafioso rap style to a more commercial "shiny suit" style. Steve Juon of RapReviews.com supports the song claiming that it is a less gangsta version of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Me & My Bitch", a well-received track.[1] Jay-Z cites this song as "what killed the album."[2]
Music video
The music video was directed by Hype Williams. Jay-Z is featured in the video rapping in a room resembling a Rubik's Cube & having a carnival theme to it with Foxy Brown rapping alongside of him. Jay-Z & co-founder of Roc-A-Fella, Damon Dash later regretted doing the video citing that the video wasn't their style.
Formats and track listings
CD
- "Sunshine (Radio Edit)" (3:15)
 - "Sunshine (Album Version)" (4:11)
 - "Sunshine (Clean Version)" (4:12)
 - "Sunshine (TV track)" (4:12)
 - "Sunshine (Acappella)" (3:49)
 
Vinyl
A-side
- "Sunshine (Album Version)"
 - "Sunshine (TV Track)"
 - "Sunshine (Radio Edit)"
 
B-side
- "Sunshine (Clean Version)"
 - "Sunshine (Instrumental)"
 - "Sunshine (Acappella)"
 
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position  | 
|---|---|
| Germany (Official German Charts)[3] | 18 | 
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[4] | 9 | 
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[5] | 66 | 
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] | 22 | 
| Scotland (OCC)[7] | 69 | 
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[8] | 47 | 
| UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[9] | 3 | 
| UK Singles (OCC)[10] | 25 | 
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 95 | 
| US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[12] | 21 | 
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] | 37 | 
| US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[14] | 16 | 
See also
References
- ↑ Juon, Steve. "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 Review at RapReviews.com". Archived from the original on 3 August 2007. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
 - ↑ The Scoreboard | Life+Times
 - ↑ "Jay-Z feat. Foxy Brown & Babyface – Sunshine" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 3, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
 - ↑ "Jay-Z feat. Foxy Brown & Babyface – Sunshine" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Jay-Z feat. Foxy Brown & Babyface – Sunshine". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Jay-Z feat. Foxy Brown & Babyface – Sunshine". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Jay-Z Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 - ↑ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
 
