"Doin It" is a song by American rapper LL Cool J, released by Def Jam Recordings on February 20, 1996, as the second single from his sixth album, Mr. Smith (1995). Based on a sample of Grace Jones' "My Jamaican Guy", it contains a guest appearance from LeShaun (who previously released a song with the same sample and theme in 1988 titled "Wild Thang"), while production was handled by Rashad Smith. Its B-side was the album's previous single, "Hey Lover".
"Doin It" peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, and number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsBillboard chart. In several interviews, both the artist and producer have stated that the instrumental was originally meant for the Notorious B.I.G. on his Life After Death album.[1] The crowd noise heard throughout the song, shouting "Go Brooklyn!", is sampled from "Go Stetsa" by Stetsasonic. Furthermore, the hook of "Doin It" interpolates "Wild Thang" by 2 Much, a group LeShaun was part of.
Background
"Doin' It" was written by LL Cool J and Rashad Smith for the former's sixth album, Mr. Smith (1995), with Smith overseeing production on the track.[2] The song contains a sample from Jamaican entertainer Grace Jones' 1983 song "My Jamaican Guy."[2] Originally intended for The Notorious B.I.G.'s second studio album, Life After Death (1997), it was Biggie's idea for Smith to sample Jones' song.[3] Although B.I.G. liked the track Smith created using "My Jamaican Guy," the album's budget had not yet been approved,[3] and, due to Smith's financial struggles,[3] he took the song to Def Jam executive Chris Lighty, who offered him twice the original price for the beats he had produced in exchange for using them on LL Cool J's album.[3] This decision ultimately led to a falling out between B.I.G. and Smith.[3]
Lyrically, "Doin' It" finds its performers discussing their sexual desire for each other.[4][5] In an 2012 interview with Entertainment Weekly, LL Cool J commented on the song: "That's one of my favorites, because what's better than doin' it? And the track pounds just like you're doing it. It just made me feel good, you know? "I represent Queens/She was raised out of Brooklyn" has definitely become part of the vernacular, I guess you would call it."[6]
Music video
The accompanying music video, directed by American director Hype Williams, was shot in January 1996.[7] LeShaun did not appear in the video, as she was pregnant at the time, although several models took her place and lip synced her parts.
↑The Genres, Prosody and Pragmatics of Rap Said Abir Anbari - 2011 - Page 6 "There are also songs in which a male and a female performer rap together about their (sexual) desire for each other, for instance, in the song “Doin It” (1996) of LL Cool J and LeShaun (see app., p. 42)."
↑S2S Magazine - "Jamie Foster Brown - 1996 Page 22-"LL Cool J: Sexually explicit? All right, if you want to call it that. Jennifer: You don't agree? LL Cool J: I mean, not particularly. I think that some of it is adult oriented, but that's the nature of that particular song, "Doin It." That's the only song.
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