"1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" is a song by American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

Coolio Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (August 1, 1963 – September 28, 2022), known by his stage name Coolio, was an American rapper. He was best known for his single "Gangsta's Paradise" (1995), which won a Grammy Award, and was credited for changing the cours ...

. It was the third single released from his second studio album, ''

Gangsta's Paradise "Gangsta's Paradise" is a single by American rapper Coolio, released on August 1, 1995, by Tommy Boy, Warner Bros. and MCA. Interpolating Stevie Wonder's song " Pastime Paradise" (1976), "Gangsta's Paradise" features vocals from American sin ...

'' (1995), in February 1996. Initially entitled "Sumpin' New", the song uses a sample from " Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)", recorded in 1981 by American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

trumpeter Tom Browne, and also includes a vocal sample from "Wikka Wrap" by the Evasions, from 1981. The song achieved success in several countries, including the United States, France, Iceland, and New Zealand, where it was a top-10 hit.

Critical reception

Larry Flick Larry Flick is an American journalist, former dance music columnist, single reviewer, and Senior Talent Editor for ''Billboard'' magazine, where he worked for 14 years. Now he produces and hosts Sirius XM radio shows. Flick started in the musi ...

from ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' described the song as "a jumpy,

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

-lined jeep anthem that allows Coolio plenty of room to work up a fun, lyrical sweat." He added, "The sample-happy groove provides a wigglin' good time, riding primarily on a prominent snippet of the early '80s

12-inch The twelve-inch single (often written as 12-inch or 12) is a type of vinyl (polyvinyl chloride or PVC) gramophone record that has wider groove spacing and shorter playing time with a "single" or a few related sound tracks on each surface, compar ...

er "Wikka Wrap" by the Evasions. Lighter in content than Coolio's recent releases, this is a hit-bound jam that will leave you gleefully twitching and grinning from ear to ear." Gil L. Robertson IV from ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' picked "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" as a "standout track" of the ''

'' album. Ralph Tee from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as ''Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music We ...

s ''RM'' Dance Update rated the song four out of five. He remarked, "Unlike so many

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

singles which lean towards often depressing issues, this is a spirited happy record about having a great party. It kicks off with a sample from The Evasions' 1981 novelty hit 'Wikka Wrap', the

Alan Whicker Donald Alan Whicker (2 August 1921 – 12 July 2013) was a British journalist and television presenter and broadcaster. His career spanned almost 60 years, during which time he presented the documentary television programme '' Whick ...

impersonation leading towards an upbeat

disco Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...

rap which utilises the much-used

Chic Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Etymology '' Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English dictionaries classified ...

bassline from '

Good Times ''Good Times'' is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS, from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans (actor), Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was televis ...

' and some sampled Tom Browne horns. A strong third single from the hottest rapper in the biz right now." Another editor,

James Hamilton James Hamilton may refer to: Dukes *James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton (1606–1649), heir to the throne of Scotland *James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton (1658–1712), Scottish nobleman *James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton (1703–1743), Sco ...

described it as an "ultra infectious jiggly rap smacker".

Music video

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

(directed by David Dobkin) for the Timber mix was released, featuring Coolio attempting to get to a party.

Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop (born December 13, 1967), known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, comedian, and singer. Known for his work in both the screen and music industries, his accolades include an Academy Award, a Grammy Award ...

and A. J. Johnson are also in the music video. A music video featuring the Muppets was released and premiered on the

Disney Channel Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...

. This music video was also used as the closing number on the ''

Muppets Tonight ''Muppets Tonight'' is an American live-action/puppet family-oriented comedy television series, created by Jim Henson Productions and featuring The Muppets. The series ran for two seasons between March 8, 1996 to February 8, 1998, originally ...

'' episode which guest-starred Coolio. The video won the

MTV Video Music Award The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...

for Best Dance Video.

Video credits

* A. J. Johnson *

and guest stars * Directed by David Dobkin * Director of photography — unknown * Editor — unknown

Track listings

* US 7-inch and cassette single, UK cassette single # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix clean version) – 3:20 # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (clean album version) – 3:20 * US, UK, and European CD single # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix) – 3:20 # "Smilin'" – 4:09 * US 12-inch single :A1. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix extended version) :A2. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix instrumental) :A3. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix a cappella) :B1. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (album version) :B2. "Kinda High, Kinda Drunk" (album version) * UK 12-inch single :A1. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix extended version) :A2. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix instrumental) :B1. "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (album version) :B2. "Kinda High, Kinda Drunk" (album version) * German CD single # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix clean version) – 3:20 # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix extended version) – 4:33 # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix straight pass) – 3:31 # "Kinda High, Kinda Drunk" – 3:44 * Australian CD and cassette single # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix) # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (clean album version) # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix extended version) # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix instrumental) # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (a cappella) # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (album version) # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix straight pass) # "Smilin'" * Japanese CD single # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix) # "Smilin'" # "1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)" (Timber mix instrumental)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1995 songs 1996 singles Coolio songs Music videos directed by David Dobkin Songs written by Coolio Tommy Boy Records singles