"Crew Deep" is a single by American rapper

Skillz Skillz may refer to: * Skillz (company), an online mobile multiplayer video game competition platform * Skillz (rapper) Donnie Shaquan Lewis, (born June 2, 1974) also known as Skillz, or Mad Skillz is an American rapper known for his accl ...

. The song features guest vocals by rapper–singer

Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...

and former Xscape member Kandi. It was released as the lead single from Skillz's unreleased album, '' I Ain't Mad No More'' (2002). Two versions of the single saw conflicting releases. One version was released as the music video and single version with the chorus being performed entirely by Kandi while sampled additional vocals were performed by

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...

in the latter. An alternate version was released promotionally with the exclusion of Kandi's vocals and the extension of Missy Elliott performing the chorus entirely by herself; this version was also incorporated into "The V.A. Remix" featuring Elliott,

Clipse Clipse, also known as The Clipse, is an American hip hop duo, chiefly active from 1994 to 2010. It consists of brothers Gene "No Malice" and Terrence "Pusha T" Thornton. Pusha T was known as Terrar during the group's early years, while No Mal ...

and

Pharrell Williams Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom h ...

Release

Physical copies of the single were released on August 20, 2002. As the song obtained buzz, it was later featured on various compilations among the likes of

Tony Touch Joseph Anthony Hernandez (born July 2, 1969), professionally known as Tony Touch, is an American hip hop break dancer, rapper, record producer and DJ of Puerto Rican descent. Career Tony Touch began as a B-boy during the rap music renaissance ...

's ''Hip Hop #71: True Gangsta'' and '' Soundbombing, Vol. 3'' to further strengthen the song's charting performance.

Music video

A music video for the single was directed by

The Malloys The Malloys is the working name of music video and film directors and brothers Emmett Malloy and Brendan Malloy. They have been with Superprime Films since 2010. Videography *"Holiday" by Vampire Weekend (2010) *"Love Dealer" by Esmée Dente ...

and premiered on BET in early July 2002. The video takes place at Skillz's neighborhood house party. Inside the house, there are talking taxidermies of various types of rappers (white rappers, male rappers, female rappers, etc.) that all sing along to the chorus of the song. Although Kandi and

were not featured in the video, the various women and talking taxidermies in the video are seen lip-syncing their parts.

Track listings and formats

; CD single # "Crew Deep" (Clean) — 3:25 # "Crew Deep" (Instrumental) — 3:25 # "Crew Deep" (Dirty) — 3:25 ; "The V.A. Remix" (Vinyl) # "Crew Deep" (featuring

Pharrell Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he ...

) # "Crew Deep" (featuring

) ; 12" Vinyl # "Crew Deep" (Dirty) — 3:25 # "Crew Deep" (Clean) — 3:25 # "Crew Deep" (Instrumental) — 3:25 # "Imagine" (Dirty) — 3:38 # "Imagine" (Clean) — 3:38 # "Imagine" (Instrumental) — 3:36 # "Imagine" (Acappella) — 3:36

Chart performance

References

2002 singles 2002 songs Missy Elliott songs Kandi Burruss songs MCA Records singles Songs written by Missy Elliott Songs written by Kandi Burruss Songs written by George Clinton (funk musician) Songs written by Timbaland Music videos directed by The Malloys {{2000s-hiphop-single-stub