"Ride wit Me" is a song by American rapper Nelly featuring City Spud. It was released on February 13, 2001, as the third single from Nelly's debut studio album, Country Grammar (2000). "Ride wit Me" peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Ride wit Me" was a hit in Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
Composition
"Ride wit Me" started out in 1999 as one of four demo songs shopped by Nelly to various record labels. All four were released as singles from Country Grammar.[2]
In the United States, "Ride wit Me" became Nelly's highest-charting single at the time, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
In the United Kingdom, "Ride wit Me" debuted and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart on May 13, 2001 – for the week ending date May 19, 2001 – becoming Nelly's highest-charting song in Britain until October 2002, when his duet with Kelly Rowland, "Dilemma", became his first chart-topper on the UK Singles Chart.
Music video
Largely inspired by the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit, and also referencing the 1980s television comedy The Dukes of Hazzard and the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, the video (directed by Marc Klasfeld) sees Nelly and Ali driving to a dilapidated bar occupied by Kyjuan, Slo-Down and Murphy Lee to throw a party. Ali drives a Peterbilt 379 truck filled with women, while Nelly drives a 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am along a desert road, as the video follows their journey and eventual encounters with police, hitchhikers and other roadside incidents. The video culminates with their arrival and a party taking place outside the bar. Featured artist City Spud provides the third verse; however, due to being incarcerated, he does not appear in the music video; Nelly and the St. Lunatics lip-sync his lines. The video won Best Rap Video at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2001, also receiving a nomination for Viewer's Choice.[4][5]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Pop singer Slayyyter released a cover of the song on August 2, 2019.[54]
References
^Molanphy, Chris (June 21, 2021). "Say My Name, Say My Name Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 13, 2024. ...the album's biggest hit Ride With Me was a pure pop confection, so driven by its melody, it seemed odd to call it rap at all.
^Ride wit Me (UK CD single liner notes). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2001. MCSTD 40252, 158963-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Ride wit Me (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2001. MCST 40252, 158963-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Ride wit Me (European CD single liner notes). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2001. 158 819-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Ride wit Me (Australian CD single liner notes). Nelly. Fo' Reel Entertainment, Universal Records. 2001. 158 820-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)