"Lean Back" is a song by American
hip hop group
Terror Squad. It was released as the second single from their second studio album, True Story, on June 1, 2004. An uptempo hip hop song built for the club environment, it contains vocal performances from group members
Fat Joe and
Remy and production from
Scott Storch. It topped the US
Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting on August 21, 2004, and topped the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for seven weeks. Worldwide, the song reached the top 20 in several other countries, including Denmark, where it peaked at number five.
Critical reception
Jason Birchmeier of
AllMusic called the song "a perfect club-ready duet between
Fat Joe and
Remy that boasts a trademark
Scott Storch beat and a memorable singalong hook and dance-along step".[1]Vibe called the song a "summer classic".[2] In 2008, the song was ranked at number 55 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop".[3]
Music video
Fat Joe described the dance in the video as throwing back the right shoulder to the beat of the song.[4]
Remixes
The official remixed version of the song, featuring
Lil Jon,
Eminem, and
Mase is available on Fat Joe's 2005 album All or Nothing and Lil Jon's Crunk Juice remix disc. The official remix is more uptempo and contains a new beat with a
crunk–like feel to it. However, there are two different versions of the remix. The All or Nothing version, the main remix, features an additional verse by Remy and was released in July 2004.[5] The Crunk Juice version features Lil Jon's vocals throughout the song, omitting Remy's verse. On both versions, Mase's verse is in line with his then-clean style of rapping (as heard on Welcome Back).
^Lean Back (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Terror Squad. Universal Records, Street Records Corporation,
Island Records. 2004. MCST 40385.{{
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^Lean Back (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Terror Squad. Universal Records, Street Records Corporation, Island Records. 2004. MCSTD40385, 9863609.{{
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^Lean Back (European CD single liner notes). Terror Squad. Universal Records, Street Records Corporation, Island Records. 2004. 0602498636107.{{
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^True Story (US CD album liner notes). Terror Squad. Universal Records, Street Records Corporation. 2004. B0002806-02.{{
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