Flava In Ya Ear

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"Flava in Ya Ear"
Single by Craig Mack
from the album Project: Funk da World
ReleasedJuly 2, 1994
Recorded1994
StudioThe Hit Factory, New York City
GenreHardcore hip hop
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter
Producer
Craig Mack singles chronology
"You Don't Have to Worry"
(1993)		 "Flava in Ya Ear"
(1994)		 "Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)"
(1994)
Music video
"Flava in Ya Ear" on YouTube

"Flava in Ya Ear" is a song by American rapper Craig Mack. It was released on July 2, 1994, by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records as the lead single from his debut studio album, Project: Funk da World (1994). The song was remixed with the addition of rappers The Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes.

The single peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.[1] It was certified Platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 1,000,000 copies in the United States.[2][3] The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 37th Grammy Awards in 1995, losing to "U.N.I.T.Y." by Queen Latifah. It was ranked as the 422nd greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine in 2021.[4] The beat of the song was also ranked as the fourth greatest hip-hop beat of all time by Rock the Bells in 2024.[5]

Background

Easy Mo Bee has stated that the instrumental was originally intended for Apache, who was unable to record the song due to being on tour with the group Naughty by Nature at the time, and was not sure of future recordings at the time. As a result, Mo Bee gave the instrumental to Craig Mack after Bad Boy Records' founder Sean Combs gave him a substantial amount of money for the instrumental.[6]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Craig Henry. It was filmed in and outside of the New York Hall of Science in Queens, New York City, as well as in front of the nearby Unisphere, the spinning globe. The video was nominated for New Artist Clip of the Year in the category for Rap at the 1994 Billboard Music Video Awards.[7]

Remix

"Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)"
Single by Craig Mack featuring the Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes
from the album Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The Hits
ReleasedOctober 1994
Recorded1994
StudioThe Hit Factory, New York City
GenreHardcore hip hop
Length5:02
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Craig Mack singles chronology
"Flava in Ya Ear"
(1994)		 "Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)"
(1994)		 "Get Down"
(1994)
The Notorious B.I.G. singles chronology
"Juicy"
(1994)		 "Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)"
(1994)		 "Big Poppa"
(1994)
Rampage singles chronology
"Beware of the Rampsack"
(1994)		 "Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)"
(1994)		 "Wild for da Night"
(1996)
LL Cool J singles chronology
"Stand by Your Man"
(1993)		 "Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)"
(1994)		 "Hey Lover"
(1995)
Busta Rhymes singles chronology
"Oh My God"
(1994)		 "Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)"
(1994)		 "Come wit da Git Down (Buckwild Remix)"
(1994)
Music video
"Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)" on YouTube

The remix of "Flava in Ya Ear" features American rappers the Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes. It also contains a new verse by Craig Mack himself as well as ad libs by Puff Daddy and brief singing by Keisha Spivey. The remix was included in Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The Hits album.

The music video for the remix was directed by Hype Williams, and was filmed on a soundstage in black-and-white by Isidro Urquia. It features all the artists from the song, as well as guest appearances by Das EFX, Mic Geronimo, Irv Gotti and Funkmaster Flex, although none perform on the song.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1994) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[8] 57
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[9] 75
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 9
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 4
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[12] 1
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[13] 1
US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)[14] 24

Year-end charts

Chart (1994) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 81
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 33
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[17] 2
Chart (1995) Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 92

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[2] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. "Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Craig Mack". Billboard.com. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
  2. "American single certifications – Craig Mack – Flava in Ya Ear". Recording Industry Association of America.
  3. "Best-Selling Records of 1994". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 3. BPI Communications. January 21, 1995. p. 57. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  4. "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  5. "ROCK THE BELLS RADIO NAMES "SHOOK ONES PT. II" GREATEST HIP-HOP BEAT". Rock The Bells. January 2, 2024. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  6. Scott, Dana. "Easy Mo Bee Traces Ice Cube & Big Daddy Kane's Influence On Biggie's "Ready To Die"". hiphopdx.com. Cheri Media. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  7. Russell, Deborah (October 15, 1994). "Music Video Award Nominees Named" (PDF). Billboard. p. 12. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  8. "Official Singles Chart on 14/12/1997 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  9. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). October 29, 1994. p. 6. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  10. "Craig Mack Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  11. "Craig Mack Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  12. "Craig Mack Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  13. "Hot Dance Music: Maxi-Singles Sales" (PDF). Billboard. September 3, 1994. p. 45. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  14. "Craig Mack Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  15. "Billboard Top 100 - 1994". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  16. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  17. "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 52. December 24, 1994. p. YE-76. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  18. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved October 22, 2021.