- Square Biz
"Square Biz" is a song by American R&B singer,
Teena Marie . The song was released as a single in1981 from the album, "It Must Be Magic". It also contains one of the earliest examples ofrapping .Chart performance
"Square Biz" is one of Teena Marie's well-known and successful songs. The song managed to peak at #3 on Billboard's Black Singles, becoming Marie's highest peak on the chart at the time. The song managed to peak at #12 on Billboard's Club Play Singles, while performing moderately on Billboard's Pop Singles, peaking only at #50, becoming her second single to chart on the Pop Singles chart.
History
"Square Biz" opened Side 2 of the original LP like a "cherry bomb." Teena heard Deborah Harry rap on Blondie's "Rapture" and loved it. The rap made her want to do one too. The title was inspired by her bass player, Allen McGrier, who was always saying square business. The famous rap, often called the first rap by a female and indeed the first female funk rap, was about people who inspired her. They included Nikki Giovanni, Shakespeare, and her godmother. She also incorporated all three of her previous albums into her rap.
Personnel
* Written by: Teena Marie and Allen McGrier
* Vocal Arrangement: Teena Marie
* Rhythm Arrangement: Teena Marie and Allen McGrier
* Horn Arrangement: Daniel LeMelle
* Vocal Percussion: Anthony Brockert and Christopher Anthony BoehmeTrivia
* The song was re-recorded, with new lyrics, as the theme song for the most recent version of
Hollywood Squares from 2002-2004.
* The rap verse is used again, partly, byMissy Elliott , in her collaboration withCiara , 1,2 StepThe song is also sampled in "Crip Hop" by the Eastsiderz freaturing Snoop Dogg.
Also sampled on NAS "Firm", featuring Dawn of En Vogue.
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