"Gangsta Lovin" is the lead single from Eve's third studio album, Eve-Olution (2002). The song features R&B-soul singer Alicia Keys. Released in July 2002, "Gangsta Lovin became Eve's second consecutive number-two hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as her third consecutive top-10 hit in the United Kingdom.
When being asked in an interview why she chose Keys to be on the song, Eve said, "I love Alicia, I mean I think she's incredibly talented, and I needed a girl on the song, and why not Alicia Keys?". The chorus contains re-sung elements from Yarbrough and Peoples' 1981 song "Don't Stop the Music", which were also used on Common's 1997 song "All Night Long" featuring Erykah Badu.
Music video The video for "Gangsta Lovin", directed by Little X, starts with girls putting food on their plates from a buffet table with shirts on that say "Eve", "&", "Alicia", "In", and "Gangsta Love". It then goes to a swimming pool where Eve and Alicia Keys are sitting in beach chairs. Eve is glancing at a man she is clearly interested in. The video then switches off showing the pool scene, a scene in a room where Eve is rapping by herself, and a room where Keys is singing by herself. For the second verse, Eve walks into a party where the man she is interested in is. The man catches Eve's eye, and they smile at each other. In the chorus, it shows them talking and exchanging phone numbers. At the beginning of the third verse, Keys and Eve are in the same room. The man is shown calling Eve, and Eve goes to the beach and sits down with him. Keys stands at the beach singing by herself. Eve and the man walk down the beach together. At the end, Eve and Keys are shown wearing "Gangsta Love" shirts.
Track listings US CD and 12-inch single "Gangsta Lovin" (featuring Alicia Keys) "Satisfaction" (snippet) "Party in the Rain (snippet featuring Mashonda) "Double R What" (snippet featuring Jadakiss and Styles) "Neckbones" (snippet)
Australasian CD single "Gangsta Lovin" (featuring Alicia Keys) – 3:59 "U Me & She" – 3:52 "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (Stargate remix featuring Gwen Stefani) – 3:33 "Who's That Girl?" (instrumental) – 4:41
European CD single "Gangsta Lovin" (featuring Alicia Keys) – 3:59 "U Me & She" – 3:52
UK CD and cassette single "Gangsta Lovin" (featuring Alicia Keys) – 4:01 "Who's That Girl?" – 4:41 "Gangsta Lovin" (instrumental) – 4:00
UK 12-inch single A1. "Gangsta Lovin" (featuring Alicia Keys) – 4:01 A2. "Gangsta Lovin" (instrumental) – 4:00 B1. "Who's That Girl?" – 4:41
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2002)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)7Romania (Romanian Top 100)93
Year-end charts Chart (2002)PositionAustralia (ARIA)40Australian Urban (ARIA)16Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)87Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)84Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)70Netherlands (Single Top 100)89Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)67UK Singles (OCC)128UK Urban (Music Week)13US Billboard Hot 10019US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)28US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)9
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJuly 1, 2002Rhythmic contemporary radioJuly 8, 2002AustraliaSeptember 23, 2002CDUnited Kingdom
References
External links Gangsta Lovin' at Discogs