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"Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)"
Single by Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz
from the album Make It Reign
Released	December 9, 1997
Recorded	1997
Studio	The Cutting Room (New York City)
Genre	East Coast hip hop
Length	4:46 3:29 (clean radio edit)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Walter Becker Donald Fagen
Producer(s)	KNS
Music video
"Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" on YouTube

"Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" is the debut single by American East Coast hip hop duo Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, released in December 1997 through Columbia Records from their debut studio album Make It Reign. Produced by KNS, the song peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100, at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart, at number 29 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on March 31, 1998, for sales of a million copies. However, the duo's success would be short-lived, as they broke up in 1999 without releasing a follow-up album or single.

Recording sessions took place at The Cutting Room in New York with recording engineer DJ Nastee assisted by David Crafa. It was mixed at The Hit Factory by Ken "Duro" Ifill assisted by Tony G. The song is built around a sample of Steely Dan's "Black Cow". In exchange for clearing use of the sample, Steely Dan requested an advance payment of $115,000 as well as 100% of publishing royalties, and as a result of this agreement, Steely Dan members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are the sole credited songwriters on "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)". The song opens with a sample from Jerry Rivera's "Amores Como El Nuestro", a song that would later gain worldwide exposure after being sampled by Shakira for her song "Hips Don't Lie".

Three remixes were made for the song: The Frankenstein remix produced by Frank "Frankenstein" Fallico, the Pro Black remix produced by Ayatollah, and a Bad Boy remix that was made by Ma$e, The LOX and Puff Daddy.

Tatyana Ali's song "Daydreamin'", released later in 1998, used the same "Black Cow" sample and featured both Tariq and Gunz. Gunz even mentions hearing "Black Cow" and being inspired to rap to the beat. The "J'Ty" remix of Beyoncé's "Me, Myself and I", which released in 2003, uses the same sample on "Deja Vu".

Track listing

A-side

1. "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (Album Version) – 4:44
2. "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (Instrumental) – 4:43
3. "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (Acapella) – 4:29

B-side

1. "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (Frankenstein Remix) – 4:40
2. "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (Frankenstein Remix Instrumental) – 4:42
3. "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (Pro Black Remix) – 4:32
4. "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" (Pro Black Remix Instrumental) – 4:29

Charts and certifications

References

1. VladTV (April 3, 2015). "Peter Gunz on Giving Up 100% Publishing: We Got Stuck-Up!". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
2. "filmboards.com - 1 original song, 2 samples". 2023-01-07. Archived from the original on 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
3. "Peter Gunz Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
4. "Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz – Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
5. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
7. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
8. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
9. "Peter Gunz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
10. "Peter Gunz Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
11. "Peter Gunz Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
12. "Peter Gunz Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
13. "Peter Gunz Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
14. "Billboard Top 100 - 1998". Archived from the original on 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
15. "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 5. BPI Communications Inc. January 30, 1999. p. 75. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
16. "American single certifications – Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz – Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Deja Vu (Uptown Baby) at Discogs (list of releases)

• 1997 songs
• 1998 debut singles
• American hip-hop songs
• Columbia Records singles
• East Coast hip-hop songs
• Songs about New York City
• Songs written by Donald Fagen
• Songs written by Walter Becker
• Music videos directed by Chris Robinson (director)