Let the Beat Hit 'Em

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"Let the Beat Hit 'Em"
Let the beat hit'em.jpg
Single by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
from the album Straight Outta Hell's Kitchen
Released1991
Recorded1991
GenreHip hop
Length4:38
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Robert Clivillés
Producer(s)David Cole & Robert Clivillés
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam singles chronology
"Kiss the Tears Away"
(1989) 		"Let the Beat Hit 'Em"
(1991) 		"Where Were You When I Needed You"
(1991)
Music video
"Let the Beat Hit 'Em" on YouTube

"Let the Beat Hit 'Em" is a 1991 song by urban contemporary band Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, released as the first single from their fourth and final studio album, Straight Outta Hell's Kitchen. It spent one week at number-one on the US R&B chart in the week of September 14, 1991, and also reached No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] On the US dance charts, it was the third and final number-one for the group.[2] It also peaked at number-one on the Canadian RPM dance chart.

Samples[]

On "Let the Beat Hit 'Em", Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam sampled "Ghetto Heaven" by The Family Stand, The Emotions' 1977 single "Best of My Love" and "Set It Off" by Strafe.[3]

"Let the Beat Hit 'Em" was also sampled by Kylie Minogue on the track "Too Much of a Good Thing" off her 1991 album Let's Get To It.[3]

Critical reception[]

Jose F. Promis from AllMusic called it a "surprise 1991 house-dance smash".[4] Larry Flick from Billboard commented that the trio "ends a two-year recording silence with an insinuating pop/hip-hopper. Trademark production style of David Cole and Robert Clivillés is a fine complement to Lisa's appealing vocals. Pumped house version has already begun to jam in the clubs, while top 40 and urban radio should be joining the party any second now."[5] He added that the track "sported a deliciously contagious groove and Lisa's most spirited vocal in eons."[6] Music & Media stated that it is produced by "the hottest team around lately", "for whom nothing can stop these beats anymore." They noted that "just like on C&C's records, the main line of the chorus will remain in the listener's head for weeks."[7] People Magazine said the song "reflect the producers' trademark '90s disco sound, minus the rock muscle that makes the Music Factory hum".[8] Porcys listed it at number 68 in their ranking of "100 Singles 1990–1999" in 2012.[9] Al Walentis from Reading Eagle said the song "serves up the trio's most irresistible hook" since their 1987 hit "Head to Toe".[10] Stewart Walker from Toledo Blade stated that "Let The Beat Hit 'Em" exemplified the "high-energy club feel" of the first half of the Straight Outta Hell's Kitchen album".[11]

Music video[]

A black-and-white music video was made to accompany the song, directed by German director Marcus Nispel.

Impact and legacy[]

British DJ Pete Tong picked "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" as one of his "classic cuts" in 1995, adding, "One of Clivilles & Cole's best remixes. You often find if you go into the studio where people are remixing there are loads of 12 inches lying on the floor because people are constantly inspired by what others are doing. In '91/'92 it was the perfect execution of what was going on in New York City."[12]

In 1996, British DJ and presenter Trevor Nelson chose the song as one of his favourites, "I chose this because C&C Music Factory wanted to make the perfect commercial dance record and, out of all the competition, this is the one, C&C is the best producer of dance records. Even though it's faster than most stuff I play now, it's always worked on the dance floor. It's not the coolest record I've ever bought but it's the most fun."[13]

Track listings[]

  • 7" single
  1. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (radio mix 1) – 4:38
  2. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (5 minute house version) – 5:02
  • US 12" Original Release (656950-5)
  1. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (The Brand New Super Pumped-Up C&C Vocal Club Mix) – 7:28
  2. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (Radio Mix 1) – 4:38
  3. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (5 Minute House Version) – 5:02
  • US 12" #2 (657393-6)
  1. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (Paradise Garage Club Mix) – 7:03
  2. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (5 Minute House Mix) – 5:02
  3. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (The Pop Radio Edit) – 4:00
  • US 12" #3 (44 73923)
  1. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (LL w/Love RC Mix) – 8:24
  2. "Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (Clivilles/Cole Club/Dub Mix) – 8:48

Charts[]

Chart (1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 72
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 42
Canada Dance (RPM)[14] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 33
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 27
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 35
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 30
France (SNEP)[19] 36
UK Singles (OCC) 17
UK Dance Singles (Music Week)[20] 2
US Billboard Hot 100 37
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard) 1
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard) 1
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard) 1

Popular culture[]

There is also an unrelated song with the same title which has appeared in Konami's various Bemani music games.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 354.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 157.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam: Let the Beat Hit 'Em". genius.com.
  4. ^ Promis, Jose F. "Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam – Past, Present & Future". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "Billboard: Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. June 15, 1991. p. 65. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  6. ^ Flick, Larry (December 21, 1991). "Dance Trax: 1991: A Last Dance For Many In Biz" (PDF). Billboard. p. 35. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  7. ^ "Music & Media: New Releases" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  8. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Straight Outta Hell's Kitchen". People. September 23, 1991. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "100 Singli 1990–1999". Porcys (in Polish). August 20, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  10. ^ "RECORDINGS". Reading Eagle. September 6, 1991. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "Classics of British rock". Toledo Blade. December 1, 1991. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  12. ^ "Jock On His Box" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). May 27, 1995. p. 5. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  13. ^ "Jock On His Box" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). April 13, 1996. p. 5. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  14. ^ Canadian dance peak
  15. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. August 3, 1991. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Let the Beat Hit". Irish Singles Chart.
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  18. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam – Let the Beat Hit 'Em" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  19. ^ "Let The Beat Hit 'Em", Dutch and French Singles Charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 8, 2008)
  20. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 13, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
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