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U and Dat
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"U and Dat"
Single by E-40 featuring T-Pain and Kandi Girl
from the album My Ghetto Report Card
ReleasedMay 2, 2006
Recorded2005
Genre
Length3:23
Label
Songwriters
ProducerLil Jon
E-40 singles chronology
"Tell Me When to Go"
(2006) 		"U and Dat"
(2006) 		"Candy (Drippin' Like Water)"
(2006)
T-Pain singles chronology
"I'm 'n Luv (wit a Stripper)"
(2005) 		"U and Dat"
(2006) 		"Studio Luv"
(2006)
Kandi Girl singles chronology
"Crew Deep"
(2002) 		"U and Dat"
(2006) 		"Fly Above"
(2009)

"U and Dat" is the second single from American rapper E-40's album My Ghetto Report Card. The song features American singers T-Pain and Kandi Girl, and it was produced by Lil Jon. A remix was released in early August with Juelz Santana, Snoop Dogg, and Lil' Flip. It was featured on an Amp'd Mobile commercial. Although it is considered a West Coast hip hop song, the song's beat structure incorporates typical Southern hip-hop dance claps as well as Lil Jon's signature crunk synths and whistles. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, which remains E-40's highest-charting single as lead artist to date. The track is credited to have popularized the use of T-Pain as a hook singer on hip hop tracks. The song was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 15, 2024.[1]

Music video

[edit]

The music video is set in a nightclub and within a car. Most of the video includes T-Pain and E-40 scouting various women, Kandi Burruss and Ashalee Albar being just to name a few. Kandi's role in the video is to push off men around her.

Lil Jon and Katt Williams make a cameo appearance in the video.

Chart performance

[edit]

Weekly charts

[edit]
Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 13
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[3] 11
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[4] 17
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[5] 8
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[6] 4
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[7] 3

Year-end charts

[edit]
Chart (2006) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 52
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9] 57
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[10] 4

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[11] Gold 15,000‡
United States (RIAA)[1] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 11, 2006 Contemporary hit radio Reprise [12]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

U and Dat

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"U and Dat" is a hip hop song by American rapper featuring vocalists and , released as the second single from his ninth studio album on May 2, 2006. Produced by , the track blends beats with Bay Area influences, characterized by its energetic production and infectious chorus. It achieved significant commercial success, peaking at number 13 on the chart and number four on the chart. The 's music video, directed by , features and collaborators in urban settings, emphasizing party and club vibes that aligned with its summer anthem status. Released amid 's resurgence in the mid-2000s, "U and Dat" helped propel to 2× platinum by the RIAA as of November 2024, showcasing 's enduring influence in West Coast rap. Its catchy refrain and T-Pain's hooks contributed to its radio and club popularity, marking a key collaboration in mid-2000s hip hop.

Background and production

Album context

My Ghetto Report Card is the ninth studio album by American rapper , released on March 14, 2006, through Sick Wid It Records and BME Recordings with major label distribution by Warner Bros. Records. This release marked E-40's return to major label backing following a series of projects primarily handled through his independent Sick Wid It imprint after his earlier partnership with concluded. The album drew heavily from the Bay Area's hyphy movement, a high-energy subgenre characterized by frenetic beats and themes of local pride, which helped pioneer through his longstanding influence in rap. "," featuring and Kandi Girl, served as the second single from the project, succeeding the "" and embodying an effort to fuse 's gritty street narratives with more accessible, party-oriented elements to broaden his appeal. Produced by , the track highlighted this hybrid approach amid the mid-2000s hip-hop scene. In the broader context of 2006 hip-hop, the album and its singles arrived during a period dominated by Southern crunk production styles, known for aggressive basslines and chant-like hooks, alongside the emerging popularity of Auto-Tune vocal effects popularized by artists like T-Pain. "U and Dat" positioned E-40 for crossover success by incorporating these trends, blending hyphy's regional flavor with crunk's mainstream energy and Auto-Tuned melodies to bridge underground authenticity and commercial viability.

Recording and production

"U and Dat" was produced by , whose signature style—characterized by high-energy beats and aggressive bass—shaped the track's club-ready sound. The recording took place at Stankonia Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, a facility co-owned by and known for hosting influential hip-hop sessions. The song features on the hook, marking one of his earliest major guest appearances and showcasing his burgeoning technique, which he applied post-recording to create the melodic, pitched-up vocals. , credited as Kandi Girl, provided the bridge vocals, adding a sultry R&B layer to the track. T-Pain's involvement stemmed from a recommendation by rapper Al Kapone, with connections facilitated by songwriter Maurice Garland and Boo (Akon's brother), who brought him to the session; he completed his part in just 20 minutes. Recording occurred in late 2005, ahead of the parent album 's March 2006 release, with laying down his verses first alongside writers like Sean Kennedy and Maurice Garland, followed by vocal overdubs from the featured artists. Engineering credits include assistant engineer Warren Bletcher and mixing by John Frye and , with additional assistance from Gary Fly and Dewayne "Emperor" Searcy.

Composition and lyrics

Musical style

"U and Dat" is classified as a hyphy-influenced rap track, blending elements of the energetic Bay Area movement with the aggressive, bass-heavy Southern hip-hop style characteristic of crunk. The song operates at a of approximately 100 beats per minute in the key of , creating a mid-tempo groove suitable for club play and dance floors. The production, handled by Lil Jon, features a prominent heavy bassline that drives the track's rhythmic foundation, complemented by synthetic horn stabs and crisp, snapping drum patterns typical of crunk beats. These elements contribute to the song's infectious, party-oriented energy, with the bass providing a visceral thump and the horns adding a celebratory, anthemic flair. The chorus incorporates Auto-Tune effects on T-Pain's vocals, delivering a melodic, sing-along hook that enhances the track's accessibility and replay value. T-Pain's distinctive Auto-Tuned delivery, a hallmark of his early 2000s style, integrates seamlessly with the production to create a polished yet gritty sound. Structurally, the song follows a straightforward verse-chorus format, beginning with an intro that sets the beat, followed by two primary verses from , interspersed with choruses sung by . A bridge section features , adding vocal variety before transitioning to an outro that fades on the repeating . The total runtime is 3:22, keeping the track concise and focused for radio and club rotation.

Lyrical themes

The lyrics of "U and Dat" center on themes of romantic and physical attraction to women, encapsulated in the song's titular phrase "U and Dat," which playfully refers to "you and that" body or figure, delivered in a boastful and flirtatious tone. E-40's verses highlight admiration within club and nightlife settings, depicting scenes of luxury cars, expensive cognac like , and confident pursuit, emphasizing a baller lifestyle without delving into overt explicitness. This approach nods to the party rap era, particularly the movement's energetic celebration of Bay Area social scenes, focusing on flirtation and communal vibes rather than aggression seen in some contemporaries. Incorporating regional lingo, weaves in Bay Area slang such as "The Yay" for the region, "dro" for marijuana, and "monkey" as a colloquial term for a woman's body, reinforcing cultural authenticity and the subgenre's playful, high-energy dialect. T-Pain's amplifies this with repetitive, catchy phrases like "tryna get to you and that booty," structured for club replayability and underscoring the song's pursuit motif. Kandi Burruss's bridge introduces a viewpoint, asserting agency and allure with lines that reciprocate the attraction, adding balance to the male-dominated narrative. Overall, the track embodies hyphy's emphasis on fun, localized expression, using E-40's nickname "40 Water" to personalize his authoritative presence in the verses, while maintaining a lighthearted tone suited to summer anthems.

Promotion

Music video

The official music video for "U and Dat", directed by , was released in 2006. Set primarily in a vibrant interior and featuring exterior scenes with luxury cars, the video captures urban nightlife energy. The narrative follows and as they scout and pursue women in the club and car environments, intercut with dynamic performance shots of the artists; (credited as Kandi Girl) appears in close-up vocal segments emphasizing her contributions to . Notable cameos include comedian and producer , who add to the video's playful, high-energy atmosphere aligned with the track's club-oriented lyrics.

Marketing and live performances

Warner Bros. Records promoted "U and Dat" through intensive radio campaigns targeting urban contemporary stations, securing substantial that propelled the track to number 14 on Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in August 2006. This effort aligned with the single's role in supporting E-40's album , released in March 2006 under the Sick Wid It/BME/ imprint, with promotional tie-ins including live tours that showcased the record's hyphy-influenced sound to audiences across the U.S. The track debuted on major platforms like BET's 106 & Park in mid-2006, where it entered the video countdown and boosted visibility through broadcast play. E-40 incorporated "U and Dat" into live performances at hyphy showcases during the movement's peak, energizing crowds with its party-ready energy, and continued featuring it in subsequent events to highlight Bay Area rap's enduring appeal. In 2020, during his Verzuz battle with Too Short, E-40 reflected on the song's legacy in interviews, crediting its crossover success to collaborations with T-Pain and its role in bridging hyphy and crunk styles. Further promotion came in 2009 with ' upload of a remastered HD version of the accompanying to , which garnered over 40 million views and sustained fan engagement. By 2024–2025, "U and Dat" experienced a resurgence, amplified by E-40's June 2025 Tiny Desk Concert performance of the track alongside other career highlights, coinciding with retrospectives on T-Pain's influential era.

Critical reception

Initial reviews

Upon its release in 2006 as the second single from E-40's album , "U and Dat" received positive attention from critics for its club-ready energy and production elements, particularly amid the Bay Area's movement gaining national traction against the backdrop of crunk's dominance. highlighted the track as a standout, praising Lil Jon's crunk-infused beat and T-Pain's "indelibly sticky vocal hook" as the driving forces, noting how they overshadowed E-40's contribution while creating an infectious party anthem. However, some reviews offered mixed feedback, appreciating the song's crossover potential but critiquing elements of its delivery. called the hook "catchy enough to keep one listening" despite finding the track's Arabian Nights-inspired style a "head-scratcher," while noting its niche appeal within the sound. Pitchfork's overall album assessment of 5.6 out of 10 reflected broader ambivalence, pointing to E-40's slang-heavy flow as an "" that limited accessibility, though the track's infectious qualities were seen as a bridge to wider audiences.

Retrospective commentary

In the 2010s, music publications reflected on "U and Dat" as a pivotal early collaboration that propelled into the spotlight, crediting the track's infectious hook for helping to mainstream the effect in rap and R&B. A 2011 Complex feature, in which dissected his 25 essential songs, quoted him calling it "the biggest record I ever had in my life," noting that T-Pain "really can sing" and added as his signature sound after recording the raw hook, with providing the beat. Similarly, retrospectives noted the track's role in blending Bay Area slang and rhythms with Southern influences, solidifying 's status as a West Coast ambassador. Artists themselves have revisited the song's significance in later interviews, underscoring its contribution to their careers and the genre's . In a 2020 DJ Vlad conversation, recounted the recording process, highlighting T-Pain's then-emerging talent on as a breakthrough moment that marked T-Pain's first major feature and helped launch his stardom, while also boosting E-40's to commercial success, including the song's eventual double platinum certification. Academic and cultural analyses further position "U and Dat" as a key conduit for hyphy's mainstream breakthrough, serving as a sonic bridge between the Bay Area's underground energy and national hip-hop currents. In the 2022 dissertation Racial Reverberations: Sonic Blackness, , and the Policing of Black Publics in Oakland, 1966-2017, the track is examined alongside E-40's other 2006 hits for amplifying Oakland's youth-driven culture and automotive expressions, which drew but also propelled hyphy's visibility through Top 100 chart performance and cross-regional appeal. Hip-hop histories portray it as emblematic of hyphy's transition from local phenomenon to broader influence, with its blend of E-40's slang-heavy verses and T-Pain's processed vocals exemplifying how the movement integrated global production trends to challenge East Coast dominance. Building on early acclaim for its , these views emphasize the song's enduring legacy in fostering hyphy's cultural export and T-Pain's stylistic innovation.

Commercial performance

Weekly charts

"U and Dat" experienced its strongest performance on American charts, reflecting its appeal within hip-hop and R&B audiences. On the , the single debuted at number 100 on the chart dated June 3, 2006, climbed steadily, and reached its peak position of number 13 during the week ending August 26, 2006, before spending a total of 25 weeks on the ranking. Its success was bolstered by contributions from digital downloads and radio airplay, particularly after the music video's release in June 2006. The track performed even better on genre-specific Billboard charts. It peaked at number 4 on the chart, where it resonated strongly with rap listeners through consistent airplay and sales. On the chart, "U and Dat" attained a high of number 8, driven by T-Pain's melodic and Kandi Girl's feature, which broadened its crossover appeal. Internationally, the single had more limited impact on major pop charts but found a niche in urban music rankings. In the , it peaked at number 20 on the Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart and spent 5 weeks there, entering during the week of November 11, 2006. No significant entries were recorded on major European pop charts such as those in , , or the .
Chart (2006)Peak PositionWeeks on Chart
US Billboard Hot 1001325
US Billboard 420
US Billboard 828
UK Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles205
The song's chart trajectory highlights the promotional radio push that amplified its visibility, with airplay spikes correlating to its mid-summer peak on the .

Year-end charts

"U and Dat" ranked at number 52 on the year-end chart for 2006, building on its weekly peak of number 13 earlier that year. The track demonstrated stronger performance within its core genres, placing at number 24 on the year-end chart and number 13 on the year-end chart. This year-end success was bolstered by the song's robust momentum during the latter half of 2006, particularly through heavy summer radio rotation and widespread music video airplay on networks like and . These factors contributed to sustained listener engagement in urban markets, elevating its aggregate chart points over the full year. Internationally, "U and Dat" saw no notable year-end chart placements, with its impact largely confined to the where it resonated strongly with hip-hop and R&B audiences.

Certifications

"U and Dat" received its initial certification from the (RIAA) as for 500,000 units on June 27, 2006. It was later certified for 1,000,000 units on March 24, 2016, reflecting combined sales and streaming equivalents at the time. The track achieved 2× status for 2,000,000 units on November 15, 2024, incorporating ongoing streaming activity under RIAA's updated methodology. The song has not received official certifications from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) or the . Prior to the 2024 upgrade, "U and Dat" had amassed over 1.5 million equivalent units in the United States, driven primarily by digital downloads, with Spotify streams surpassing 115 million as of November 2025. This recertification in 2024 coincided with T-Pain's broader resurgence, including high-profile performances and renewed interest in his early collaborations, alongside RIAA's retroactive application of to older tracks, boosting certifications for pre-streaming era hits.

Release history

Single formats

The single "U and Dat" by featuring and Kandi Girl was first made available as a digital download on March 14, 2006, through platforms including , with both clean and explicit versions offered to accommodate different audiences. The single was officially released on May 2, 2006. Promotional copies of the single were distributed to radio stations in 2006 to build early airplay, featuring edited radio versions alongside the full explicit track and instrumentals. Physical formats included a 12-inch vinyl single released in 2006 by Sick Wid' It Records, BME Recordings, and (a imprint), pressed at 33⅓ RPM and containing the clean, explicit, and versions of "U and Dat" on side A, paired with B-side track "Yay Area" (an cut) in its clean, explicit, and variants. A promotional was also issued the same year through , including the , explicit main version, of "U and Dat," and similarly formatted versions of "Yay Area," sent to industry professionals. By 2024, the track appeared in expanded streaming bundles tied to E-40's catalog remasters on platforms like and , often bundled with high-resolution audio options and related hyphy-era compilations.

Album inclusion

"U and Dat" is positioned as the thirteenth track on E-40's ninth studio album, , released in 2006 by Sick Wid It Records and Warner Bros. Records. It follows the introductory skit "GetTheF***On.com Part 1" and leads into "I'm Da Man," placing it in the latter half of the album's 20-track sequence. Within the album, "U and Dat" offers a melodic, midtempo interlude amid the high-energy hyphy anthems that define much of My Ghetto Report Card, such as "Tell Me When to Go" and "Muscle Cars." The track's smooth R&B-infused production and guest vocals from T-Pain and Kandi Girl provide a radio-friendly contrast, helping to balance the project's aggressive Bay Area sound and contributing to its broader commercial appeal, as evidenced by the album's debut at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The song has been retained in subsequent reissues of the album, including the 2022 limited edition neon green vinyl pressing, which reproduces the original tracklist without alterations. As of 2025, it remains a staple in anniversary editions and compilations celebrating E-40's catalog, often paired with bonus content from the era.

References

  1. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-09-23/
  2. https://music.apple.com/us/song/u-and-dat-feat-t-pain-kandi-girl/129020235
  3. https://www.discogs.com/release/2923099-E-40-U-And-Dat-Yay-Area
  4. https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/2006-09-02/
  5. https://imvdb.com/video/e-40/u-and-dat
  6. https://www.discogs.com/master/93313-E-40-My-Ghetto-Report-Card
  7. https://musicbrainz.org/release-group/717bf749-0246-32ba-b168-11c512d7d51b
  8. https://www.popmatters.com/e_40_my_ghetto_report_card-2495677659.html
  9. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2941-my-ghetto-report-card/
  10. https://genius.com/E-40-u-and-dat-lyrics
  11. https://www.discogs.com/release/21361459-E-40-My-Ghetto-Report-Card
  12. https://genius.com/albums/E-40/My-ghetto-report-card
  13. https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/e-40-in-a-major-way-anniversary-npr-tiny-desk-1235074221/
  14. https://www.npr.org/sections/microphonecheck/2014/04/09/289059976/e-40-im-on-the-west-coast-eating
  15. https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/listen-kandi-burruss-songs-xscape-ariana-grande
  16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APa8le7LTP4
  17. https://www.complex.com/music/a/willy-staley/e-40-essentials
  18. https://hiphopdx.com/news/e-40-west-coast-hip-hop-revival/
  19. https://www.revolt.tv/article/2020-12-17/63677/a-reminder-of-too-short-and-e-40s-biggest-hits-before-their-verzuz
  20. https://songbpm.com/%40e-40/u-and-dat-feat-t-pain-kandi-girl
  21. https://musicstax.com/track/u-and-dat/7g7M96UGiA7OR79H86gV4m
  22. https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/20_classic_songs_that_define_bay_area_hip_hop/s1__39092179
  23. https://www.tiktok.com/%40musicvibesnmoods/video/7529659207960825118
  24. https://www.revolt.tv/article/2024-01-13/344464/15-best-songs-featuring-t-pain-the-auto-tune-king
  25. https://www.allmusic.com/song/u-and-dat-mt0008714615
  26. https://hip-hop-history.com/a-guide-to-hyphy-the-bay-area-subgenre/
  27. https://www.shazam.com/en-us/song/129020235/u-and-dat-feat-t-pain-and-kandi-girl/music-video
  28. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCUeLhgSLNt/?hl=en
  29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-fL-vdcBWo
  30. https://www.billboard.com/charts/mainstream-r-and-b-hip-hop/2006-08-12/
  31. http://pdf.mediabase.com/yearend06/yearend06.pdf
  32. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Radio-Monitor/2006/Billboard-Radio-Monitor-2006-07-14.pdf
  33. https://www.theringer.com/2020/12/17/music/e-40-too-short-verzuz-interview-preview-new-album
  34. https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/e-40-npr-tiny-desk-concert-1235987605/
  35. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/03/28/e-40-my-ghetto-report-card
  36. https://escholarship.org/content/qt6z23b370/qt6z23b370.pdf
  37. https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/51119-10-essential-t-pain-hooks-news
  38. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/e-40-u-dat/
  39. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-08-19/
  40. https://www.goldmedalsound.com/song-lists/class-reunion-song-charts/2006/
  41. https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/RIAA_March2016.pdf
  42. https://open.spotify.com/artist/3crnzLy8R4lVwaigKEOz7V
  43. https://www.discogs.com/release/6223798-E-40-Featuring-T-Pain-Kandi-Girl-U-And-Dat
  44. https://www.discogs.com/release/838866-E-40-U-And-Dat-Yay-Area
  45. https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/e-40-my-ghetto-report-card/
  46. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/high-school-returns-to-the-top-of-the-class-59008/
  47. https://www.discogs.com/release/25122772-E-40-My-Ghetto-Report-Card
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