Run It!

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2005 single by Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana

title: "Run It!" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2005-songs", "2005-debut-singles", "billboard-hot-100-number-one-singles", "chris-brown-songs", "juelz-santana-songs", "number-one-singles-in-australia", "european-hot-100-singles-number-one-singles", "number-one-singles-in-new-zealand", "song-recordings-produced-by-scott-storch", "songs-written-by-sean-garrett", "songs-written-by-scott-storch", "music-videos-directed-by-erik-white", "songs-written-by-juelz-santana", "crunk-songs", "jive-records-singles", "zomba-group-of-companies-singles"] description: "2005 single by Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_It!" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 2005 single by Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

FieldValue
nameRun It!
coverChris Brown - Run It single cover.jpg
borderyes
typesingle
artistChris Brown featuring Juelz Santana
albumChris Brown
released
studioThe Hit Factory Criteria (Miami)
Battery Studios (New York City)
genreR&B • crunk
length3:50 (album)
labelJive
writer
producerStorch
chronologyChris Brown
next_titleYo (Excuse Me Miss)
next_year2005
misc{{Extra chronology
artistJuelz Santana
typesingles
prev_titleOh Yes
prev_year2005
titleRun It!
year2005
next_titleClockwork
next_year2005
{{External music video1
::

| name = Run It! | cover = Chris Brown - Run It single cover.jpg | border = yes | type = single | artist = Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana | album = Chris Brown | released = | recorded = | studio = The Hit Factory Criteria (Miami) Battery Studios (New York City) | genre = R&B • crunk | length = 3:50 (album)

  • 3:14 (no rap)
  • 4:04 (remix) | label = Jive | writer = | producer = Storch | chronology = Chris Brown | next_title = Yo (Excuse Me Miss) | next_year = 2005 | misc = {{Extra chronology | artist = Juelz Santana | type = singles | prev_title = Oh Yes | prev_year = 2005 | title = Run It! | year = 2005 | next_title = Clockwork | next_year = 2005

"Run It!" is the debut single by American singer Chris Brown featuring American rapper Juelz Santana. It was produced by Scott Storch, who wrote the song alongside Sean Garrett and Santana. The song appeared on Brown's self-titled debut album (2005), and was released as a single on June 30, 2005. The remix features fellow American rappers Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri and was performed at the 2006 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards by Bow Wow and Chris Brown.

Commercially, the song topped the charts in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. "Run It!" also managed to peak inside the top ten in six other countries and the top twenty in another five. The song's music video, directed by Erik White, earned nominations at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards for Best New Artist and Viewer's Choice and won in the Best R&B Video category at the 2006 MTV Australia Awards.

Background and composition

The song was recorded at The Hit Factory Criteria, in Miami, during the sessions for Brown's self-titled first studio album. Scott Storch talked about the making of the track in a 2020 interview: "At that moment in my life, I was literally on fire (..) And [Chris Brown] came in, he was just about to turn 16, and I didn’t know how to do anything except make you a hit record, like that’s the only thing I could do. I was in there every day, every minute, every hour in the studio. And it was me, Sean Garrett, and we literally, immediately, made something so effortlessly. And I had told him right before we started making it, I was like, ‘I’m about to make you a number one song and you’ll be a superstar.’" In a 2023 interview, Brown recalled that he felt insecure about releasing "Run It!" as his first single: "I [didn't] know if I liked the song, because I was too nervous in my head (..) but I knew I wanted to dance in it".

"Run It" was released as Brown's debut single on June 30, 2005, through digital distribution, as a solo version. On July 19, 2005, Jive and Zomba Records serviced the song to rhythmic crossover radio in the United States, with Juelz Santana being added as a featuring artist to it. They later solicited the song to contemporary hit radio on October 3, 2005. "Run It" was written and produced by Scott Storch and Sean Garrett, and features vocals by Juelz Santana. Santana's introduction on the song interpolates The Waitresses' 1980 single "I Know What Boys Like", written by Christopher Butler. The track is composed in the key of C♯ Phrygian as a Crunk&B song, that was described for having "slinky synth beats", a "catchy chorus", and an "ominous, creepy background". Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone compared the song's musicality to the 2004 single "Yeah!" by Usher, stating that it features a "mix of smooth seduction and cunning come-ons in Brown's baby-mack vocals."

Critical reception

Lyana Robertson of Vibe, praised "Run It!" as a "prelude to what Brown would continue to do for the next decade: relentlessly disrupt the constructs of rhythm and blues", noting that with the song "the young singer began an evolution of the genre." Bill Lamb of About.com awarded "Run It!" a four-star rating, commending the song's backing music, Brown's voice, and chorus, but called it "another cookie cutter Scott Storch production." Andy Kellman of AllMusic noted it as one of the album's top tracks, commenting that the song's "way of tempering Brown's small-town innocence with hard-edged backing and a guest spot from an MC of ill repute is clearly a strategy to make the singer appeal to more than tween girls." Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone commended the song calling it a "hot single". HotNewHipHop listed "Run It!" among the singer's best singles, stating that it "laid the foundation for his future hits, establishing him as a fresh and dynamic force in the music industry".

Chart performance

"Run It!" debuted at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the issue dated August 27, 2005. After eight weeks on the chart, the song entered the top ten at number eight on October 22, 2005, receiving the airplay gainer title. It gained the airplay title again in the following week, climbing to number two on the chart, where it stalled for a month. On November 26, 2005, "Run It!" peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, becoming Brown's first number one single on the chart, and making him the third youngest solo artist to top the chart, behind only Stevie Wonder and Peggy March, and the fourth youngest overall. That same week, the song was also at the top of the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and the US Radio Songs. Two weeks later, it topped the US Pop Songs chart. The song remained on top of the Hot 100 for five weeks, becoming his longest lasting number one single on the chart. It was certified 5x multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of five million copies.

"Run It!" debuted and peaked at number one on the Australian Singles Chart in the issue dated January 29, 2006. The song remained at the top of the chart for three non-consecutive weeks and exited after fifteen weeks. It earned a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 35,000 copies. In New Zealand, the song entered the singles chart at number 39 on the week ending January 2, 2006. Six weeks later, the song peaked at the top of the chart, where it remained for one month. "Run It!" entered the Swiss Singles Chart at number twelve on the week ending February 12, 2006. In the next week, it peaked at number five and remained in the top ten for six consecutive weeks.

Music video

A music video for "Run It!" was released on August 8, 2005. Directed by Erik White, it portrays an underground dance inside a school gym, where Brown meets a girl (portrayed by Destiny Lightsy) that he is suddenly attracted to and with whom he wants to dance. The video features several dance sequences in which the men and women dance off against each other. During the sequences, Brown makes several movements toward his love interest. At the end, Brown and his love interest are about to kiss before the security guards arrive, and the whole gym is evacuated, with both of them pulled in separate directions. However, as soon as the guards find nobody there, they start dancing. The music video received two nominations at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards for Best New Artist and Viewer's Choice, but lost to Avenged Sevenfold's "Bat Country" and Fall Out Boy's "Dance, Dance", respectively. The music video on YouTube has received over 200 million views as of July 2024.

Credits

Credits adapted from Chris Brown liner notes, Columbia Records.

  • Scott Storch – songwriting, production
  • Sean Garrett – songwriting, production
  • Brian Stanley – mix engineer
  • Val Braithwaite – assistant mix engineer
  • Mike Tschupp – assistant mix engineer
  • Herb Powers Jr. – mastering engineer
  • Charles McCrorey – recording engineer
  • Conrad Golding – recording engineer
  • Alonzo Vargas – recording engineer
  • Wayne Allison – recording engineer

Track listings

;US CD single

  1. "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) – 3:49
  2. "Run It!" (Main Version) – 3:15
  3. "Run It!" (Instrumental) – 3:14
  4. "Run It!" (Video) – 4:09

;European CD single

  1. "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) – 3:49
  2. "Run It! (Remix)" (feat. Bow Wow & Jermaine Dupri ) – 4:04
  3. "Run It!" (Main Version – No Rap) – 3:15
  4. "Run It!" (Instrumental) – 3:14
  5. "Run It!" (Video) – 4:09

;European CD single

  1. "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) – 3:49
  2. "I May Never Find" – 4:35 ;Special Dutch CD Edition
  3. "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) – 3:50
  4. "Run It!" (feat. The Partysquad) – 3:22

;Vinyl

  1. "Run It!" (feat. Juelz Santana) – 3:50
  2. "Run It!" (Main Version) – 3:14

;Vinyl remix

  1. "Run It! (Remix)" (feat. Bow Wow & Jermaine Dupri) – 4:04
  2. "Run It! (Remix)" (Instrumental) – 4:04

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table title="Weekly chart performance for "Run It!""] | Chart (2005–2006) | Peak position | Australia|1|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|refname="australian singles chart"|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Austria|12|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Flanders|23|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Wallonia|26|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records) | Czech Republic|55|year=2006|week=14|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Denmark|13|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | Finland|7|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | France|19|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Global Dance Songs (Billboard) | Germany|5|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|songid=153466|access-date=October 31, 2018}} | Hungarysingle|10|year=2006|week=06|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Ireland2|2|song=Run It!|access-date=January 26, 2020}} | Italy|12|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Dutch40|11|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Dutch100|9|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | New Zealand|1|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|refname="new zealand top forty"|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Norway|13|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Russia Airplay (TopHit) | Switzerland|5|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|refname="swiss singles chart"|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Sweden|34|artist=Chris Brown feat. Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | UKsinglesbyname|2|artist=Chris Brown Ft Juelz Santana|song=Run It!|artistid=18069|access-date=March 22, 2013}} | Billboardhot100|1|artist=Chris Brown|song=Run It!}} | Billboarddanceairplay|24|artist=Chris Brown|song=Run It!}} | Billboardrandbhiphop|1|artist=Chris Brown|song=Run It!}} | Billboardpopsongs|1|artist=Chris Brown|song=Run It!}} | Billboardrhythmic|1|artist=Chris Brown|song=Run It!}} | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table title="2005 year-end chart performance for "Run It!""]

Chart (2005)PositionUS Billboard Hot 100US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
42
37
::

::data[format=table title="2006 year-end chart performance for "Run It!""]

Chart (2006)PositionAustralia (ARIA)Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)Germany (Media Control GfK)Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)New Zealand (RIANZ)Russia Airplay (TopHit)Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)UK Singles (OCC)UK Urban (Music Week)US Billboard Hot 100US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)
20
74
86
38
36
99
5
50
43
59
15
16
43
17
::

Decade-end charts

::data[format=table title="Decade-end chart performance for "Run It!""]

Chart (2000–2009)RankUS Billboard Hot 100
34
::

All-time charts

::data[format=table title="All-time chart performance for "Run It!""]

Chart (1958–2018)PositionUS Billboard Hot 100
191
::

Certifications

Radio and release history

::data[format=table title="Release dates and formats for "Run It!""]

CountryDateFormatLabelVariousSources for "Run It!" Single release:United StatesAustraliaNew ZealandAustriaBelgiumBrazilDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyIrelandItalyMexicoNetherlandsNew ZealandNorwaySpainSwedenSwitzerlandUnited Kingdom
June 30, 2005Digital downloadZomba Records
July 19, 2005Rhythmic crossover
October 3, 2005Contemporary hit radio
January 30, 2006EPZomba Records
Single (featuring Juelz Santana)
::

References

References

  1. "Scott Storch says he told Chris Brown "Run It!" would make him a "superstar"".
  2. (September 13, 2023). "Chris Brown Joins Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay Podcast".
  3. "Airplay Archive". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services.
  4. "In 10 Years, Chris Brown Single-Handedly Transformed R&B". [[Vibe (magazine).
  5. Lamb, Bill. "Run It! - Chris Brown". [[About.com]]. [[The New York Times Company]].
  6. Kellman, Andy. "Chris Brown - Chris Brown". [[Allmusic]]. [[Rovi Corporation]].
  7. Hoard, Christian. (November 28, 2005). "Chris Brown".
  8. (April 25, 2023). "Chris Brown Songs: His Best Singles".
  9. (June 26, 2024). "Chris Brown Essential Songs".
  10. "Hot 100 (August 27, 2005)". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
  11. "Hot 100 (October 22, 2005)". Prometheus Global Media.
  12. "Hot 100 (October 29, 2005)". Prometheus Global Media.
  13. "Hot 100 (November 26, 2005)". Prometheus Global Media.
  14. "Chris Brown - Run It! - Music Charts". aCharts.us.
  15. "American single certifications - Chris Brown - Run It!". [[Recording Industry Association of America]].
  16. "ARIA Charts — Accreditations — 2006 Singles". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA).
  17. "Run It!". MTV. Viacom.
  18. "MTV Video Music Awards (2006)". [[MTV]]. [[Viacom (2005–present).
  19. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6QGe-pXgdI Chris Brown - Run It! (Official HD Video) ft. Juelz Santana].[[YouTube]]
  20. (2005). "Chris Brown". [[Jive Records]], [[Zomba Records]].
  21. (August 30, 2005). "Run It".
  22. (August 21, 2023). "Chris Brown (4) Featuring Juelz Santana - Run It!".
  23. (August 21, 2023). "Chris Brown (4) Featuring Juelz Santana - Run It!".
  24. (August 21, 2023). "Chris Brown (4) Featuring Juelz Santana - Run It! (Special Dutch Edition With The Partysquad Remix)".
  25. "Shazam".
  26. (July 26, 2005). "Run It!".
  27. (December 2, 2005). "RR Canada CHR/Pop Top 30".
  28. (February 18, 2006). "Hits of the World: Eurocharts".
  29. "Chris Brown – Global Dance Songs".
  30. "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: May 25, 2006". [[TopHit]].
  31. "Hot 100 Songs - Year-End 2005".
  32. "Billboard 200 Year-End 2011".
  33. "2006 Annual ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  34. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2006".
  35. "Jaaroverzichten 2006". Ultratop.
  36. "European Hot 100 Songs".
  37. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2006". GfK Entertainment.
  38. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2006". Dutch Top 40.
  39. "Top Selling Singles of 2006". [[Recorded Music NZ]].
  40. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2006". [[TopHit]].
  41. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2006".
  42. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2006". Official Charts Company.
  43. (January 13, 2007). "2006 Urban Top 40".
  44. "Hot 100: Year End 2006".
  45. (2006). "Year-End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Titles – 2006".
  46. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2006".
  47. "The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks - Decade Year End Charts". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
  48. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart".
  49. (January 28, 2006). "Run It! – EP". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple.
  50. (January 28, 2006). "Run It! – EP". iTunes Store (New Zealand). Apple.
  51. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Austria). Apple.
  52. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Belgium). Apple.
  53. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Brazil). Apple.
  54. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Denmark). Apple.
  55. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Finland). Apple.
  56. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (France). Apple.
  57. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Germany). Apple.
  58. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Ireland). Apple.
  59. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Italy). Apple.
  60. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Mexico). Apple.
  61. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Netherlands). Apple.
  62. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (New Zealand). Apple.
  63. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Norway). Apple.
  64. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Spain). Apple.
  65. (March 2025). "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Sweden). Apple.
  66. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (Switzerland). Apple.
  67. "Run It! (feat. Juelz Santana) – Single". iTunes Store (United Kingdom). Apple.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

2005-songs2005-debut-singlesbillboard-hot-100-number-one-singleschris-brown-songsjuelz-santana-songsnumber-one-singles-in-australiaeuropean-hot-100-singles-number-one-singlesnumber-one-singles-in-new-zealandsong-recordings-produced-by-scott-storchsongs-written-by-sean-garrettsongs-written-by-scott-storchmusic-videos-directed-by-erik-whitesongs-written-by-juelz-santanacrunk-songsjive-records-singleszomba-group-of-companies-singles