How Do U Want It - Wikipedia

1996 single by 2Pac featuring K-Ci & JoJo

"How Do U Want It"
Single by 2Pac featuring K-Ci & JoJo
from the album All Eyez on Me
A-side	"California Love"
B-side	"2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" "Hit 'Em Up"
Released	May 28, 1996 (1996-05-28)
Studio	Can-Am (Tarzana, Los Angeles)
Genre	Hip-hop R&B G-funk
Length	4:47 (album version) 3:59 (radio edit)
Label	Death Row Interscope
Songwriters	Tupac Shakur Johnny Jackson
Producer	Johnny "J"
2Pac singles chronology
"California Love" (1995) "How Do U Want It" (1996) "I Ain't Mad at Cha" (1996)
K-Ci & JoJo singles chronology
"If You Think You're Lonely Now"(1994) "How Do U Want It"(1996) "How Could You"(1996)
Music video
"How Do U Want It" on YouTube

"How Do U Want It" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, All Eyez on Me (1996). It was released on May 28, 1996, and was his final single to be released during his lifetime. "How Do U Want It" features R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo, who at the time were best known as the lead singers of the R&B quartet Jodeci. The song received a Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy nomination in 1997.[1]

Produced by Johnny "J", "How Do U Want It" samples Quincy Jones' 1974 song "Body Heat", and includes a diss towards civil rights activist and fierce rap critic C. Delores Tucker. Tucker later sued 2Pac's estate, claiming that comments in this song, and on the track "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" from the same album, inflicted emotional distress, were slanderous, and invaded her privacy.[2] The case was later dismissed.[3] A music video was created for "How Do U Want It" and its B-sides "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" and "Hit 'Em Up".

Commercial performance

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In the United States, the song was issued as a double A-sided single with "California Love", also from All Eyez on Me. The single reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Death Row Records' first and only chart-topping single, while "How Do U Want It" by itself reached number two on the New Zealand Singles Chart. On the US Hot 100, sales were the biggest driver of the single's chart run, spending four weeks on top of the component chart for sales while barely entering the top-75 airplay component chart at number 68.[4][5]

Music videos

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There were three videos filmed for this song:

A dirty version[6] and a clean version[7] were both directed by Ron Hightower and produced by Tracy D. Robinson. These two versions are distinguished by music ratings (one is certified adult material). The videos portray a wild sex party with Jacuzzi, mechanical bull riding, cage dancing and pole stripping. The dirty version also features numerous porn stars, including Nina Hartley, Heather Hunter, Nadia Cassini and Angel Kelly.

The third version, known as the concert version, is mostly live on stage (not from the House of Blues live performance).[8] There are cameo appearances by K-Ci & JoJo, and fellow group member of Digital Underground Shock G both in the concert and studio segments.

Track listing

[edit] A1. "How Do U Want It" (LP version) A2. "California Love" (long radio edit) B1. "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" (LP version) B2. "Hit 'Em Up"

Charts

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Weekly charts [edit] Weekly chart performance for "How Do U Want It" Chart (1996) Peakposition Australia (ARIA)[9] 24 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[10] 11 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 19 France (SNEP)[12] 35 Germany (GfK)[13] 74 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 33 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 37 Scotland Singles (OCC)[17] 53 UK Singles (OCC)[18] 17 UK Dance (OCC)[19] 8 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[20] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[21]with "California Love" 1 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[22]with "California Love" 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23]with "California Love" 1 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[24]with "California Love" 1 US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard)[25] 23

Year-end charts [edit] Year-end chart performance for "How Do U Want It" Chart (1996) Position New Zealand (RIANZ)[26] 13 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 17 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[28] 6 US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[29] 1 US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[30] 1

Certifications

[edit] Certifications and sales for "How Do U Want It"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31]	Gold	35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[32]	2× Platinum	60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[33]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[35]	2× Platinum	1,700,000[34]
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit] Release dates and formats for "How Do U Want It"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	May 28, 1996	Rhythmic contemporary radio	Death Row Interscope	[36]
United Kingdom	July 15, 1996	12-inch vinyl CD cassette		[37]

See also

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• Hot 100 number-one hits of 1996 (USA)

References

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1. ^ 39th Grammy Awards - 1997. Rock on the Net. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
2. ^ "Rap critic sues Shakur's estate for defamation". Los Angeles Times. August 1997.
3. ^ "C. Delores Tucker; William Tucker, Her Husbandv.richard Fischbein; Belinda Luscombe; Newsweek Magazine; Johnnie L. Roberts; Time Inc.c. Delores Tucker; William Tucker, Appellants, 237 F.3d 275 (3d Cir. 2001)".
4. ^ "Hot 100 Singles Sales" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 31. August 3, 1996. p. 105. Retrieved February 7, 2026 – via World Radio History.
5. ^ "2Pac Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
6. ^ 2Pac - How Do U Want It Official Explicit Video, November 16, 2011, retrieved February 1, 2024
7. ^ 2Pac - How Do U Want It (Official Music Video) ft. K-Ci & JoJo, November 20, 2023, retrieved February 1, 2024
8. ^ 2Pac feat. K-Ci & JoJo - How Do You Want It [Uncut Concert Version] (Official Video) [Explicit], May 22, 2009, retrieved February 1, 2024
9. ^ "2Pac feat. KC and JoJo – How Do U Want It". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
10. ^ "Hits of the World: Canada". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 46. November 16, 1996. p. 56. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
11. ^ "2 Pac feat. KC and JoJo: How Do U Want It" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
12. ^ "2Pac feat. KC and JoJo – How Do U Want It" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
13. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
14. ^ "2Pac feat. KC and JoJo – How Do U Want It". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
15. ^ "2Pac feat. KC and JoJo – How Do U Want It". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
16. ^ "2Pac feat. KC and JoJo – How Do U Want It". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 27/7/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
18. ^ "Official Singles Chart on 27/7/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
19. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart on 27/7/1996 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
20. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 27/7/1996 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
21. ^ "2Pac Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
22. ^ "2Pac Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
23. ^ "2Pac Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
24. ^ "2Pac Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
25. ^ "2Pac Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
26. ^ "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
27. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
28. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-40. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
29. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-42. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
30. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music/Maxi Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-45. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
31. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
32. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – 2Pac feat. K-Ci And Jojo – How Do You Want It?". Radioscope. Retrieved January 7, 2025. Type How Do You Want It? in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
33. ^ "British single certifications – 2Pac ft K-Ci & JoJo – How Do U Want It". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
34. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 3. January 18, 1997. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
35. ^ "American single certifications – 2 Pac – How Do U Want It/California Love". Recording Industry Association of America.
36. ^ "Selected New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1147. May 24, 1996. p. 36.
37. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. July 13, 1996. p. 27.

External links

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• Interview with Heather Hunter
• MVDBase entry Archived May 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
• Official Nina Hartley website

v t e Tupac Shakur
Discography Songs Awards and nominations Death
Studio albums	2Pacalypse Now Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... Me Against the World All Eyez on Me
Posthumous albums	The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory R U Still Down? (Remember Me) Still I Rise Until the End of Time Better Dayz Loyal to the Game Pac's Life
Live albums	2Pac Live Live at the House of Blues
Remix albums	Nu-Mixx Klazzics Nu-Mixx Klazzics Vol. 2
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Beginnings: The Lost Tapes 1988–1991 The Prophet: The Best of the Works Tupac: Resurrection The Prophet Returns Best of 2Pac
Related albums	Nothing but Trouble (soundtrack) Sons of the P Juice (soundtrack) Poetic Justice (soundtrack) Above the Rim (soundtrack) Gridlock'd (soundtrack) Gang Related (soundtrack) A 2Pac Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle The Rose That Grew from Concrete The Rose, Vol. 2
Extended plays	Don't Go 2 Sleep
Singles	"Brenda's Got a Baby" "If My Homie Calls" "Trapped" "Holler If Ya Hear Me" "I Get Around" "Keep Ya Head Up" "Papa'z Song" "Cradle to the Grave" "Dear Mama" "So Many Tears" "Temptations" "California Love" "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" "How Do U Want It" "I Ain't Mad at Cha" "Toss It Up" "To Live & Die in LA" "Hail Mary" "Wanted Dead or Alive"
Posthumous singles	"I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto" "Do for Love" "Changes" "Unconditional Love" "Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)" "Until the End of Time" "Letter 2 My Unborn" "Thugz Mansion" "Still Ballin'" "Runnin' (Dying to Live)" "One Day at a Time (Em's Version)" "Thugs Get Lonely Too" "Ghetto Gospel" "Untouchable" "Pac's Life" "Playa Cardz Right"
Other songs	"I Don't Give a Fuck" "Runnin' from tha Police" "Ambitionz az a Ridah" "All Eyez on Me" "Hit 'Em Up" "Are U Still Down"
Featured singles	"Gotta Get Mine" "Smile" "Playa Cardz Right"
Books	The Rose That Grew from Concrete
Stage	Holler If Ya Hear Me
Documentaries	Biggie & Tupac Tupac: Resurrection Tupac: Assassination Dear Mama
Outlawz	Kastro Napoleon E.D.I. Mean Hussein Fatal Mussolini Komani Young Noble
Related articles	Outlawz Digital Underground Afeni Shakur Assata Shakur Mopreme Shakur Mutulu Shakur Thug Life Death Row Records East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry Niccolò Machiavelli Orlando Anderson Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts All Eyez on Me (film) Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. City of Lies "Taylor Made Freestyle"

v t e K-Ci & JoJo
Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey Joel "JoJo" Hailey
Studio albums	Love Always It's Real X Emotional My Brother's Keeper
Compilation albums	All My Life: Their Greatest Hits Love Playlist Your Way
Singles	"If You Think You're Lonely Now" "How Could You" "You Bring Me Up" "Last Night's Letter" "All My Life" "Don't Rush (Take Love Slowly)" "Life" "Tell Me It's Real" "Crazy" "All the Things I Should Have Known" "Wanna Do You Right"
Featured singles	"How Do U Want It" "Toss It Up"
Related articles	Discography Jodeci

Authority control databases	MusicBrainz work