| "Universal Mind Control" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byCommon featuringPharrell | ||||
| from the albumUniversal Mind Control | ||||
| Released | July 1, 2008 (2008-07-01) | |||
| Recorded | 2008 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 3:33(album version) 2:52(radio edit) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | The Neptunes | |||
| Common singles chronology | ||||
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| Pharrell singles chronology | ||||
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"Universal Mind Control" is the first single released byCommon from his2008 album of the same name. The single features vocals fromPharrell Williams, who co-produced the song withChad Hugo under their production teamThe Neptunes. The music video premiered on Common's officialYouTube channel on October 6, 2008.[1] In a 2008MicrosoftZune commercial, Common tellsAfrika Bambaataa that, when writing this song, he was influenced by Bambaataa's song "Planet Rock", which the song samples. It is Common's second highest-charting single in the U.S. as it peaked at #62 on theBillboard Hot 100. Common uses an interpolation fromGil Scott-Heron's song "No Knock" at the end of his first verse.
The music video, directed byHype Williams, premiered on October 6, 2008 on Common's officialYouTube account. The music video features Common in black and white clothes with a metal background.Pharrell, wearing a whiteBillionaire Boys Club T-shirt, is featured in the video, although his head is replaced with a robot skull. In the beginning and end of the video, a redZune 80 can be seen. The song was featured in the video gameDJ Hero.
An alternate official version of the video leaked on September 30, 2008.[2]
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard Hot 100[3] | 62 |
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[4] | 60 |
| USHot Rap Songs (Billboard)[5] | 13 |
Common singles | |
|---|---|
| Can I Borrow a Dollar? | |
| Resurrection | |
| One Day It'll All Make Sense | |
| Like Water for Chocolate | |
| Electric Circus | |
| Be |
|
| Finding Forever | |
| Universal Mind Control | |
| The Dreamer/The Believer | |
| Other singles | |
| Featured singles | |
| Other songs | |
