"Westside" | ||||
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Single by TQ | ||||
from the album They Never Saw Me Coming | ||||
Released | September 15, 1998 | |||
Format | Vinyl, Cassette, CD | |||
Recorded | 1998 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 5:04 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Writer(s) | Donald Custis | |||
Producer(s) | Femi Ojetunde, Mike Mosley, TQ | |||
TQ singles chronology | ||||
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"Westside" was the lead single from TQ's debut album, They Never Saw Me Coming. The song was produced by Bay-area producers Femi Ojetunde and Mike Mosley, with TQ serving as co-producer. The song is an anthemic ode to TQ's native California. In the song's lyrics he mentions several other California musicians who influenced him, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Ice-T, Too Short and DJ Quik, at the end of "Westside", TQ dedicates the song to the deceased Eazy-E and Tupac Shakur.
Released late in 1998, "Westside" became a breakthrough hit for TQ, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, while also becoming a top 10 hit in several other countries, including the United Kingdom (#4), Ireland (#5) and the Netherlands (#3). In the US, "Westside" was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies on October 22, 1998. The song also took the final spot on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1998.
^shipments figures based on certification alone