"Player's Ball" is the debut single from hip hop artists Outkast. The single was released in 1994, and is taken from the group's debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. The song itself discusses the nature of living in the South of the United States, and growing up within a hip hop culture. The title refers to a traditional gathering of pimps in Chicago. The song is referenced twice within other songs by the band, including the final track on the debut album, and a later single, "Elevators (Me & You)". The song peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest charting single from the group's debut album.
The song was originally written to describe a meeting-up of players on Christmas Day. Despite its 'original' title, the version used on the album, single and future releases is actually not the original. It is instead an edit which cuts out all references to Christmas. Sleigh bells can still be heard, however, and the phrase 'hallelujah' makes much more sense if heard in the original context. The original chorus was changed from 'When the player's ball is happening on Christmas Day' to 'When the player's ball is happening, all day e'er day' in the album version. The original version of the song appears in the music video and on the compilation A LaFace Family Christmas, among others.
Read more about Player's Ball: Tracklisting, Charts
Famous quotes containing the words player and/or ball:
“There has been in our time a lack of reliance on language and a lack of experimentation which are frightening to anyone who sees them as symptoms. We know the phenomenon of stage-fright: it holds the player shivering, incapable of speech or action. Perhaps there is an audience-fright which the play can feel, which leaves him with these incapacities.”
—Muriel Rukeyser (1913–1980)
“‘Throw down the ball, ye Jew’s daughter,
Throw down the ball to me!’
‘Never a bit,’ says the Jew’s daughter,
‘Till up to me come ye.’”
—Unknown. Hugh of Lincoln (l. 13–16)