"The Way You Move" is a song recorded by Big Boi of the American hip hop duo OutKast, released by LaFace Records. The song features OutKast mentor Sleepy Brown on guest vocals. Along with "Hey Ya!", recorded by OutKast's other member André 3000, "The Way You Move" is one of the two lead singles from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, OutKast's double album project which includes a solo album from each member. Released from Big Boi's Speakerboxxx half of the double album, "The Way You Move" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming OutKast's third number-one pop single, and the 900th for "Billboard." In 2009, it was named the 22nd most successful song of the 2000s, on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade.
Song information
"The Way You Move" is credited to Big Boi, Sleepy Brown, and the song's producer, Carlton Mahone; Big Boi also does some co-production. Combining elements of bass music, Atlanta-style southern hip hop, and 1970s soul music, "The Way You Move" is Big Boi's light-hearted dedication to women. The song's instrumental track is punctuated with the prominent live horn section "Hornz Unlimited" of Atlanta reminiscent of Earth Wind and Fire, which features Sleepy Brown singing in style inspired by the work of Motown star Marvin Gaye.
Music video
The song's music video, directed by Bryan Barber, features Big Boi as the proprietor of a rim shop. The video's performance shots eventually gravitate to other locations during the video's running time, featuring several young women who Big Boi, dressed in a pimp's suit, attempts to pick up. The video features an appearance from Fonzworth Bentley and another from actress Ki Toy Johnson. "The Way You Move" music video was designed to be shown in tandem with the video for André 3000's "Hey Ya!". A long-form "The Way You Move/Hey Ya!" video combines both clips with a bridging sequence. The music video opens with Big Boi and Sleepy Brown pulling into a garage that specializes in automotive audio systems.
Chart performance
"The Way You Move" debuted at #83 on the week ending September 27, 2003, four days after its release. The song would later peak at number two for eight consecutive weeks behind the group's lead singleHey Ya!. It finally replaced "Hey Ya!" at number one on February 7, 2004, where it stayed for one week, which was the sixth time a recording act has replaced itself on the Billboard pop chart. "The Way You Move" was ranked number five on the 2004 Billboard Year-End Chart. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, "The Way You Move" peaked at number two, and reached the top of the Hot Rap Tracks chart.
Track listings
;UK CD1
"The Way You Move" – 3:56
"The Way You Move" – 6:55
"The Way You Move" – 3:35
"The Way You Move"
;UK CD2
"The Way You Move" – 3:56
"The Way You Move" – 3:52
;Europe single
"The Way You Move" – 3:55
"The Way You Move" – 3:31
;Europe/Australia maxi-single
"The Way You Move" – 3:55
"The Way You Move" - 3:31
"The Way You Move" – 3:52
"The Way You Move" – 4:22
"The Way You Move"
;The Way You Move / Hey Ya! 12" vinyl single
"The Way You Move" – 3:55
"The Way You Move" – 3:55
"The Way You Move" – 3:55
"Hey Ya!" – 4:09
"Hey Ya!" – 4:09
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
All-time charts
Trivia
The song was featured and poked fun at in an episode of Chappelle's Show, in a skit entitled "Making the Band", in which P. Diddy is joined by his assistant, Fonzworth Bentley, who comes flying in using his umbrella as a parachute, just as Fonzworth does in "The Way You Move" music video.
A heavily edited version of the song is featured in the console versions of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005, and is a playable song in Shark Tale.
The Way You Move appeared on Kenny G's 2004 LP At Last...The Duets Album and Earth, Wind & Fire's 2005 album Illumination.
Critical reception
called the tune a "polyrythmic party". Matt Collar of Allmusic declared that "Earth, Wind & Fire pull a "no brainer" on OutKast's "The Way You Move." David Wild of Rolling Stone also proclaimed The Way You Move "could go down as the funkiest song" in Kenny G's catalog.
