Boy You Knock Me Out

Tatyana Ali was recruited by her co-star on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith, to launch her own music career, and she postponed attending Harvard University so she could record Kiss the Sky.^[1][2] "Boy You Knock Me Out" was written by Kelly Price, Nick Nice, and StoneBridge, who also produced the song. The track samples elements from Kool & the Gang's 1974 instrumental "Summer Madness"—written by the band, Alton Taylor, and Robert Mickens—and interpolates Bobby Caldwell's 1978 song "What You Won't Do for Love"—written by Caldwell and Alfons Kettner. Ali recorded the track at StoneBridge Productions in Stockholm, Sweden, and at Titan Recording Studio in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. Smith performs a rap verse on the "Big Willie Style" single version.^[3][4]

Although MJJ Music and Work Group serviced "Boy You Knock Me Out" to US radio in October 1998, it did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 like its predecessor, "Daydreamin'".^[5][6] The single did appear on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles & Tracks and Rhythmic Top 40 charts, stalling at numbers 68 and 40, respectively, in January 1999.^[7][8] On February 1, 1999, the single was released in the United Kingdom and became Ali's highest-charting song, debuting and peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart six days after its release.^[9][10] In Ireland, the single reached number 19.^[11] The song entered the top 10 in Iceland, peaking at number six in March 1999.^[12] That same month, the single peaked at number 12 in New Zealand and number 32 in France.^[13][14] "Boy You Knock Me Out" was certified gold in New Zealand (5,000 sales) and silver in the UK (200,000 shipments).^[15][16]

Credits are taken from the Kiss the Sky album booklet.^[3]

Studios

• Recorded at StoneBridge Productions (Stockholm, Sweden) and Titan Recording Studio (Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles)
• Mixed at Enterprise II Studio (Burbank, California)

Personnel