# How to Be a Player (soundtrack)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Entertainment Weekly | A- |
Def Jam's How to Be a Player soundtrack is the soundtrack to Lionel C. Martin's 1997 sex comedy film Def Jam's How to Be a Player. It was released on August 5, 1997, through Def Jam Recordings.
Production was handled by Marcella Andre, DJ Quik, Erick Sermon, G-1, Armando Colon, CMT, DJ J-Z, E-A-Ski, Gerald Baillergeau, James Earl Jones, Jeffrey "J-Dub" Walker, KLC, Poke & Tone, Prestige, Rashad Smith, Robert "Fonksta" Bacon, Shorty B, Stanley Brown, T-Mix, Vaughn Wilson, Victor Merritt and Wildstyle, with co-producers Derick "D Man" McElveen and Kevin Morrison and additional producers Ian Allen and Ira McLaughlin.
It features contributions from Max Julien, EPMD, Foxy Brown, 2Pac, 8Ball & MJG, Absoulute, Black Azz Chill, Cam'ron, Cormega, Crucial Conflict, DMX, Dru Hill, Dymon, Fiend, George Clinton, Hussein Fatal, Ja Rule, Jayo Felony, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Ma$e, Master P, Mic Geronimo, Silkk the Shocker, Playa, Redman, Richie Rich, Rick James, Suga Free, Too $hort and Belita Woods. Its vinyl version, composed of total of forty tracks, contains more Max Julien interludes and a song by Made Men and a song by Kaboom!
In the United States, the soundtrack peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 16, 1997 for selling 500,000 copies in the US alone.
Its single "Big Bad Mamma" made it to 53 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the UK singles charts. The single "Never Wanna Let You Go" was less successful, reaching only number 6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number 51 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts in the US. In the music video for "Young Casanovas" Ma$e's hook was replaced by LeVert.

## Track listing
### Sample credits

* Track 2 contains a sample of "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)" written by Leon Haywood and performed by Carl Carlton.
* Track 4 contains an interpolation of "Message to B.A." written by Lorenzo Patterson and Andre Young.
* Track 5 contains an interpolation of "Casanova" written by Reggie Calloway.
* Track 6 contains an interpolation of "Still #1" written by Lawrence Parker.
* Track 7 contains an interpolation of "Mango Meat" written by the Wilson Brothers.
* Track 13 contains an interpolation of "Just Kissed My Baby" written by Art Neville, Leo Nocentelli, Joseph Modeliste and George Porter Jr. and a sample of "Public Enemy #1" written by Carlton Ridenhour and James Henry Boxley III.
* Track 17 contains a sample of "Flava in Ya Ear" written by Craig Mack and Osten Harvey and performed by Craig Mack.

## Personnel

* A&R: Chris Lighty, Ian Allen, Irv Gotti, Jo-Jo Brim
* Design – The Drawing Board
* Executive-Producer – Bill Bellamy, Kevin Liles, Lyor Cohen, Marcella Andre, Russell Simmons, Tina Davis
* Management [Marketing] – Chonita Floyd
* Mastering – James Cruz
* Photography – Jim Sheldon

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||