Gold Digger (Kanye West song)
"Gold Digger" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, featuring singer Jamie Foxx, from West's second studio album, Late Registration (2005). The song includes additional vocals from Plain Pat and Don C. West created the beat in Atlanta. He and Jon Brion produced the song. It was originally set to be recorded for Shawnna's debut studio album, Worth Tha Weight (2004), but the song was later passed on to West. On July 5, 2005, it was released to American rhythmic contemporary radio stations by Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam as the second single from West's album. The song set a record for the most digital downloads in a week, selling over 80,000.
Cover art for the CD release of "Gold Digger"
"Gold Digger" includes a sample of "I Got a Woman" by Ray Charles, as well as an interpolation from Jamie Foxx that was recorded due to uncertainty about the sample getting clearance.
Several reviewers were fond of Foxx's vocals.
"Gold Digger" knocked Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" off the top spot of the US Billboard Hot 100, though it stood behind the latter as the second longest number-one single of 2005.
Eric Marlon Bishop, known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer, and comedian. He received acclaim for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the film Ray (2004), winning the Academy Award, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. That same year, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the crime film Collateral.
Foxx at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival
Foxx and Kanye West performing "Gold Digger"
Foxx promoting Stealth in July 2005
Foxx's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
