"Cherry Wine" is a song by American rapper Nas, released in 2012 by Def Jam Recordings as the fourth single from his tenth studio album Life Is Good (2012). The single features vocals by singer Amy Winehouse and was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2013 Grammy Awards. It is the final single to feature vocals from Winehouse.
| "Cherry Wine" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Nas featuring Amy Winehouse | ||||
| from the album Life Is Good | ||||
| Released | September 19, 2012 | |||
| Recorded |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:56 | |||
| Label | Def Jam | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Salaam Remi | |||
| Nas singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Amy Winehouse singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Writing and recording
Speaking to NME, Nas expressed that "Cherry Wine" came from "God, and Amy". Asked if record producer Salaam Remi had "Cherry Wine" from their recording sessions together, he said: "Yeah, Salaam worked on her last album, and they were working. We don’t even have an explanation for how it happened. It was just magic. It just happened. It was supposed to happen. She made it happen." Lyrically, "Cherry Wine" finds Nas expressing his ongoing search for his perfect mate.
Music video
The music video for "Cherry Wine" premiered on October 2, 2012, and portrays Nas as a bartender, while images of Amy Winehouse are projected onto the brick walls of the bar. The video ends with a picture of Winehouse beside the dedication "In Memory of Amy Winehouse (1983–2011)".
Accolades
"Cherry Wine" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 55th Grammy Awards in 2013.
Track listing
- Digital download
- "Cherry Wine" (Album Version) — 5:56
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- John Adams – Rhodes piano
- Vincent Henry – tenor, alto sax, flute, clarinet
- Gleyder "GEE" Dida – recording
- Gary Noble – recording, mixing
- Salaam Remi – producer, arranger, bass, drums
- Brian Sumner – recording
- Amy Winehouse – guitar
Charts
| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 144 |
| UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) | 27 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (Billboard) | 44 |
| US Rap Digital Song Sales (Billboard) | 47 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | September 19, 2012 | Contemporary hit radio | Def Jam |