# Understanding (song)

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For other songs of this name, see [Understanding (disambiguation)](/source/Understanding_(disambiguation)).

"**Understanding**" is a song by American [R&B](/source/Contemporary_R%26B) group [Xscape](/source/Xscape_(group)). Written and produced by [Jermaine Dupri](/source/Jermaine_Dupri) and [Manuel Seal](/source/Manuel_Seal,_Jr.),[1] the song was released in December 1993 by [Sony](/source/Sony_Music) and [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records), as the group's second single from their debut album, *[Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha](/source/Hummin'_Comin'_at_'Cha)* (1993). The song reached number eight on the US [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) and spent two weeks at number one on the [Hot R&B Singles](/source/Hot_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Songs) chart.[2]

## Release and reception

Released in December 1993, "Understanding" entered the US [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) singles chart the following month, and reached its peak of number eight in February 1994.[3] The single spent 14 weeks in the top 40 portion of the chart.[3] The song went to number one on the [Hot R&B Singles](/source/Hot_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Songs) chart, where it spent two weeks at the top.[2] In other *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* charts, the song reached number seven on the [Hot 100 Singles Sales](/source/Hot_100_Singles_Sales) chart and number 15 on the [Hot 100 Airplay](/source/Billboard_Hot_100_Airplay) chart.[3] In February, the single was certified gold in the United States and has since been certified Platinum in March 2023.[4] The song also reached number 24 in New Zealand.[5] The "Understanding" [music video](/source/Music_video), directed by Otis Sallid, entered the most-played weekly charts at [MTV](/source/MTV) and [BET](/source/Black_Entertainment_Television) in late 1993, and the video reached number one on [The Box](/source/The_Box_(US_TV_channel)) for the week ending January 29, 1994.[6]

When recording the 1995 album *[Off the Hook](/source/Off_the_Hook_(Xscape_album))*, group member Kandi Buruss compared "Understanding" favorably to "[Just Kickin' It](/source/Just_Kickin'_It)", the group's previous single. "I felt like I could sing 'Just Kickin' It' in my sleep. Songs like 'Understanding', which was more vocally complex, had real feeling to it and that's what we wanted more of on our next album."[2] Fellow group member [Tameka Cottle](/source/Tameka_Cottle) noted that the appeal of the song "was really universal."[3]

## Track listings

- **CD/cassette single**

1. "Understanding" (radio version)
1. "Understanding" (remix)
1. "Understanding" (Sexual Healing Mix)
1. "With You" (LP version)

- **7" vinyl single**

1. "Understanding" (LP version) – 5:40
1. "Just Kickin' It" (remix) – 3:44

## Charts

### Weekly charts

Chart (1994) Peak position Canada Retail Singles (The Record)[7] 7 Europe (European Dance Radio)[8] 22 US Cash Box Top 100[9] 7

### Year-end charts

Chart (1994) Position US Billboard Hot 100[10] 58 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 19

## See also

- [R&B number-one hits of 1994 (USA)](/source/R%26B_number-one_hits_of_1994_(USA))

## References

1. Bronson, Fred (1994-05-07). "Write Stuff". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Vol. 106, no. 19. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 74. [ISSN 0006-2510](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0006-2510)

1. . It is the first single from the group to feature all four group members on lead vocals. Reynolds, J.R. (1995-06-03). "Xscape Cultivates Mature Sound". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Vol. 107, no. 22. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 15. [ISSN 0006-2510](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0006-2510)

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). *The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits*. 8th ed. New York: [Billboard Books](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). p. 691. ISBN 978-0-8230-7499-0.

1. ["Gold & Platinum Search Results - Xscape"](https://archive.today/20130201094803/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=xscape&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25). [RIAA](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America). Archived from [the original](http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=xscape&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25) on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2009-11-11.

1. ["Xscape - 'Understanding'"](http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Xscape&titel=Understanding&cat=s). [Ultratop](/source/Ultratop). Retrieved 2009-11-11.

1. "*Billboard* Video Monitor". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Vol. 106, no. 6. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1994-02-05. p. 36. [ISSN 0006-2510](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0006-2510)

1. ["Hits of the World: Canada"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-05-28.pdf). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. May 28, 1994. p. 42. Retrieved May 21, 2025.

1. ["European Dance Radio Top 25"](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-04-09.pdf). *[Music & Media](/source/Music_%26_Media)*. Vol. 11, no. 15. April 9, 1994. p. 34. Retrieved May 23, 2023.

1. ["Top 100 Pop Singles"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1994/CB-1994-02-26.pdf). *[Cash Box](/source/Cashbox_(magazine))*. Vol. LVII, no. 24. February 26, 1994. p. 12. Retrieved October 14, 2024.

1. ["Billboard Top 100 - 1994"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121519/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994). Archived from [the original](http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1994) on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.

1. ["Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1994"](http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1994/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs). *Billboard*. Retrieved March 30, 2021.

## External links

- ["Understanding" lyrics](http://www.mtv.com/lyrics/xscape/understanding/7753846/lyrics.jhtml)[dead link]

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Understanding (song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understanding_(song)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understanding_(song)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.