B-side "4 Da Fam" Format CD single Genre Hip hop
R&B | Released July 4, 2000 Recorded 1999 Length 3:17 | |
"I Got That" is a single by the American rapper Amil featuring Beyoncé, who at that time was still a member of Destiny's Child. Taken from Amil's debut studio album, All Money Is Legal (A. M. I. L.), the song serves as its second single and was released on July 4, 2000. "I Got That" is also the first single on which Beyoncé performs solo on. The song is lyrically and thematically a female empowering one, with its message being that independent women do not need men to support them financially.
Contents
- Background and composition
- Release and reception
- Music video
- Track listing
- Credits and personnel
- References
"I Got That" received generally positive reviews by music critics who favored the female-empowering lyrics, which according to them, made an effective melding with Knowles voice in the chorus of the song. Amil's abilities as a rapper were also highlighted and praised by critics. The song failed to make any impact on official the charts compiled by the Billboard magazine. "I Got That" only charted charting at number one on the US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which is equivalent to number 101 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Darren Grant and Jay-Z. It features a cameo appearance by female rapper Eve. The video remained on Black Entertainment Television (BET)'s most played music videos for two weeks.
Background and composition
"I Got That" was composed by multiple artists, including Samuel Barnes, Shawn Carter, Makeda Davis, LeShan Lewis, Jean Claude "Poke" Olivier, Tamy Smith, and A. Whitehead. Singing assistance is provided by Beyoncé Knowles. Amil sings in a good portion of the song which David Browne of Entertainment Weekly described as "sultry, sing songy". Browne added that Amil's rapping "locks into the beats" of the song which Knowles "croons" along. Dalton Higgins of Amazon stated that lyrically, Amil declares her financial independence from men.
Release and reception
"I Got That" was included as the second track on Amil's debut studio album, All Money Is Legal (2000) and was released as the album's second single, following the release of the lead single, "4 da Fam" (1999). "I Got That" was initially expected to be released as a single on July 5, 2000, but it was finally released a day earlier for unspecified reasons. The song was released as a maxi single and 12" vinyl single in the United States. It was serviced as a 12" vinyl single in the United Kingdom as well, with the B-Side to "I Got That" being "4 Da Fam". "I Got That" was additionally included on a compilation album by various African-American artists entitled Best of Black 2000.
"I Got That" garnered generally positive reviews from most critics, who respected the song's female empowerment theme. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly wrote that the song "strongly emphasizes squarely on Amil", additionally describing the song as a "girl group hip hop" one. Reminding listeners to re-listen to Amil's rapping style, Dalton Higgins of Amazon stated that the song may read like "another moola-centric song" but "portray[s] a different meaning after some deserved repeated listens." A reviewer from Vibe magazine listed "I Got That" on a list of "Matches Made In Error". The song failed to make any impact on official the charts compiled by the Billboard magazine. "I Got That" only charted charting at number one on the US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, which is equivalent to number 101 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Music video
A music video for "I Got That" was shot and directed by Darren Grant, who had previously worked with Destiny's Child's - on their music videos for several of their singles including, "No, No, No Pt. 1 & 2" and "Bills, Bills, Bills", - and Jay-Z, who originally signed Amil. Female rapper Eve makes a cameo appearance in the video.
The video begins with Knowles in a conversation with a director about someone they are filming. As the song begins, Amil is seen in an office wearing a suit entirely colored white. As the video continues, scenes of Amil walking down the street are interlaced with scenes of Amil driving in a car, which sometimes features Knowles in the passenger side. As other scenes of the city and Knowles ad-libbing in front of gold curtains are shown, Knowles and Amil go shopping in a high-end clothing store. As the video continues, Amil is shown rapping in the streets while wearing a giant pink fur coat and scenes of choreographers are interlaced. As Eve makes her appearance singing besides Amil and Knowles, Amil is than shown in a club where she denies a bottle of champagne given to her by a man at the bar. The video ends with Amil walking away from the camera down the street from the beginning of the video.
For the week ending July 10, 2000, the music video for "I Got That" was added as a "New On" on Black Entertainment Television (BET)'s rotation. On the week ending August 1, 2000, the music video for "I Got That" was listed at number 40 on a list of the most music videos played on BET and one week later, it peaked at number 36. For both week endings, The Box included the music video on their rotation of "Boxtops".
Track listing
- "I Got That (Radio Edit)" (featuring Beyoncé Knowles) - 3:21
- "I Got That (Instrumental)" - 3:19
- "I Got That (Radio Edit)" (featuring Beyoncé Knowles) - 3:21
- "I Got That (Album Version)" (featuring Beyoncé Knowles) - 3:19
- "4 Da Fam (Radio Edit)" (featuring Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek) - 4:19
- "4 Da Fam (Album Version)" (featuring Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek) - 6:52
Credits and personnel
Adapted from the All Money Is Legal (A. M. I. L.) liner notes.