The Best of Me (Mýa song)

Background and release

"The Best of Me" was composed by Mýa Harrison and Swizz Beatz, along with singers Teron Beal, Jimmy Cozier, Mashonda, and rapper Jadakiss, the latter of which is also featured vocally on the song. Originally expected to be recorded by rapper DMX in a Miami recording session with Swizz, the instrumental of the song was left unused until the producer returned to New York City to start work on Harrison's album at The Hit Factory. Upon accidentally pushing a button in the studio, Harrison's management reportedly "jumped up and said 'That's it, that's it'." An eleventh hour addition, the record was among the last tracks that were recorded for the Fear of Flying album. Jadakiss, then a member of the Ruff Ryders Entertainment's group The LOX, came aboard as a result of label connections with Interscope Records.

Speaking of the message of the uptempo track with "a lot of meanings," Harrison explained: "[It] talks about thinking about consequences before you make a decision, especially decisions made when you're in a situation of the heat of the moment," she said, "when passion and infatuation and seduction and all these things are taking place, and you're actually liking it. However, as a female, things do happen to you that you must carry on after the fact, so you're trying to weigh the consequences and make a decision based on what you know, and you may not know much about this person. It's just about setting standards for yourself and what you want." Before "The Best of Me" was chosen as the lead single from Fear of Flying, Harrison initially expected reggae-influenced "Lie Detector" to be released as her next single.

Chart performance

In the United States, The Best of Me made its debut at number eighty-five on Billboard Hot 100 issue dated week of April 15, 2000. It reached its peak at number fifty issue dated week of May 20, 2000. In total, the song spent 17 consecutive weeks on the chart. It was Harrison’s first single to miss the coveted pop Top 40. The Best of Me performed better on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart debuting at number seventy issue dated week of April 1, 2000. It ascended from 70-40 in its second week issue dated week of April 8, 2000. The song continued to soar up the chart ascending from 40-27 issue dated week of April 15, 2000. It reached its peak at number fourteen issue dated week of May 20, 2000. It became Harrison’s fourth consecutive Top 40 (solo) hit on that chart.

The Best of Me crossed-over onto international markets. In Netherlands, it debuted and peaked at number seventy-five during the week of August 29, 2001. It debuted and peaked at number sixty-four during the week of July 23, 2000 on Switzerland’s Top 75 Singles chart. It spent a total of 8 consecutive weeks on that chart. It reached the Top 40 in Germany; peaking at number twenty-six.

Credits and personnel

Part II

Also in 2000, a remix version of "The Best of Me" was released, featuring new vocals by Mýa and American rapper Jay-Z. Significantly different from the original version — both musically and lyrically — "Best of Me Part II" served as the first single from DJ Clue’s album Backstage: A Hard Knock Life (2000), the soundtrack to the 2000 documentary film, Backstage. The remix was written and composed by Harrison, Teron Beal, Shawn Carter, Larry Gates, Marcel Hall, Trackmasters duo Samuel Barnes and Jean Claude-Oliver, and Marlon Williams (Marley Marl), and samples an interpolation of the 1987 song "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz", performed by Biz Markie.

While "Best of Me Part II" failed to chart on Billboard’s US Hot 100, it performed modestly on Billboard's component Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, on which it debuted and peaked at number fifty-five. Well-received by music critics, it was ranked 40th on About.com's "Top 50 Rap and R&B Collaborations" list in 2012. The video was shot in Malibu, California. Harrison can be seen strutting along the beach and behind a white screen wearing a jersey dress.

Background

Best of Me Part II was composed by Mýa Harrison and production duo Trackmasters along with Teron Beal, Larry Gates, and rapper Jay-Z sampling an interpolation of Biz Markie's 1987 song "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz", which was produced by Marley Marl. During the recording process though, tension rose between Harrison and Jay-Z. However, eventually the conflict was resolved and Jay-Z and Mýa were able to put their differences aside and find a mutual respect for each other. After dissolving their conflict Jay-Z agreed to record his vocals on the track.

Speaking of its creation, Tone of Trackmasters said: Steve Stoute was head of black music over at Interscope and at the time we were still his guys. He wanted a remix so we went in and knocked the remix out. I remember Mýa couldn’t cut the vocals properly and it took forever. When it was done, we wanted Jay-Z on it.

"So Jay came to the studio that night at The Hit Factory. He got it right away he understood what it was but he didn’t like Mýa’s vibe in the room. He looked at her like she was a spoiled brat because she was. He looked at her like, ‘I'm about to rap on your record, you're about to have a hit, and I don’t think you really appreciate it.’

"She was like this new artist on Interscope, she didn’t even really understand what was going on. So he didn’t do the record when he got there. Once again, he gave a preview of what it was gonna sound like, but he didn’t do the record because he didn’t feel like it.

"So he left and we had to tell Mýa like, ‘Yo Mýa, Jay wants to do the record but he feels like you’re not even giving him any love, like no thank you or none of that.’ But that’s just her personality. So we went to L.A. for some music awards were around that time and we had one more shot at getting Jay to come to the studio.

"And obviously Jay came in and Mýa was more cordial towards Jay. He laid the rhyme down, Steve asked for a shoutout, and that’s basically it. That’s a good record and Jay-Z charged her through the nose for it."

Track listings

1. "The Best of Me" (Holla Remix Main - Clean) – 3:52
2. "The Best of Me" (Holla Remix Main) – 3:52
3. "The Best of Me" (Holla Remix Instrumental) – 3:15
4. "The Best of Me" (Holla Remix Acapella) – 3:25
5. "The Best of Me" (Holla Remix Beat Box - Clean) – 3:52
6. "The Best of Me" (Holla Remix Beat Box) – 3:52
7. "The Best of Me" (Holla Remix Beat Box Instrumental) – 3:15
8. "The Best of Me" (Holla Remix Beat Box Acapella) – 3:25

Chart

The "Best of Me Part II" debuted and peaked at number fifty-five on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart issue dated August 19, 2000. It spent a total of nine consecutive weeks on the chart.

Cover Version

Atlanta rapper Father recorded and released a cover version of The Best of Me.