I Care 4 U (song)
Encyclopedia
"I Care 4 U" is a neo soul
song written by American hip hop singer-songwriters Timbaland
and Missy Elliott
, and also produced by Timbaland. It is the fourth and final single overall from Aaliyah's third studio album, Aaliyah
(2001).
The song was released by Blackground
/Virgin Records
in 2002. It managed to reach number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart and number three on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart.
Although the single was released in the U.S. only, the song achieved minor airplay on R&B stations in Europe.
and Timbaland
, also the song's producer. Aaliyah recorded the song for her second album One in a Million in 1996, but the song was not finished in time to make the album but was later included on Aaliyah's final studio album, Aaliyah, in 2001, and released as a single a 12 months after her death in August 2001. The classic sound of the song received great praise and became Aaliyah's third posthumous urban hit. Aaliyah's character is asking a man if she can comfort him and be with him through his sadness after a breakup. "I Care 4 U
" sold approximately 126,000 copies and was #3 on the U.S. R&B chart and #16 on the US Hot 100 chart. The song's music was sampled from The Newcomers
' 1974 Stax
song, "(Too Little in Common to Be Lovers) Too Much Going to Say Goodbye".
's 1986 music video for "Control
". Aaliyah had not had the chance to shoot a video for the single due to her death. The music video for "I Care 4 U" was directed by Little X
as his personal tribute to Aaliyah. He edited together clips from a Japanese anime Macross Plus II
. Aaliyah is portrayed as a beautiful ghostly female figure serenading a concert audience as she floats around the stadium. In the later half she is portrayed as a bright angel flying through a city. Aaliyah leaves behind several small feathers.
radio stations. The song was one of many tracks on the album to be influenced by a genre outside of R&B
and hip hop
, having a hard rock
and trip hop
influence.
Neo soul
The term neo soul was originally coined by Kedar Massenburg of Motown Records in the late 1990s as a marketing category following the commercial breakthroughs of artists such as D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell...
song written by American hip hop singer-songwriters Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
and Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, and also produced by Timbaland. It is the fourth and final single overall from Aaliyah's third studio album, Aaliyah
Aaliyah (album)
Aaliyah is the self-titled third and final studio album by American R&B singer Aaliyah, released by Blackground and Virgin Records on July 17, 2001, in the United States...
(2001).
The song was released by Blackground
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
/Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in 2002. It managed to reach number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart and number three on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart.
Although the single was released in the U.S. only, the song achieved minor airplay on R&B stations in Europe.
Background
In a 2001 interview, Aaliyah explains the background of the song:
"Well my favorite song on the album, it's hard to pick 'cause I love them all, but if I had to pick one, I'd say 'I Care 4 U' because that song is, it's just gorgeous to me. It's five years old, Tim and Missy did that song, right when I finished "One In A Million", and I really wanted to put it in that album but, the album was already mastered and there was no way I could put it on... so we put it aside and waited, and it doesn't sound like it's five years old at all. It's just classic, it's timeless and I like what the song is saying it's a female, you know, being the strong person in a relationship, you know saying to a guy you know, if you're upset, let me wipe your tears, let me care for you, let me prove to you that I can love you, and I just really liked that, I thought it was different."
Song
The song was originally written by Missy ElliottMissy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
and Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, also the song's producer. Aaliyah recorded the song for her second album One in a Million in 1996, but the song was not finished in time to make the album but was later included on Aaliyah's final studio album, Aaliyah, in 2001, and released as a single a 12 months after her death in August 2001. The classic sound of the song received great praise and became Aaliyah's third posthumous urban hit. Aaliyah's character is asking a man if she can comfort him and be with him through his sadness after a breakup. "I Care 4 U
I Care 4 U
I Care 4 U is the fourth album and first compilation album by the American singer Aaliyah, released posthumously by Blackground Records on December 10, 2002, in the United States. Along with her hit singles, a number of shelved tracks were included on the album, including the singles "Miss You",...
" sold approximately 126,000 copies and was #3 on the U.S. R&B chart and #16 on the US Hot 100 chart. The song's music was sampled from The Newcomers
The Newcomers
The Newcomers may refer to:* The Newcomers , British soap opera aired by the BBC * The Newcomers , Canadian television series aired by the CBC * The Newcomers , American film...
' 1974 Stax
Stax Records
Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
song, "(Too Little in Common to Be Lovers) Too Much Going to Say Goodbye".
Music video
The concept of the music video was to be for Aaliyah to perform live in a concert hall similar to Janet JacksonJanet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
's 1986 music video for "Control
Control (Janet Jackson song)
"Control" is the fourth single from Janet Jackson's third album Control. The song was written by Jackson, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Its arrangement, built upon complex rhythmic tracks, showcased state-of-the-art production. The song is about...
". Aaliyah had not had the chance to shoot a video for the single due to her death. The music video for "I Care 4 U" was directed by Little X
Little X
Julien Christian Lutz , better known as Little X, X or Director X, is a Canadian music video director. He also has his own clothing line X Fit...
as his personal tribute to Aaliyah. He edited together clips from a Japanese anime Macross Plus II
Macross Plus
is a four-episode anime OVA and theatrical movie in the Macross series. It was the first sequel to the original Macross television series that took place in the official timeline...
. Aaliyah is portrayed as a beautiful ghostly female figure serenading a concert audience as she floats around the stadium. In the later half she is portrayed as a bright angel flying through a city. Aaliyah leaves behind several small feathers.
Chart
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
16 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
3 |
| U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 30 |
I Can Be
Before the release of "I Care 4 U" another track from Aaliyah started to gain airplay, "I Can Be". As it was an unofficial single and not promoted, "I Can Be" received very minor airplay on urban contemporaryUrban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
radio stations. The song was one of many tracks on the album to be influenced by a genre outside of R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, having a hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and trip hop
Trip hop
Trip hop is a music genre consisting of downtempo electronic music which originated in the early 1990s in England, especially Bristol. Deriving from "post"-acid house, the term was first used by the British music media and press as a way to describe the more experimental variant of breakbeat which...
influence.
Chart
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles | 2 |