"Charlene" is an R&B–soul song written by American singer-songwriter Anthony Hamilton and songwriter/producer Mark Batson for Hamilton's second studio album, Comin' from Where I'm From (2003). Prior to this album that gave Hamilton his biggest breakthrough in his music career, he was signed to six different record labels, and had unsuccessful experiences. This album included one of his biggest single hits 'Charlene', which played a major role on the albums success. Released as the album's second and final single in May 2004 and produced by Batson, the song was nominated for "Best Male R&B Vocal Performance" at the 2005 Grammy Awards, but lost out to Prince's "Call My Name".

"Charlene" was sampled by California rapper Murs on the song "Break Up (The OJ Song)" from his 2008 album Murs for President.

"Charlene" initially debuted at number twenty-one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles in early March 2004, where it stayed for thirteen weeks. It topped the chart the week of May 1, 2004 (its ninth week on the run). The song managed to jump to the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number seventy-eight the week of June 5, 2004; it spent forty-six weeks on the chart and peaked at number three. On the Billboard Hot 100, it entered at number seventy-two the week of September 4, 2004, starting a twenty-two-week run which led to a number-nineteen peak (after staying for three weeks on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, where it reached number three). "Charlene" remains as Hamilton's most successful single to date and is often considered his signature song

...
Wikipedia