"Side Effects" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her eleventh studio album, E=MC² (2008). It was written by Carey, Scott Storch, Crystal Johnson and the songs featured artist, Young Jeezy. It was inspired by Carey's marriage to record executive Tommy Mottola and his controlling nature over her and her career. Carey discusses how she still deals with the side effects of the experiences that she encountered during the relationship. Critical response to the song was positive, with many critics highlighting it as an album standout, praising its candid lyrics and honesty. It charted at number 93 on the U.S. Billboard Pop 100 chart upon the release of the album.

In 1988, Carey moved to Manhattan, New York to pursue a career in music. After working as a background singer for rising pop singer Brenda K. Starr, Carey was introduced to Tommy Mottola, head of Columbia Records, at a record executives gala. Accompanied by Starr, Carey handed Mottola her demo tape, featuring four of the eleven songs that would eventually comprise her debut studio album. In what has been largely described as a "Cinderella-like story", Mottola heard the tape in his Limousine ride home, and quickly returned to the event to find the girl with the "elusive voice". When he arrived, Carey had already left early, disappointed in the events of the evening. In what became a search, Mottola began to track Carey down through Star's management and eventually signed her to Columbia's roster of artists. After the release of her self-titled debut album (1990), Carey rose to fame, with the album selling over 15 million units globally. During the recording of Carey's third album, Music Box (1993), the pair became romantically involved, and wed by August 1993, only one month short of the album's release. The couple moved into a large 12-bedroom mansion in upstate New York, a home Carey would later come to be described as a "private prison" and "golden cage".

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