"U Got It Bad" | ||||
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Single by Usher | ||||
from the album 8701 | ||||
Released | September 4, 2001 (US) | |||
Format | CD | |||
Recorded | 2000 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 4:07 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Writer(s) | Jermaine Dupri, Usher, Bryan-Michael Cox, R. Kelly | |||
Producer(s) | Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine. Dupri | |||
Usher singles chronology | ||||
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"U Got It Bad" is a song by American recording artist Usher, released through Arista as the second single from his third studio album, 8701 (2001). It was written by Usher, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, and produced by the former and co-produced by the latter. It was released as a CD Single in the US on September 4, 2001. "U Got It Bad" is an R&B ballad that, according to MTV, incorporates "digi-coustic" guitars, a "slow-burning bass line" and "sex funk" drums. The lyrics notably contain some quick direct allusions to other soul music ballads, mainly Maxwell's "Fortunate", and Prince's "Adore".
"U Got It Bad" topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week before being replaced for four weeks by Nickelback's "How You Remind Me". "U Got It Bad" then returned to number one, going on to stay atop for five consecutive weeks. With the song and previous single "U Remind Me", Usher was the only solo male act of 2001 to have a number 1 hit on the Hot 100. The song's music video features TLC's Chilli as Usher's love interest. Due the success of the song, it was featured on the 2001 compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 8
"U Got It Bad" was written by Usher, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. It was produced by the former and co-produced by the latter. Recording was done by Brian Frye and mixing by Dupri and Phil Tan, at Southside Studios, Atlanta, Georgia. John Horesco IV provided mixing assistance, William "Billy" Odum performed the Guitar and Usher provided all vocals. The lyrics to the song were, according to Dupri, inspired by a true story. He and Usher were in the studio trying to record some music for the album, but Usher was continually distracted by a girl he had brought into the studio. Following an argument, the girl left. A while later, they started on talking on the phone, which prompted Dupri to kick Usher out of the studio telling him, “We’re going to do this [session] later on. You got it completely too bad right now. You got it bad.” This ignited the inspiration for the song, and once Usher had left, Dupri started writing its lyrics, with the notion that it was going to be a big hit. Once Usher had returned to the studio, Dupri shared the story of the song with him. Talking to Complex, Dupri stated that "U Got It Bad" is another "Nice & Slow", saying that he produced the song as he wanted to re-produce a track similar to the latter in terms of success, for Usher's 8701 (2001).