I Know What You Want

Infobox Single
Name = I Know What You Want


Artist = Busta Rhymes featuring Mariah Carey & Flipmode Squad
Album = It Ain't Safe No More/The Remixes
Released = May 13, 2003
Format = CD single, 12" single
[ Recorded = ]
Genre = R&B, hip hop
Length = 4:44
Label = J, Flipmode
Writer = T. Smith, R. Fisher, R. McNair, R. Thomas, W. Lewis, L. Jones
Producer = Rick Rock
Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = Busta Rhymes
Type = singles
Last single = "Make It Clap"
(2003)
This single = "I Know What You Want"
(2003)
Next single = "Light Your Ass on Fire"
(2003)Extra chronology
Artist = Mariah Carey
Type = singles
Last single = "Boy (I Need You)"
(2003)
This single = "I Know What You Want"
(2003)
Next single = "Bringin' on the Heartbreak"
(2003) Extra tracklisting
Album = The Remixes (CD #2)
Type = remix
prev_track = "The One (So So Def Remix)"
prev_no = 12
this_track = "I Know What You Want"
track_no = 13
next_track =
next_no =

"I Know What You Want" is a song written by rapper Busta Rhymes, and produced by Rick Rock for Rhymes' eighth album "It Ain't Safe No More" (2002). It is a duet with American singer Mariah Carey, and was co-written by Rah Digga, R. McNaire, R. Thomas and Spliff Star. It also includes a rap from Rhymes' group, the Flipmode Squad: Spliff Star, Baby Sham, Rah Digga, and Rampage.

It was released as the second single from "It Ain't Safe No More" in 2003 (see 2003 in music) and was a major hit across the world, peaking at number three in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It was a big hit for Rhymes, whose previous single, "Make It Clap", had failed to reach the top forty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. "I Know What You Want" stayed in the top forty for twenty-one weeks, and was ranked seventeenth on the Hot 100 2003 year-end chart. For Carey, it was a return to form after a string of unsuccessful singles, and it became one of her biggest hits in years. Columbia Records later included it on her thirteenth album "The Remixes" (2003).

When the song was released, it was rumoured that Mariah Carey was set to tour the Philippines for the very first time, as part of her Charmbracelet World Tour. As radio airplay became excited, the probability of Carey's visit to the country lessened as it was believed that the idea of a Philippine leg of the tour was scrapped. This was said to be the reason why the song peaked only at the number three position, despite having an outstanding amount of radio airplay at that time. By October, news surfaced that Mariah Carey had set a date in her website stating her concert would push through on November 16. Since "I Know What You Want" had sudsided at this point, her single "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" skyrocketed towards the number one position by November, in lieu of Carey's arrival. The extreme reception of this single boosted Charmbracelet's album sales, which was sold in a repackaged format.

Music video

The single's video, directed by Chris Robinson, features Busta Rhymes, the Flipmode Squad, and Carey lounging around an expensive mansion as they debate whether they "know what they want". Carey advertises her own brand of jewelry, Automatic Princess.

This song is unavailable for download on iTunes from Busta's "It Ain't Safe No More" album, but is available from Mariah's "The Remixes" album (as an "album only" song).

Remixes/Versions

* A Cappella 4:28
* Main Version [Clean] 4:53 or 5:24¹
* Main Version [Dirty] 4:53 or 5:24¹
* Radio Version 4:12
* Radio Instrumental 4:14
* Video Version 5:29

¹: 5:24 includes Talk on Album after the song is over.

Charts