U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)

"U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written by Isaac Phillips, Paris Davis, Sean Bryant, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Norwood for her second studio album Never Say Never (1998). Production was handled by Jerkins, with additional production from Norwood.

"U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)"
Single by Brandy
from the album Never Say Never
ReleasedSeptember 28, 1999 (1999-09-28)
Recorded1998 – July 12, 1999[1]
Genre
Length4:29
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Rodney Jerkins
  • Brandy Norwood (add.)
Brandy singles chronology
"Almost Doesn't Count"
(1999)		 "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)"
(1999)		 "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
(1999)

The song was released as the album's fifth US single and sixth overall single from Never Say Never in the third quarter of 1999. A moderate success, it peaked at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 25 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, also reaching the top 20 of the UK Dance and UK R&B charts. A remix version of the track featuring female rappers Shaunta and Da Brat was accompanied by a remix EP entitled U Don't Know Me... Like U Used to – The Remix EP and a second music video, directed by Martin Weisz, featuring alternative visuals.

Critical reception

Billboard editor Chuck Taylor called "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" a "summery, you-can-sing-along-with-the-hook record." He compared the favorably to Norwood's debut single "I Wanna Be Down," citing it "hypnotic," and found that her "rougher-than-usual vocals styles at times even sound like Mary J. Blige."[2] Da’Shan Smith from Revolt declared the song one of Never Say Never's "outstanding cuts" and found that it recalls "the '94 days of Brandy, but elevated it for the '98 present and subsequent future."[3][4]

Music video

An music video for "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" was filmed by German director Martin Weisz. A Matrix-themed clip, it begins with people walking in front of a building and later on a sidewalk. They pause periodically and speed up as Norwood sings.[5] Weisz also directed a video for the remix version of the song, featuring Norwood, Shaunta, and Da Brat singing as people walk by on a pedestrian walk.[6]

Track listings
US CD single
No.TitleLength
1."U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" (Remix Radio Edit)4:03
2."U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" (Album Version)4:29
3."U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" (Remix Instrumental)4:05
International CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Never Say Never" (Jazz Animal Remix)4:25
2."U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" (Remix)3:59
3."U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" (Album Version)4:27
4."Never Say Never" (Album Version)5:09

Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the album's liner notes.[7]

Charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
UK Dance (OCC)[8] 13
UK R&B (OCC)[9] 19
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 79
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 25

References
  1. "Press of Atlantic City, pressofAtlanticCity.com – Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. 1999-07-13. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  2. Taylor, Chuck (August 28, 1999). "Singles". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  3. Smith, Da’Shan (May 30, 2018). "Master Class: A comprehensive history of the Electro-Hop&B genre in the 90s & 2000s". revolt.tv. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  4. Smith, Da’Shan (June 8, 2018). "Revisiting Brandy's 'Never Say Never' 20 years later". revolt.tv. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  5. "Brandy: U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) (Video 1999)". Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  6. "Brandy Feat. Shaunta & da Brat: U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To), Remix (Video 1999)". Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  7. Never Say Never (booklet). Brandy. Atlantic Records. 1998.CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  9. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  10. "Brandy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  11. "Brandy Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-05-23.


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