U Should've Known Better
{{Short description|2004 single by Monica}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = U Should've Known Better
| cover = U Should've Known Better (Monica single - cover art).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Monica
| album = All Eyez on Me {{noitalic|and}} After the Storm
| released = {{start date|2004|3|8}}
| recorded =
| studio = SouthSide (Atlanta, Georgia)
| genre =
| length = 4:17 (radio edit)
| label = J
| writer = {{hlist|Monica Arnold|Jermaine Dupri|Harold Lilly}}
| producer = Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox
| prev_title = Get It Off
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Everytime tha Beat Drop
| next_year = 2006
}}
"U Should've Known Better" is a song by American recording artist Monica. It was written in collaboration with Harold Lilly and Jermaine Dupri, and produced by the latter along with frequent co-producer Bryan Michael Cox for her original third studio album, All Eyez on Me (2002). When the album was shelved for release outside Japan, the song was one out of five original records that were transferred into its new version, After the Storm (2003). A contemporary R&B slow jam, "U Should've Known Better" contains elements of soul music and rock music. Built on an pulsating backbeat, the song's instrumentation consists of screeching guitars and an understated harp pattern. Lyrically, Monica, as the protagonist, delivers a message of loyalty to her imprisoned love interest and sings about staying down for him despite his doubts.
The song was generally well received by contemporary music critics who highlighted the heartfelt emotion and sadness. Released as the fourth and final single from After the Storm on March 8, 2004, the single marked Monica's first balladic release in over five years. On the charts, "U Should've Known Better" peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, becoming the album's highest-charting single release after "So Gone". Its accompanying music video was shot by director Benny Boom, and filmed in Mexico in April 2004. It features rapper Young Buck as Monica's love interest.
Background
In an interview with MTV News in June 2000, Monica revealed that she was planning to start work on a follow-up to her 1998 album The Boy Is Mine throughout the summer season, with a first single to be released by October of the same year.{{cite news|title=Monica: Jingle Jamming |publisher=MTV.com |work=MTV News |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/m/monica00/index2.jhtml |access-date=24 July 2012 |date=1 June 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213030753/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/m/monica00/index2.jhtml |archive-date=2013-12-13 }} The following month, personal tribulations put a temporary halt on the album's production when her former boyfriend Jarvis "Knot" Weems committed suicide.{{cite web|first=Nekesa|last=Mumbi Moody|date=2003-06-27|title=Monica Triumphs Over Tragedy After the Storm|work=Enquirer|url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/06/27/tem_0627monica.html|access-date=2007-06-01}} In July 2000, Monica and Weems were together at the graveside of Weems's brother, who had died in an automobile accident at age 25 in 1998, when Weems, without warning, put a gun to his head and shot himself to death. Knot left behind a daughter from a previous relationship, who Monica took into care after going into hiatus.{{cite news|title=Monica: It's Different Now |publisher=MTV.com |work=MTV News |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/m/monica01/index2.jhtml |access-date=24 July 2012 |date=18 April 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213030857/http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/m/monica01/index2.jhtml |archive-date=2013-12-13 }} In early 2001, Monica eventually decided to resume recording to prepare the release of her third album in fall 2001. Throughout the process, Monica primarily worked with her usual stable of producers, which included Dallas Austin, production team Soulshock & Karlin, Bryan Michael Cox, and Rodney Jerkins and his Darkchild crew.{{cite news|title=Superstar Monica Selects Self-Titled Album|publisher=Business Wire|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_June_27/ai_87859988|access-date=25 November 2007 | date=27 June 2002}} Though she "had never thought about writing much" by then, her producers encouraged the singer to intensify her work on the All Eyez on Me album and to write and contribute own lyrics and ideas to the songs, one of which was the ballad "U Should've Known Better."
Production and release
File:JermaineDupriApr05.jpg.]]
Monica penned the song along with Harold Lilly and longtime contributor Jermaine Dupri, while production on the track was helmed by Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox.{{cite AV media notes |title=All Eyez on Me |others=Brandy |year=2002 |publisher=J Records}} "U Should've Known Better" was mixed by Phil Tan with further assistance from Dupri and John Horesco IV. William Odum played the guitar, while recording at the SouthSide Studios in Atlanta, Georgia was overseen Brian Frye. He was assisted by Tadd Mingo, and Javier Valeverde. A sultry ballad, the lyrics of the song deal with misunderstandings in a relationship, which conduce to doubts about love's veracity. Nonetheless Monica, as the female protagonist, promises her man she'll stay with him, singing lines like: "It don't matter if you're up, matter if you're down, either way I'm gonna be around." When the US release of All Eyez on Me was shelved, the song was one out of five original records that were transferred into its new version, After the Storm.{{cite web |first=Corey |last=Moss |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480921/monica-plays-mistress-on-likely-next-single.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411100202/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480921/monica-plays-mistress-on-likely-next-single.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2013|title=Monica Sees What It's Like To Be DMX's Mistress On Likely Next Single|work=MTV News |publisher=Viacom |date=2003-12-08|access-date=2013-02-04}} Although a duet with DMX, "Don't Gotta Go Home", was expected be released as the album's fourth single at times, "U Should've Known Better" eventually replaced original plans.
Chart performance
Released as the album's fourth and final single in March 2004, "U Should've Known Better" opened as the Hot Shot Debut of the week at number 72 on Billboard{{'}}s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in the week of April 3, 2004.{{Cite magazine|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (2004-04-03)|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=Apr-03-2004&f=Hot_R&B/Hip-Hop_Songs&model.chartId=3053307|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2008-08-10|archive-date=2011-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521195752/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=Apr-03-2004&f=Hot_R&B%2FHip-Hop_Songs&model.chartId=3053307|url-status=dead}} However, it took another three months until the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it debuted at number 67 in the week of June 6, 2004, the second-highest debut of the week.{{Cite magazine|title=The Billboard Hot 100 (2004-06-05)|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=Jun-05-2004&f=The_Billboard_Hot_100&model.chartId=3054075|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2008-08-10|archive-date=2011-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521195816/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=Jun-05-2004&f=The_Billboard_Hot_100&model.chartId=3054075|url-status=dead}} "U Should've Known Better" remained twenty weeks on the chart, reaching its peak position of number 19 in its ninth week. It marked the second single from After the Storm to reach the top twenty on the Hot 100chart and, as the album's final single, would remain its second highest-charting offering behind leading single "So Gone."{{Cite web|title=U Should've Known Better|url=http://acharts.us/song/491|work=A-Charts|access-date=2008-08-10}}
Although never released on a CD single or CD maxi single format, "U Should've Known Better" was also successful on Billboard´s component charts. It reached number 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks—Monica's tenth non-consecutive top ten entry on that particular chart—as well as the top ten on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and the top twenty on the Hot 100 Airplay chart. It also appeared on the Rhythmic Top 40 at number 20.{{cite magazine|title=Archive Search|magazine=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/chart_search_results.jsp?rpp=100&sw=&cd=&f=&t=known&per=Monica&df=P&prod=&g=s&l=&dl=|access-date=2008-08-10|archive-date=2012-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916144301/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/chart_search_results.jsp?rpp=100&sw=&cd=&f=&t=known&per=Monica&df=P&prod=&g=s&l=&dl=|url-status=dead}} The song was ranked 72nd on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles 2004 year-end chart.
Music video
File:U Should've Known Better (Monica music video - screenshot).jpg The music video for "U Should've Known Better" was shot by director Benny Boom, and produced by Joyce Washington for FM Rocks. It was filmed in various locations throughout Mexico, in April 2004, and features rapper Young Buck appears in the video as her love interest.
The video follows the single's topic of a misunderstandings in a relationship, showing Monica as the girlfriend, with the boyfriend held in a Mexico hold-prison. With Monica getting help from a guy friend, her boyfriend's best friend sees them and thinks otherwise. Monica drives through the desert of Mexico to get him out of prison. The video ends with Monica and her boyfriend hugging at the end and going home together.
The "U Should've Known Better" video premiered worldwide in May 2004 at the end on BET's Access Granted. It charted well on several video-chart countdowns, including BET's 106 & Park and MTV's TRL.
Track listings
{{track listing
| headline = US promo CD{{cite AV media notes|title=U Should've Known Better|others=Monica|year=2004|type=US promo CD liner notes|publisher=J Records|id=J1DJ-59464-2}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = U Should've Known Better
| note1 = radio edit
| extra1 = {{hlist|Jermaine Dupri|Bryan-Michael Cox{{ref|A|[A]}}}}
| length1 = 4:17
| title2 = U Should've Known Better
| note2 = radio edit without guitar
| extra2 = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|A|[A]}}}}
| length2 = 4:17
| title3 = U Should've Known Better
| note3 = instrumental
| extra3 = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|A|[A]}}}}
| length3 = 4:45
| title4 = U Should've Known Better
| note4 = call-out hook
| extra4 = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|A|[A]}}}}
| length4 = 0:10
}}
{{track listing
| headline = US 12-inch vinyl{{cite AV media notes|title=U Should've Known Better|others=Monica|year=2004|type=US 12-inch vinyl disc|publisher=J Records|id=J12-65190-1-SA}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = U Should've Known Better
| note1 = DIO club mix
| extra1 = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|A|[A]}}|Christian Dio{{ref|B|[B]}}}}
| length1 = 7:11
| title2 = U Should've Known Better
| note2 = DIO radio mix
| extra2 = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|A|[A]}}|Christian Dio{{ref|B|[B]}}}}
| length2 = 3:58
| title3 = U Should've Known Better
| note3 = Bass / Fonseca mixshow
| extra3 = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|A|[A]}}|Anthony Fonseca{{ref|B|[B]}}|Anton Bass{{ref|B|[B]}}}}
| length3 = 5:39
| title4 = U Should've Known Better
| note4 = Bass / Fonseca instrumental
| extra4 = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|A|[A]}}|Fonseca{{ref|B|[B]}}|Bass{{ref|B|[B]}}}}
| length4 = 3:42
| title5 = U Should've Known Better
| note5 = Bass / Fonseca radio
| extra5 = {{hlist|Dupri|Cox{{ref|A|[A]}}|Fonseca{{ref|B|[B]}}|Bass{{ref|B|[B]}}}}
| length5 = 3:41
}}
Notes
- {{note|A|[A]}} denotes co-producer
- {{note|B|[B]}} denotes additional producer
Credits and personnel
Credits for After the Storm are adapted from the album's liner notes.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- Lead vocals – Monica Arnold
- Background vocals – Monica Arnold
- Mixing – Phil Tan, Jermaine Dupri
- Mixing assistance – John Horesco IV
{{col-2}}
- Guitar – William Odum
- Recording – Brian Frye at SouthSide Studios, Atlanta, Georgia
- Recording assistance – Tadd Mingo, Javier Valeverde
- Mastering – Tom Coyne
{{col-end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "U Should've Known Better" ! scope="col"|Chart (2004) ! scope="col"|Peak |
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|19|artist=Monica|rowheader=true|access-date=May 23, 2011}} |
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|6|artist=Monica|rowheader=true|access-date=May 23, 2011}} |
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|20|artist=Monica|rowheader=true|access-date=November 30, 2017}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "U Should've Known Better" ! scope="col"|Chart (2004) ! scope="col"|Position |
scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2004|title=Billboard Top 100 – 2004|publisher=LongBoredSurfer.com|access-date=September 15, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707161042/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2004|archive-date=July 7, 2009}}
|72 |
---|
scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2004/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2004|magazine=Billboard|url-access=subscription|access-date=December 22, 2023}}
|29 |
scope="row"|US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor|volume=12|issue=51|page=29|date=December 17, 2004}}
|85 |
{{col-end}}
Release history
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:left"
|+ Release dates and formats for "U Should've Known Better" ! scope="col"|Region ! scope="col"|Date ! scope="col"|Format(s) ! scope="col"|Label(s) ! scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
scope="row" rowspan="3"|United States
|March 8, 2004 |{{hlist|Urban AC|urban radio}} |rowspan="3"|J |{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-03-05.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1545|page=27|date=March 5, 2004|access-date=June 17, 2021}} |
---|
June 8, 2004 |
August 9, 2004 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Monica songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads
Category:Monica (singer) songs
Category:Music videos directed by Benny Boom
Category:Song recordings produced by Jermaine Dupri
Category:Songs written by Harold Lilly (songwriter)