I Care 4 U

I Care 4 U
North American edition cover
Compilation album by Aaliyah
Released	December 10, 2002
Recorded	1993–2001
Studio	Battery Chung King Manhattan Center Sony (New York City) Pyramid (Ithaca) Chicago Recording Company (Chicago) Magic Mix (Miami) Capitol Larrabee Music Grinder The Village (Los Angeles)
Genre	R&B dance-pop
Length	59:20
Label	Blackground Universal
Producer	Teddy Bishop Bud'da Bryan-Michael Cox Kevin Hicks R. Kelly Jazze Pha Rapture Eric Seats Timbaland
Aaliyah chronology
Aaliyah (2001) I Care 4 U (2002) Ultimate Aaliyah (2005)
Alternative cover
International edition cover
Singles from I Care 4 U
"Miss You" Released: November 16, 2002 "I Care 4 U" Released: April 8, 2003 "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" Released: May 20, 2003 "Come Over" Released: May 27, 2003

I Care 4 U is a posthumous compilation album by American singer Aaliyah. It was released on December 10, 2002 by Blackground Records and Universal Records. Following the release of Aaliyah's self-titled third album in July 2001, she died in a plane crash after shooting the music video for the song "Rock the Boat" in the Bahamas on August 25. Blackground Records, in collaboration with Universal Music Group, decided to release a posthumous record that included songs from her studio albums and previously unreleased tracks and demos, recorded between 1993 and 2001. It also included her hit singles and a number of recordings discarded from sessions for Aaliyah.

I Care 4 U received mixed reviews from critics, based on the assessment of the previously unreleased songs and the compilation's breadth in general. Commercially, the album was a success, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200 and being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also reached the top ten of record charts in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Switzerland. The compilation produced four singles—"Miss You", "I Care 4 U", "Don't Know What to Tell Ya", and "Come Over"—and has sold six million copies worldwide.

In August 2021, it was reported that the album and Aaliyah's other recorded work for Blackground (since rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0) would be re-released on physical, digital and, for the first time ever, streaming services, in a deal between the label and Empire Distribution. The re-release was met with disdain from Aaliyah's estate,^[1][2][3] who issued a statement denouncing the "unscrupulous endeavor to release Aaliyah's music without any transparency or full accounting to the estate".^[4][5][6]

Background[]

After completing Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah filmed her part in Queen of the Damned.^[7] She released her third and final album, Aaliyah, in July 2001 which was met with highly positive reviews from critics.^[8] The album became a commercial success debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and sold 187,000 copies,.^[9] and became her highest sales week of her career.^[10] Aaliyah spent 68 weeks on the Billboard 200 and, by December 2009, had sold 2.6 million copies.^[11] On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah and eight others were killed in a plane crash in The Bahamas after filming the music video for the single "Rock the Boat".^[12][13] The pilot, Luis Morales III, was unlicensed at the time of the accident and had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system.^[14] Aaliyah's family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Blackhawk International Airways, which was settled out of court.^[15]

Recording and production[]

The album features both album cuts and previously unreleased tracks and demos, recorded between 1993 and 2001. "Miss You" was written by R&B singer Ginuwine, Johnta Austin and Teddy Bishop, while produced by the latter,^[16] and was originally crafted for Ginuwine's second studio album 100% Ginuwine (1999). It was fall of 1999, and while Aaliyah was recording tracks for self-titled third album (2001) in the Manhattan Center Studios, she requested Austin and Bishop to play her a couple of tracks they had produced with other artists, including "I Miss You" for which Ginuwine had already lent his vocals.^[17] Bishop later commented, "She was like, 'I want to cut this record' [...] She got on the phone, called him and said 'Hey I know you cut this record already, but I would love to cut it'."^[17] Ginuwine, who was a part writer on the song, allowed her to cut her own version of it and the same night, Aaliyah re-recorded the whole track.^[17] Though she reportedly wanted to put the song out herself, Blackground Records, her label, felt the song was no "smash record" and thus, the song was left unused until her death in August 2001.^[17]

The title track was written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, who also produced the song, and recorded at Magic Mix Studios and Music Grinder Studios in Los Angeles.^[18] Aaliyah began to record the song for her 1996 album One in a Million, but it was completed after that album had finished post-production, so she saved it for her next album.^[19] The song is a soft romantic R&B ballad whose female narrator,^[20] according to Aaliyah, says "don't cry, I'll wipe your tears. I love you, just give me the chance to show you."^[19]

Singles[]

"Miss You" was released as the album's lead single on November 16, 2002. It debuted at number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100^[21] and went on to peak at number three. It was ranked eighth on the 2003 year-end Billboard Hot 100.^[22] Internationally, the song peaked at number eight in Germany and within the top twenty in Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Its accompanying music video, directed by Darren Grant, featured appearances from various celebrities, including Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, Tweet, Queen Latifah, Jaheim, Lyric, Lil' Jon, Eastside Boyz, Jamie Foxx, DMX, Quincy Jones, and Ananda Lewis.^[23]

"I Care 4 U" was released as the second single on April 8, 2003.^[24] The song peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.^[25]

"Don't Know What to Tell Ya" was released as the third single on May 20, 2003. As its release in the United States was limited, it failed to enter both Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Internationally, it peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and number five on the UK R&B Chart.^[26][27]

"Come Over" was released as the fourth and final single on May 27, 2003. It peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100^[28] and at number nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.^[29]

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[30]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[31]
Entertainment Weekly	A−[32]
Los Angeles Times	[33]
The Guardian	[34]
Rolling Stone	[35]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[36]
Slant Magazine	[37]
Uncut	[38]
Vibe	4/5[39]
The Village Voice	A−[40]

In a positive review for Entertainment Weekly, Craig Seymour said I Care 4 U showcased Aaliyah's "interpretive talent" and ability to inspire her songwriters,^[32] while Graham Smith from musicOMH deemed it "a fine introduction to a much missed artiste", particularly because of the six previously unreleased songs.^[41] According to Vibe magazine's Jason King, the album compiled some of the most ambitious dance-pop of the previous ten years.^[39] Uncut said Aaliyah's "silvery and subtle reconfigurations of R&B" were showcased on the compiled hit singles,^[38] which AllMusic's John Bush felt reminded listeners of her vocal talent. He was also impressed by the previously unreleased tracks, writing that they "provide an intriguing look at where Aaliyah may have taken her career had she lived".^[30] Robert Christgau was somewhat less enthusiastic, viewing I Care 4 U as an incomplete compilation whose inconsistent mix of career highlights was nonetheless rectified by the quality of the new tracks, particularly "Erica Kane".^[40] In The Village Voice, he wrote:

From 'Age Ain't Nothing but a Number' when she was 15 to 'More Than a Woman' just before she died (the latter included, the former discreetly not), she was lithe and dulcet in a way that signified neither jailbait nor hottie—an ingénue whose selling point was sincerity, not innocence and the obverse it implies. Timbaland's beats add essential eccentricity, but R. Kelly's ditties suited her almost as well.^[40]

In a more critical review, Slant Magazine's Sal Cinqeumani was not impressed by the new songs on what he said was "neither a posthumous album of all-new material nor a proper greatest hits package" but "a half-assed attempt at satiating the Aaliyah fan's need for both".^[37] Rolling Stone magazine's Arion Berger also felt the album's second half of newer songs was somewhat inferior to Timbaland's impressive productions on the first half,^[35] while Natalie Nichols of the Los Angeles Times panned the previously unreleased songs as "merely soothing sonic wallpaper, with Aaliyah's pretty yet personality-free voice often treated like just another element in the mix".^[33] In The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), Keith Harris felt Aaliyah's catalogue warranted a more comprehensive compilation, although he believed the new songs proved she was maturing creatively before her death.^[36] Michael Paoletta from Billboard felt that in seven years Aaliyah "had amassed an impressive track record" and that I Care 4 U shows Aaliyah's growth as an artist. He also mentioned that, "Her unrealized potential is particularly evident on recent tracks as "More Than a Woman" and the title track."^[42]

Accolades[]

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
2003	Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Award	Top R&B/Hip-Hop Single – Airplay	"Miss You"	Nominated	[43]
2003	MTV Video Music Award	Best R&B Video		Nominated	[44]

Commercial performance[]

I Care 4 U debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 and atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 290,669 copies in the first week.^[45] In its second week, the album fell to number six on the Billboard 200 and to number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 280,000 copies.^[46] In its third week, the album fell to number number ten on the Billboard 200 and rose back to the top of Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling 176,000 copies.^[47] In its fourth week, the album rose to number nine on the Billboard 200, selling 138,000 copies, with total first-month sales of 884,669 copies.^[48] The album topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for seven non-consecutive weeks.^[49][50] I Care 4 U was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on January 15, 2003, and has sold over 1.6 million copies in the country.^[51][52][53]

Internationally, I Care 4 U was a commercial success as well, peaking within the top five in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Switzerland, as well as within the top ten in Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands.^{[54][49][50][55][52][56]} In Europe, it peaked at number two on European Top 100 Albums.^[57] The album has sold over six million copies worldwide.^[52]

Track listing[]

I Care 4 U – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Back & Forth"	R. Kelly	Kelly	3:51
2.	"Are You That Somebody?"	Stephen Garrett Timothy Mosley	Timbaland	4:25
3.	"One in a Million"	Missy Elliott Mosley	Timbaland	4:30
4.	"I Care 4 U"	Elliott Mosley	Timbaland	4:33
5.	"More Than a Woman"	Garrett Mosley	Timbaland	3:49
6.	"Don't Know What to Tell Ya"	Garrett Mosley	Timbaland	5:01
7.	"Try Again"	Garrett Mosley	Timbaland	4:44
8.	"All I Need"	Johnta Austin Teddy Bishop	Bishop	3:08
9.	"Miss You"	Austin Bishop Ginuwine	Bishop	4:05
10.	"Don't Worry"	Austin Jazze Pha	Pha	3:52
11.	"Come Over"	Austin Bryan-Michael Cox Kevin Hicks	Cox Hicks Pha	3:55
12.	"Erica Kane"	Garrett Eric Seats Rapture Stewart	Seats Rapture	4:38
13.	"At Your Best (You Are Love)"	Isley Brothers Chris Jasper	Kelly	4:52
14.	"Got to Give It Up" (remix)	Marvin Gaye	Vincent Herbert Craig King Bud'da[a]	3:58
Total length:				59:21

I Care 4 U – 2021 reissue edition (bonus tracks)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"We Need a Resolution" (featuring Timbaland)	Garrett Mosley	Timbaland	4:07
16.	"Rock the Boat"	Garrett Seats Stewart	Seats Rapture	4:37
Total length:				68:05

I Care 4 U – International edition (bonus video)

No.	Title	Length
17.	"Miss You"	4:17
Total length:		72:22

I Care 4 U – Japanese edition (bonus tracks)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"If Your Girl Only Knew"	Elliott Mosley	Timbaland	4:51
16.	"We Need a Resolution" (featuring Timbaland)	Garrett Mosley	Timbaland	4:07
17.	"Rock the Boat"	Garrett Seats Stewart	Seats Rapture	4:37
Total length:				72:56

I Care 4 U – Limited edition (bonus DVD)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"One in a Million"	5:03
2.	"Are You That Somebody?"	4:29
3.	"Try Again"	3:50
4.	"We Need a Resolution"	4:06
5.	"More Than a Woman"	3:51
6.	"Come Back in One Piece" (featuring DMX)	3:41
7.	"4 Page Letter"	4:56
8.	"Got to Give It Up" (remix)	4:09
9.	"Rock the Boat"	5:37
10.	"Japanimation Commercial"	0:47
11.	"Aaliyah Behind the Scenes"	12:56
Total length:		53:25

I Care 4 U – Japanese limited edition (bonus DVD)

No.	Title	Length
12.	"Miss You"	4:17
Total length:		57:42

Notes

• ^{^a} signifies a remixer

Sample credits^[58][59]

• "More Than a Woman" contains an uncredited sample from "Alouli Ansa" by Mayada El-Hennawy (1993)
• "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" contains an uncredited sample from the song "Batwannis Beek" performed by Algerian singer Warda Al-Jazairia.^[60][61][62]

Personnel[]

• Aaliyah – lead vocals
• Teddy Bishop – producer
• Bud'da – producer
• Bryan-Michael Cox – producer
• Jimmy Douglass – mixing
• Vincent Herbert – producer
• Kevin Hicks – producer
• Jazze Pha – producer
• R. Kelly – mixing, producer
• Acar S. Key – engineer
• Craig King – producer
• David LaChapelle – photography
• Mr. Lee – mixing
• Jonathan Mannion – photography
• Peter Mokran – engineer, mixing
• Rapture – producer
• Eric Seats – producer
• Senator Jimmy D – engineer, producer
• Static Major – producer
• Timbaland – mixing, producer
• Albert Watson – photography

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[90]	Gold	50,000^
France (SNEP)[91]	Gold	100,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[92]	Gold	20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[93]	Gold	100,000^
United States (RIAA)[94]	Platinum	1,000,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Region	Date	Edition(s)	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	December 10, 2002	Standard limited	CD CD+DVD	Blackground Universal	[95][96]
Germany	January 31, 2003			Universal Music	[97]
Australia	February 3, 2003				[98][99]
France					[100]
United Kingdom				Independiente	[101][102]
Japan	March 26, 2003			Avex Trax	[103][104]
Various	October 8, 2021	Reissue	Cassette CD digital download streaming	Blackground Empire	[105]
	June 3, 2022		Vinyl		[106][107]

See also[]

• List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 2002

References[]

Bibliography[]

• Strong, Martin C. (November 30, 2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Canongate U.S. p. 4. ISBN 1841956155.CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)

External links[]

• I Care 4 U at Discogs (list of releases)