Got Your Back

"Got Your Back" is a song by American hip hop recording artist T.I., released on June 1, 2010, as the lead single (third overall) from his seventh studio album No Mercy (2010). The song features American R&B singer-songwriter Keri Hilson. T.I. wrote the song with Young Jedi, alongside the track's producer DJ Toomp. "Got Your Back" was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 15, 2010.

"Got Your Back"
Single by T.I. featuring Keri Hilson
from the album No Mercy
Released	June 1, 2010
Genre	Hip hop R&B
Length	4:24 (album version) 3:45 (radio edit)
Label	Grand Hustle Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Clifford Harris Aldrin Davis Young Jedi
Producer(s)	DJ Toomp
T.I. singles chronology
"Yeah Ya Know (Takers)" (2010) "Got Your Back" (2010) "Make Up Bag" (2010)
Keri Hilson singles chronology
"Oh Africa" (2010) "Got Your Back" (2010) "Breaking Point" (2010)
Music video
"T.I. - Got Your Back ft. Keri Hilson [Official Video]" on YouTube

Background

In an interview with Jamie Foxx, when asked about the song, T.I. said, "[It's] basically just me showing my appreciation to all the ladies who got they man’s back in the world, acknowledging the one who had my back and acknowledging the ones that got they [sic] man’s back at the same time."^[1] Preceded by the singles "I'm Back" and "Yeah Ya Know (Takers)", "Got Your Back" can be found as a bonus track on the album No Mercy, as well as T.I.'s mixtape Fuck a Mixtape (2010).

Composition and critical reception

The song features a "bright", "bouncy" electro/synth beat.^[2] Hilson sings the hook, while T.I. raps the verses and harmonizes in the song's melodic bridge.^[3] According to Robbie Daw of Idolator the song's intro is reminiscent of Hilson's "Knock You Down".^[4] Although stating the song fell a little short, a Chicago Now writer called it a "solid, feel-good summer joint", and commented, "All the elements are here for this one to blow up with the masses: a catchy, repetitive hook from Keri Hilson, a poppy, feel-good production, and some memorable messages from T.I."^[3]

According to DJBooth, the song "essentially attempts to recreate the success of 'Whatever You Like', calling the Hilson-T.I. pairing, "A combination like that could only mean one thing; we’ve got a hit on our hands."^[2] Ed Easton Jr. of WNOW-FM said the song takes T.I. back to "Whatever You Like", commenting, "Keri Hilson adds a perfect mix of pop and passion to the hook of the song, as it is a bit of a dance track that all the ladies and some guys can vibe to this summer."^[5] UK SoulCulture thought that releasing a "song for the streets and song for the ladies" was trying to recreate the vibe of his last album, but wasn't sure if the latest set lived up to par.^[6][7]

Music video

The music video was directed by Chris Robinson. It was filmed on June 30, 2010,^[8] and premiered on July 22, 2010.^[9] It features cameo appearances from T.I.'s wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and actors Lance Gross, Keith Robinson, and Jill Marie Jones.^[9]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2010) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[10] 21 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 48 German Black (Deutsche Trend)[12] 6 Irish Singles Chart[13] 33 Dutch Singles Chart[14] 81 UK R&B Chart[15] 19 UK Singles Chart[16] 45 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 38 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 10 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[19] 4 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[20] 9 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales United States (RIAA)[21] Gold 500,000* * Sales figures based on certification alone.

Year-end charts Chart (2010) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 55 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[23] 46

References

1. "New Music: T.I. f/ Keri Hilson – 'Got Your Back'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
2. "T.I. - Got Your Back". DJBooth. DJBooth, LLC. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
3. "T.I. 'Got Your Back' f/ Keri Hilson leads new mainstream update". Chicago Now. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
4. Daw, Robbie. "T.I. Discusses Lady Gaga Collab "Lick It," Serves Up New Single "Got Your Back"". Idolator. Buzzmedia. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
5. "Keri Hilson Has T.I.'s Back". WNOW-FM. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
6. "T.I. – "Yeah Ya Know (Takers)" x "Got Your Back" ft Keri Hilson (New Music)". UK SoulCulture. Soulculture.co.uk. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
7. Martin, Andrew. ""Got Your Back" f. Keri Hilson". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
8. T.I. [@Tip] (30 June 2010). "filming 'got your back' video with @misskeribaby today! #kingsback" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
9. "Video: T.I. f/ Keri Hilson – 'Got Your Back'". Rap-Up. 2010-07-22. Retrieved 2010-07-22.
10. "UltraTop Belgian Charts". Ultratip. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
11. "T.I. Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
12. "MTV Deutsche Black Charts". MTV Germany. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on February 26, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
13. "Discography T.I." Irish Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
14. "dutchcharts.nl". Dutch Singles. Hung Medien/hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
15. "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
16. "T.I. and Keri Hilson 'Got Your Back' World Charts". Acharts. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
17. "T.I. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
18. "T.I. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
19. "T.I. Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
20. "T.I. Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
21. "American single certifications – T.I. – Got Your Back". Recording Industry Association of America.
22. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
23. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-07.