I Care 4 U

"I Care 4 U" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. Written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, the song was originally recorded for Aaliyah's second studio album One in a Million (1996), but the recording was shelved. It was re-recorded in 2000 for Aaliyah (2001). A neo soul ballad, "I Care 4 U" features beatboxing, an electric piano and multi-tracked vocals. Following Aaliyah's death on August 25, 2001, "I Care 4 U" received heavy airplay in the United States despite not having been released as a single. It peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was then included on Aaliyah's posthumous compilation album of the same name and was released as its third single on April 8, 2003. Writing and recording "I Care 4 U" was written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, and was produced by the latter. Aaliyah originally recorded the song for her second studio album One in a Million (1996), but it was completed after the album had finished post-production, and she chose to save it for her next album. She felt that it was "just one of those timeless songs. I also love the fact that it's a female saying:`Don't cry, I'll wipe your tears. I love you, just give me the chance to show you.' " In 2000, the song was re-recorded for Aaliyah at Magic Mix Studios and Music Grinder Studios in Los Angeles. Music and lyrics Musically, "I Care 4 U" is a neo soul ballad which has been compared to the work of singer Angie Stone. Graham Smith from musicOMH described "I Care 4 U" as a soft, romantic R&B ballad. The song includes an initially-uncredited sample of "(Too Little in Common to Be Lovers) Too Much Going to Say Goodbye" by The Newcomers. It features beatboxing, an electric piano and multi-tracked vocals. Michael Odell from The Guardian called the song "the sort of 1970s style ballad that Aaliyah's aunt, Gladys Knight, would approve of – but again it's stripped down and rebuilt with layers of haunting keyboard and lo-tech vocal percussion". According to Musicnotes, it is composed in the key of C minor and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 52 beats per minute, while Aaliyah's vocal range spans from F3 to C5.