Pharrell - Like I Love You (Demo Version) (feat. Clipse)

As I take my time to prepare the penultimate Neptunes selection on the list (actually, I haven’t even started writing the #2 entry, so I’m really just buying myself more time here), feel free to listen to another joint that, along with the Sade remix, just missed the countdown cut. T’is a single that everyone and their Mom, dog and bowl of fish know quite well. In particular, what I have uploaded is the original incarnation (“It’s a demo!” - Kool G Rap) of what would ultimately become the very successful lead single from Timberpond’s 2002 solo debut Justified. There are 2 main reasons why this is a notable mention (other than the fact that I’ve always loved the acoustic-laden beat).

1. For better or for worse (and for the record, I’ve never been a fan), this is the song that technically launched Justin’s solo career (if you remember, this was the first single from Justified and it blew the F*CK up!). Side note: the next single, also a Neptunes banger, was Rock Your Body, a beat which I tend to enjoy as well. So historically, the ‘Tunes (who handled 7 of the 13 joints on Justified) had a large hand in helping to create arguably the most popular pop music megastar of the current generation (hey, I’ll give credit where credit is due…even if I do despise the guy).
2. I’ve heard/read that this beat (as well as a few other Neptunes beats from Justified) were initially offered to the late (still can’t believe it), supremely great Michael Jackson for his 2001 Invincible LP. Well, for one ill-advised reason or another, The King passed on everything that Pharrell and Chad had to offer. Invincible was then released and was considered a sub-par if not slightly underrated MJ album (but not something worthy of being The King’s final album, which it has now become). As for the unused beats, they were re-gifted and given to N’Sync member #1. And the rest is history. Oh Mike, why didn’t you ever work with The Neptunes? I feel that you guys would’ve made some sick music together. But now we’ll never know.

Anyways, this beat was so good that it probably did make lots of beatsmiths jealous (or “hurt so many people’s feelings” as P so confidently stated at the end of the demo), due to its broad commercial appeal and simultaneous ill-tastic quality (this elusive combo is The Neptunes M.O.). As you listen to the demo, the song is pretty much finished. Only P’s vocals were later re-done by Timberflake, and also the beat breakdown which showed up on the final version isn’t there yet. And it should also be said that, within the very short mic time that they were given, Pusha T and Malice drop some swift and efficient bars. To date, this is the only time that the Clipse have appeared in a song that made it into the TOP 40 countdown.

Whoa, I didn’t mean to write a semi-review, but it looks like I had quite a bit to say about a track that didn’t even make it onto my Planet Neptunes countdown, didn’t I? I feel it was justified, though ;) Happy Canada Day!