Peak
7
Weeks
24
Score
4,310
Chart Year
2001
///
Elliott wrote and produced this song with Timbaland, who also worked on her debut single "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)." This track came together very quickly when Timbaland was working with some Indian music he discovered in his travels. The beat was based on Bhangra music, which gave it a very unusual sound. Timbaland used a one-stringed guitar called a tumbi and recorded individual notes into a keyboard. In the April 2007 issue of Blender magazine, Elliott explained the meaning of the song: "It could be about dancing - the bedroom, whatever. You're cleaning your house? Get your freak on!" "Get Ur Freak On" marked Elliott's first music video collaboration without Hype Williams, the creative mind behind her trademark futuristic look. The problem was, Elliott didn't want a trademark and was already feeling pigeonholed to fit the image that was expertly laid out for her in Williams' videos. "You see, I change my music and I change my image at the same time. I felt like as long as me and Hype continued to work together we would probably keep it going in the same kinda of direction," she told interviewer Amy Linden. Instead, she turned to Dave Meyers, another prolific director known for his work on Outkast's "So Fresh, So Clean" video and frequent collaborations with Pink, among others. Meyers became Elliott's go-to director for her next ten videos. Elliott was the surprise guest at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2015. After Katy Perry did a few songs, the lights dimmed and Misdemeanor attacked the stage, emerging to this song's signature beat with a team of monochrome backup dancers in a precision performance that was a stark contrast to Perry's jaunty beach scene of her previous number, "California Gurls." Elliott did bits of two more songs - "Work It" and "Lose Control" - before Perry returned to close the show. The song re-entered the Hot 100 at #40 in the week following the Super Bowl performance. Not long after making this song with Elliott, Timbaland found himself producing a white rapper from Georgia named Bubba Sparxxx. Needing a "hick-hop" hit, he re-used the "Get Ur Freak On" beat for Sparxxx' first single, "Ugly." Elliott got in on the action as well, appearing at the end of the track to reprise some of her lines. She and Timbaland both appeared in the video. The song was a hit, going to #15 in the US in November 2001, just five months after "Get Ur Freak On" reached its chart peak. Other artists have sampled themselves (Beastie Boys would often reuse bits from older songs) but this was a rare case of a producer double dipping. It worked very well, introducing Bubba Sparxxx with a familiar and bankable beat. Report this ad The music video was shot in an old bakery in Glendale, California. Elliott gets her freak on by swinging from a chandelier and stretching her neck out to impossible lengths towards the camera. The clip is jam-packed with cameo appearances from rappers Ludacris, LL Cool J, Ja Rule, Busta Rhymes, Master P, Lil' Romeo, Eve, Nate Dogg and singer Nicole Wray. "Get Ur Freak On" was used in a 2018 Super Bowl commercial where Morgan Freeman lip syncs it in a rap battle versus Peter Dinklage, who takes on Busta Rhymes' verse in "Look at Me Now." This was a last-minute addition to the Miss E record. According to Missy Elliott, the album was just about done but she and Timbaland decided she needed one more cut. They put together "Get Ur Freak On," which became the album's lead single.
Hit me, hit me Gimme some new shit Gimme some new shit Gimme some new shit Gimme some new shit Missy be puttin' it down I'm the hottest 'round I'll told why'all mutha (skurt) Why'all can stop me now Listen to me now I'm lastin' twenty rounds And if you want me (people) Then come and get me now (bounce) Is you with me now (bounce) The biggie biggie bounce (bounce) I know you dig the way I sw... sw... switched ma style (Holla) People sing around Now people gather round Now people jump around Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha getcha getcha getcha getcha freak on (Is that yo chik...) People you know Me and Timbaland been hot since twenty years ago What da dilly yo Now what da drilly yo If you want to battle me then (people) lemme know (Holla) Got the feeling son Lemme throw you some People here I come Now sweat me when I'm done We got the radio shook like we got a gun Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha getcha getcha getcha getcha freak on Quiet Shh, hush yo mouth Silence when I spit it out In yo face Open yo mouth give you a taste (Holla) ain't no stoppin' me Copywritten so, don't copy me Why'all do it, sloppily And why'all can't come, close to me (yes) I know you feel me now (yes) I know you hear me loud (yes) I scream it loud and proud (yes) Missy gon' blow it down (yes) People gon' play me now (yes) In and outta town (yes) 'Cause I'm the best around (yes) With the crazy style (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha freak on... (go) Getcha getcha getcha getcha getcha freak on
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 24, 2001 | 65 | 61 |
| 2 | Mar 31, 2001 | 59 | 67 |
| 3 | Apr 7, 2001 | 59 | 67 |
| 4 | Apr 14, 2001 | 44 | 82 |
| 5 | Apr 21, 2001 | 31 | 95 |
| 6 | Apr 28, 2001 | 29 | 97 |
| 7 | May 5, 2001 | 21 | 105 |
| 8 | May 12, 2001 | 14 | 112 |
| 9 | May 19, 2001 | 14 | 112 |
| 10 | May 26, 2001 | 10 | 116 |
| 11 | Jun 2, 2001 | 9 | 117 |
| 12 | Jun 9, 2001 | 8 | 118 |
| 13 | Jun 16, 2001 | 8 | 118 |
| 14 | Jun 23, 2001 | 9 | 117 |
| 15 | Jun 30, 2001 | 7 | 119 |
| 16 | Jul 7, 2001 | 8 | 118 |
| 17 | Jul 14, 2001 | 11 | 115 |
| 18 | Jul 21, 2001 | 11 | 115 |
| 19 | Jul 28, 2001 | 15 | 111 |
| 20 | Aug 4, 2001 | 20 | 106 |