At the time, it was uncommon for rappers to sing on their own tracks, but Carey found Busta's soulful delivery perfect for the song’s vibe. Chart Success and "Return to Form"

Following a difficult professional period after the Glitter era, "I Know What You Want" was hailed as a major "return to form" and a precursor to her massive 2005 comeback with The Emancipation of Mimi . A Cinematic Music Video

The song was an international smash, peaking at on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying in the top 40 for 21 weeks.

Busta initially planned to hire a professional male R&B singer for the back-and-forth vocals with Carey.

The track was produced by and appeared on Busta Rhymes' sixth album, It Ain't Safe No More... Interestingly, Busta Rhymes did not originally intend to sing the male hook himself.

It became his highest-charting single to that point.

In 2003, the worlds of aggressive hip-hop and high-octane R&B collided when Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey released Featuring Busta's group, the Flipmode Squad , the track became a defining anthem of the early 2000s, blending a smooth, seductive melody with street-wise grit. The Origin: A Surprising Vocal Decision