U Should've Known Better

U Should've Known Better is a song by Monica that was originally on her third album "All Eyez on Me."

The song was written by Monica, Jermaine Dupri & Harold Lilly and produced by Jermaine Dupri & Bryan Michael Cox.

After "All Eyez on Me" was shelved outside of Japan, the song was later featured onto Monica's fourth studio album "After the Storm" and released as the last single from the album on May 18, 2004.

Originally, the song "Don't Gotta Go Home" (feat. rapper DMX) was expected to be released as the fourth single from the album, but it was replaced with "U Should've Known Better."

Song Composition
The song contains elements of soul & rock music and it is built on a pulsating backbeat and the instrumentation consists of screeching guitars & an understated harp pattern.

The song is about Monica (as the protagonist) delivering a message of loyalty to her imprisoned love interest & sings about staying down for him despite his doubts.

Music Video
The music video for "U Should've Known Better" was shot by director Benny Boom, and produced by Joyce Washington for FM Rocks.

It was filmed in various locations throughout Mexico in April 2004.

It features rapper Young Buck appears in the video as Monica's love interest.

The video follows the single's topic of a misunderstandings in a relationship, showing Monica as the girlfriend with the boyfriend held in a Mexico hold-prison.

With Monica getting help from a guy friend, her boyfriend's best friend sees them and thinks otherwise.

Monica drives through the desert of Mexico to get him out of prison. The video ends with her and the boyfriend hugging at the end and going home together.

Video Reception
The video premiered worldwide on May 2004 at the end on BET's "Access Granted."

It charted well on several video-chart countdowns including BET's 106 & Park and MTV's TRL.

Chart Performance
"U Should've Known Better" opened as the "Hot Shot Debut" of the week at number 72 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in the week of April 3, 2004

However, it took another three months until the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it debuted at number sixty-seven in the week of June 6, 2004 (which was the second-highest debut of the week).

The song remained twenty weeks on the chart, reaching its peak position of number 19 in its ninth week.

It marked the second single from "After the Storm" to reach the top twenty on the Hot 100 chart. It remained its second highest-charting offering behind leading single "So Gone."

Personnel

 * Lead vocals – Monica Arnold
 * Background vocals – Monica Arnold
 * Mixing – Phil Tan, Jermaine Dupri
 * Mixing assistance – John Horesco IV
 * Guitar – William Odum
 * Recording – Brian Frye at SouthSide Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
 * Recording assistance – Tadd Mingo, Javier Valeverde
 * Mastering – Tom Coyne