"Get Like Me"
Single by Nelly featuring Nicki Minaj and Pharrell
from the album M.O.
ReleasedJuly 2, 2013 (2013-07-02)
Recorded2012–13
GenreHip hop
Length3:52
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Pharrell Williams
Nelly singles chronology
"Cruise (Remix)"
(2013)		 "Get Like Me"
(2013)		 "The Fix"
(2015)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"#Twerkit"
(2013)		 "Get Like Me"
(2013)		 "Love More"
(2013)
Pharrell singles chronology
"Feds Watching"
(2013)		 "Get Like Me"
(2013)		 "Lose Yourself to Dance"
(2013)

"Get Like Me" is a song written and performed by American rapper Nelly featuring Nicki Minaj and Pharrell Williams. Produced by the latter, "Get Like Me" was released by Republic Records as the second single from the former's seventh studio album M.O. on July 2, 2013. Upon its release, the song was positively received by most music critics who praised the chemistry between the performers and praised its sound.

Background

"Get Like Me" was written by Nelly, Nicki Minaj and Pharrell Williams while the production was handled by Williams.[1] In June, 2013, Nelly made the announcement on Twitter, writing "New NELLY FT @NICKIMINAJ ‘GET LIKE ME’ produce by @Pharrell dropping the 18th".[2] The song was recorded in 2012 originally as a collaboration between Nelly and Williams. Speaking of "Get Like Me", Nelly stated, "Actually, me and Pharrell did the record maybe about a year ago and we were coming back to the records that we did, closing out the album and putting everything together and I was just like, 'Yo I think Nicki might be dope on this'... we made it happen and I was right. She [Nicki] killed it!".[3] Williams commented, “When we get together, we like to do a song that evokes as much energy as possible.”[4]

Composition

"Get Like Me" is a drum-driven song with sparse and percussive beat.[5] Lyrically, it is a self-pride song, further described as "an ode to Nelly's dope-ness".[6] Nelly sings about how everyone tries to steal his shine, "See the whole rap game/ They sounding like me". Minaj echoes his sentiments singing: "Get their own speakers and some pros like me/ When I'm at the game, all the pros like me."[6] Minaj sings the lines "You should follow my example, bitch I.E./ 'Cause I'm front row Isaac Miz-ra-hi," putting "extra emphasis" on her words, by breaking down her rhymes into simple syllables.[3] She also sings about the things she has accomplished throughout her career mentioning her Beats By Dr. Dre endorsement deal.[5] Rob Markman from MTV News noted that the song initially was similar with Nelly and Pharrell's collaborations on "Hot in Herre" (2002) "Flap Your Wings" (2005) and further compared it with songs produced by The Neptunes.[3][5] Jenna Hally Rubenstein of the same publication noted that it sounds very similar to other songs produced by Williams.[6]

Critical reception

Nelly (left) and Pharrell Williams (center) recorded the song as a duet in 2012. However, during the final sessions of the recording for the album M.O., Nelly invited Nicki Minaj (right) to be featured on the track.

Rob Markman from MTV News praised the chemistry between Nelly and Pharrell Williams and added that Minaj's addition to the song "perfected the recipe".[3] In another review, he noted that "Get Like Me" was another notable performance for Minaj's "star-studded" discography adding that it enhanced the "chemistry and excitement" in the song.[5] He further praised Nelly's singing adding that the song was a proof that he "hasn't lost his jones for hip-hop".[5] Mike Powell of the magazine Rolling Stone graded "Get Like Me" with three stars out of five writing in his review, "Despite the billing on the marquee, the fizzy, minimal second single from Nelly... belongs to Nicki and Pharrell. You'd think a rapper known for her overheated quirk would flame out next to someone as systematically cooled-out as Pharrell, but she rises to the occasion – ironically, by sitting down and leaning back."[7]

Music video

A music video was shot in Los Angeles, on June 26, 2013, directed by Colin Tilley. A behind-the-scenes video was released on July 11, 2013.[8] After several teasers,[9] the music video premiered on 106 & Park on July 31, 2013, and peaked at number 1 on August 26, 2013.[10] Nelly described the video as "equally energetic" with the song.[3] He further said "[Nicki] brings energy, charisma, and her star power, and I think that’s what the video is about. It’s just about that star power and energy and the hypeness of the joint."[4]

The video is shot in black and white and includes various scenes with video dancers as well as the three artists rapping in minimalist rooms with huge white screens behind them.[11][12] One scene features a drum beat played on a woman's bare behind.[11] It also features Minaj twerking on a throne.[12]

Eric Diep of XXL magazine wrote that the three artists "turn the heat up" further praising Minaj for showing her "voluptuous curves".[9] A writer of The Huffington Post described the video as "sexy" with "gratuitous footage of beautiful women dancing".[11] A writer of Rap-Up described the video as "slick and sexy".[4]

Track listing

  • Digital download[13]
  1. "Get Like Me" (featuring Nicki Minaj and Pharrell) – 3:52

Chart performance

Weekly

Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
Australian ARIA Urban Singles[14] 34
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[15] 27
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders Urban)[15] 18
Canada (Hot Canadian Digital Songs)[16] 74
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 96
Scotland (OCC)[18] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 19
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[20] 4
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[21] 8
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 36
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[23] 27

Year-end

Chart (2013) Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders Urban)[24] 100

Radio and release history

Country Date Format Label
United States July 2, 2013 Digital download Republic Records
July 16, 2013[25] Rhythmic contemporary radio

References

  1. ↑ "Get Like Me" - single liner notes (2013)
  2. ↑ "Nelly Teams with Nicki Minaj, Pharrell for New Single". Rap-Up. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Markman, Rob (July 2, 2013). "Nicki Minaj Brought 'Dope' Energy to Nelly's 'Get Like Me'". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "Video: Nelly f/ Nicki Minaj & Pharrell – 'Get Like Me'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Markman, Rob (June 19, 2013). "Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Drop Smooth Rhymes Over Nelly's New Track". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "New Song: Nelly Featuring Nicki Minaj And Pharrell, 'Get Like Me' (NSFW)". Buzzworthy. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Powell, Mike (August 15, 2013). "Nelly Feat. Pharrell and Nicki Minaj, Get Like Me - Song Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Behind the Video: Nelly f/ Nicki Minaj & Pharrell – 'Get Like Me'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  9. 1 2 Diep, Eric (July 31, 2013). "Nelly Featuring Nicki Minaj And Pharrell "Get Like Me" (Video)". XXL. Harris Publications. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Nelly, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Keep It Black And White In 'Get Like Me' Video". RapFix. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 "'Get Like Me' Video Paints Nelly, Pharrell, And Nicki Minaj In Black-And-White". The Huffington Post. August 1, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Nelly, Nicki Minaj, Pharrell reveal 'Get Like Me' music video - watch". Digital Spy. August 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Music - Get Like Me (feat. Nicki Minaj & Pharrell) - Single by Nelly". iTunes Store. (US) Apple Inc. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  14. ↑ ARIA Urban Singles Chart - Week Commencing 12th August 2013. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 3, 2013
  15. 1 2 "Nelly feat. Nicki Minaj & Pharrell – Get Like Me" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Hot Canadian Digital Songs: Jul 20, 2013". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 40, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.
  18. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  20. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Nelly Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Nelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Nelly Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  24. ↑ JAAROVERZICHTEN 2013 Archived June 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch). ultratop.be/nl. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  25. ↑ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more!". Retrieved 5 March 2015.
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