The song hit #1 in Canada and the Top 10 in the UK, Germany, and Australia.
To accommodate Nelly’s inclusion, the original music video was re-edited, splicing in footage of the rapper and Timberlake and removing a drag racing sequence. 📈 Chart & Cultural Impact Girlfriend (The Neptunes Remix)
The track features dry drums and a signature minimalist groove. The song hit #1 in Canada and the
The remix famously features two new verses from Nelly, but the collaboration almost didn't happen. According to industry accounts, Nelly’s label, Universal Records, initially resisted the feature, warning him that collaborating with a boy band could "ruin his career". Nelly ignored the advice, insisting on the track, which became his first major cross-genre collaboration and peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. 🎹 Production Hallmarks The remix famously features two new verses from
The Neptunes replaced the original production with their signature "lush minimalism".