Girlfriend/Boyfriend

This article is about the Blackstreet song. For the 2012 Taiwanese film, see Girlfriend, Boyfriend. For the C-Side song, see Boyfriend/Girlfriend.
"Girlfriend/Boyfriend"
Single by Blackstreet and Janet Jackson featuring Ja Rule and Eve
from the album Finally
Released1999
Genre
Length4:03
LabelInterscope
Songwriters
ProducerTeddy Riley
Blackstreet singles chronology
"Take Me There"
(1998) 		"Girlfriend/Boyfriend"
(1999) 		"Get Ready"
(1999)
Janet Jackson singles chronology
"What's It Gonna Be?!"
(1999) 		"Girlfriend/Boyfriend"
(1999) 		"Doesn't Really Matter"
(2000)
Eve singles chronology
"You Got Me"
(1999) 		"Girlfriend/Boyfriend"
(1999) 		"Ruff Ryders' Anthem (Remix)"
(1999)
Ja Rule singles chronology
"Kill 'Em All"
(1999) 		"Girlfriend/Boyfriend"
(1999) 		"Holla Holla (Remix)"
(1999)
Music video
"Blackstreet - Girlfriend/Boyfriend ft. Janet Jackson" on YouTube

"Girlfriend/Boyfriend" is a song by American R&B group Blackstreet. It was released in 1999 as the second and final single from their third album Finally. Janet Jackson is also featured in the song as well as rappers Ja Rule and Eve. The song is co-written by R&B singer and Ja Rule's former associate Cynthia "Lil' Mo" Loving. It was a minor hit in the United States and achieved moderate success in some other countries.

Background

Janet Jackson and Teddy Riley previously collaborated on the remix of Jackson’s single "I Get Lonely" with Blackstreet in 1998.[1] Later that year, MTV News reported Riley had worked with the Spice Girls on a new song, titled "Girlfriend, Boyfriend," for the soundtrack to the forthcoming film South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut.[2][3] It is unknown if the Spice Girls actually recorded the song. The song was instead done with Janet Jackson, Ja Rule, and Eve for Blackstreet's own forthcoming album, Finally.

Jackson spoke favorably about the recording process, stating, "I really enjoyed working with [Teddy Riley]… It was a lot of fun in the studio. He reminds me of one of my brothers, and that's a good thing. That felt very good. So I'm sure we'll probably do something together in the future."[4]

For the first time, Jackson included the song on her 2023 Together Again Tour.

Critical reception

Billboard reviewed the song positively, commenting, "This wispy slice of hip-hop funk sounds like the first no-holds-barred pop/R&B anthem for the spring season," and calling it "of-the-moment, hip, and deliciously sexy."[5] In The Baltimore Sun, J. D. Considine praised Riley and Jackson’s chemistry, calling them "a pairing that adds extra heat to the tune's battle-of-the-sexes lyrics."[6] The Washington Post noted the song's "choppy Timbaland-style beats."[7]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" was directed by Joseph Kahn. The music video had a budget of $1.5 million, causing VH1 to rank it 21st on its list of the 25 most expensive music videos ever made, published in 2013.[8]

Track listing

Japan 5" CD Single

  1. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (House Mix) (6:34)
  2. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (House Mix Instrumental) (6:34)
  3. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (House Mix Acapella) (6:26)

U.S. 5" CD Single Remixes

  1. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (Grand Jury Carson Main Radio Remix) (4:13)
  2. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (Grand Jury Carson Rap Drop/Radio Fade) (4:12)
  3. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (The Anthem Remix) (4:12)
  4. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (Grand Jury Pasadena Remix) (4:38)

U.S. 12" Vinyl Maxi Single

  1. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (LP Version) (4:05)
  2. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (Radio Edit) (3:47)
  3. Girlfriend/Boyfriend (Instrumental) (4:05)
  4. Take Me There (Big Yam Remix) (3:19)
  5. Take Me There (LP Version) (5:01)
  6. Take Me There (Instrumental) (5:01)

Charts

Trivia

  • Despite being on the song and video together Eve and Janet Jackson never met until Eve revealed on The Talk (which Eve then co-hosted) that she met Jackson for the first time at an after party early in her career where Jackson not only consoled her after someone spiked her drink but also (most likely) had her security team get the person in trouble for spiking Eve's drink.[29]

References

  1. ^ "Janet Jackson Gets "Lonely" With Blackstreet's Teddy Riley". MTV. 1998-04-21. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  2. ^ "Teddy Riley Sends Spice Girls Possible "South Park" Tracks". MTV. 1998-07-23. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  3. ^ "Green Day Gets Rowdy For "South Park;" Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Ben Folds Conjured Up For "Sabrina"". MTV. 1998-08-10. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  4. ^ "Janet Jackson Shoots Videos For Busta And Blackstreet, Talks Teddy Riley". MTV. 1999-01-11. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  5. ^ Taylor, Chuck, ed. (1999-03-13). "Singles". Billboard. p. 29. Retrieved 2022-11-03 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Considine, J. D. (1999-04-01). "With "Finally," Blackstreet delivers, even with recycled goods". The Baltimore Sun. p. 76. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  7. ^ Harrington, Richard (1999-03-24). "Taking Blackstreet On the Right Road". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  8. ^ Runtagh, Jordan (2013-09-26). "The 25 Most Expensive Music Videos Ever Made". www.vh1.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  9. ^ "Blackstreet – Girlfriend / Boyfriend". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "Blackstreet – Girlfriend / Boyfriend" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 8146". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Image 8127". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  13. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 17. April 24, 1999. p. 12. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  14. ^ "Blackstreet – Girlfriend / Boyfriend" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  15. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Blackstreet" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  17. ^ "Blackstreet – Girlfriend / Boyfriend" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  18. ^ "Blackstreet – Girlfriend / Boyfriend". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 11/4/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  20. ^ "Blackstreet – Girlfriend / Boyfriend". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  21. ^ "Search results for "Blackstreet" | Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  22. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 11/4/1999 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  23. ^ "Blackstreet Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  24. ^ "Blackstreet Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  25. ^ "Blackstreet Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  26. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Image 9962". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  27. ^ Zywietz, Tobias (November 2000). "The Top 200 Singles of 1999" (PDF). Chartwatch. Ilminster, Somerset. pp. 41–42. Retrieved August 2, 2025 – via Zobbel.
  28. ^ "Urban Top 20 Tracks of 1999" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 54. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  29. ^ @TheTalkCBS (April 9, 2018). "While discussing the dangers of leaving your drink unattended, @TheRealEve recalls a moment when she unknowingly drank a spiked beverage at a party. Upon realizing that she had been drugged, Eve reveals the woman who came to her rescue - the one-and-only @JanetJackson!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 10, 2018 – via Twitter.
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