Got Your Money

The Story Behind "Got Your Money" by Ol' Dirty Bastard Featuring Kelis

Picture the close of 1999, hip-hop bursting with personality and the Neptunes beginning their reign as production wizards, when one of rap's most unpredictable and beloved characters delivered an irresistibly funky, chaotic anthem. That was "Got Your Money" by Ol' Dirty Bastard, featuring a then-emerging Kelis, a track that became one of the late Wu-Tang member's most enduring and accessible hits.

A Wu-Tang Wild Card

Ol' Dirty Bastard, a founding member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, was one of hip-hop's most singular figures. His unpredictable, raw, and often hilarious style made him a fan favorite, a performer who seemed to operate entirely by his own rules. His solo work captured a chaotic energy and a fearless individuality that few artists could match, and by 1999 he was a genuine cult icon.

This single brought together that wild personality with cutting-edge production. The track was produced by the Neptunes, the duo of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who were on the verge of becoming the most influential producers in pop and hip-hop. The featured vocals came from Kelis, who was just beginning her own rise to stardom, adding a catchy, soulful hook to the track.

Funky, Chaotic, and Irresistible

The track is built on a bright, bouncy Neptunes production that perfectly complements Ol' Dirty Bastard's freewheeling delivery. His verses are loose, energetic, and unmistakably his own, full of the unpredictable charisma that defined his style. Kelis's hook provides a melodic anchor, giving the song a commercial accessibility that balanced ODB's chaotic energy.

That contrast between the polished production, the catchy hook, and the rapper's untamed performance is what makes the song so memorable. It captured ODB at his most fun and accessible, channeling his wild persona into a track that worked on the radio, in the club, and everywhere in between. The result is a record bursting with personality.

A Strong Chart Run

The single performed well on the chart. "Got Your Money" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 23, 1999, at number 85, then climbed steadily over the following weeks, moving through the seventies and into the sixties as it gained momentum. It reached its peak of number 33 during the week of December 25, 1999.

The single spent 10 weeks on the Hot 100, a solid run that made it one of ODB's biggest crossover hits. The song's success demonstrated both the rapper's unique appeal and the Neptunes' growing commercial power, helping to cement reputations on both sides of the collaboration.

An Enduring Favorite

In the larger story of hip-hop, "Got Your Money" stands as one of Ol' Dirty Bastard's most beloved recordings and a high point of his solo career. ODB's life was marked by struggle and cut short by his death in 2004, but songs like this one preserve the joyful, irrepressible energy that made him such a treasured figure. The track also marked an important early step for both the Neptunes and Kelis.

Today the recording draws roughly 1 million YouTube views, a steady audience for its infectious energy. It endures as a celebration of one of hip-hop's most original personalities at his most irresistible. The song has enjoyed a long afterlife in films, commercials, and pop culture more broadly, its infectious hook and unforgettable energy keeping it alive far beyond its original chart run and introducing it to listeners who never experienced it the first time around.

Press play and let that bouncy Neptunes beat and ODB's wild charisma remind you why this song remains such a joy, a perfect distillation of everything that made him one of hip-hop's most unforgettable figures, full of the joy and chaos that no other artist could quite replicate.

"Got Your Money" — Ol' Dirty Bastard's singular moment on the 1990s charts.