"I Know What You Want" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes and singer Mariah Carey, featuring verses from Rhymes' group Flipmode Squad: Spliff Star, Baby Sham, Rah Digga, and Rampage. Produced by Rick Rock, it was released on February 24, 2003 as the second single from Rhymes' sixth album It Ain't Safe No More..., released on November 26, 2002.
The song became an international success, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and top three in various countries including Australia and the United Kingdom. The song stayed in the top 40 of the Hot 100 for 21 weeks and was ranked 17 on the Hot 100 year-end chart in 2003. It marked Rhymes' highest charting song at the time and a return to the top five for Carey following an unsuccessful period. The song was later included on Carey's first remix album The Remixes (2003) and various reissues of Carey's ninth studio album Charmbracelet (2002).
The song was released on November 26, 2002. Billboard writer Brian Garrity wrote that on "I Know What You Want," Busta Rhymes "takes an R&B turn". The song has since been sampled in the song "I Got You" by Trippie Redd, (2020) and "Where I Belong", the 2021 follow up duet by Rhymes and Carey.
The song charted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Rhymes' highest charting song at the time until 2005, and Carey's first top five hit since her 2001 single, "Loverboy". The song has sold 175,000 copies in the UK.
The music video was directed by Chris Robinson. It features Busta Rhymes, the Flipmode Squad, and Carey lounging around an expensive mansion. During Carey's appearance, her jewelry brand "Automatic Princess" was advertised. Meanwhile, Busta watches over the female interest of the video played by video vixen La'Shontae "Tae" Heckard, as she reads a Frank Miller-stylized graphic novel. Her husband in the video is played by martial artist and actor Michael Jai White. A brief animated sequence drawn from the graphic novel is featured. The video premiered on BET Access Granted on April 17, 2003.
The plotline for the song's music video was continued in the video for the 2021 single "Where I Belong", in which Rhymes collaborated again with Carey.
Canadian CD single
European CD single
Australian/European CD maxi-single
UK CD maxi-single