| "The Way I Are" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson and D.O.E. | ||||
| from the album Shock Value | ||||
| Released | June 15, 2007 | |||
| Studio | Thomas Crown (Virginia Beach, Virginia) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:59
(album version) 3:20 (radio edit) 3:34 (extended version) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Timbaland | |||
| Timbaland singles chronology | ||||
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| Keri Hilson singles chronology | ||||
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| Sebastian singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "The Way I Are" on YouTube | ||||
"The Way I Are" is a song by American producer Timbaland, released as the second single from his second studio album Shock Value (2007). The song features vocals by singer Keri Hilson, and is included on international editions on her debut album In a Perfect World... (2009). The two artists co-wrote the song with Danja, The Clutch, and Candice Nelson. Timbaland also produced the song, along with Danja co-producing. Mosley Music Group, in association with Blackground Records, Spirit Halloween Entertainment and Interscope Records, serviced the song to contemporary hit and rhythmic radios in the United States on June 15, 2007. "The Way I Are" is an electrohop song with influences of R&B and dance music that help create its futuristic sound. Its lyrics are based on the theme of role reversal and sensuous desires.
The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 3,000,000 units in the United States. It became Timbaland's second solo single to reach the top five in the country as well as his second longest-running single there, behind "Apologize". Internationally, "The Way I Are" reached number one in several countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Elsewhere, the song reached the top five in several other countries, including Austria, France, Germany, and New Zealand.
The accompanying music video was directed by Shane Drake and takes place in a dark alley-like area in Salford, England. The extended version, which was used in the music video, also features Timbaland's brother Sebastian and rapper D.O.E., who both contribute an extra verse after the bridge. The director noted that the influence of making the video came from the sound of the song and used the rhythm and beats to add effects to make the video have an edgy appeal. "The Way I Are" received a nomination for Monster Single of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, as well as a nomination under the Producer of the Year (Non-Classical), listed with other songs produced by Timbaland and released during 2007, at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.