"5 Minutes" is the debut single performed by American R&B vocalist,

Lil' Mo Cynthia Karen Loving (born November 19, 1978), known professionally as Lil' Mo, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, television and radio personality. She is best known for her 2001 single " Superwoman Pt. II", featuring then-unknown rapper ...

. The song features production and guest vocals by frequent collaborator

Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...

and originally served as the lead single from the original soundtrack of ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love'' (1998). However, because it was ignored by American mainstream radio outlets, the song was instead released as the soundtrack's first international single while contenders " I Want You Back" and "

No Fool No More "No Fool, No More" is a song by American female group En Vogue. It was written by Diane Warren and recorded for the soundtrack to the romantic drama film '' Why Do Fools Fall in Love'' (1998), while production was helmed by Big Baby and Sugar Mike ...

" were chosen in its place as a leading single.

Critical reception

The song met generally favorable reviews.

Craig Seymour Craig Seymour (born November 25, 1968) is an American writer, photographer, celebrity interviewer, music critic and former stripper. He was born in Washington, D.C. He has written for ''The Washington Post'', ''Entertainment Weekly'', ''Vibe'', an ...

of ''

SPIN Magazine ''Spin'' (stylized in all caps) is an American music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione, Jr. Now owned by Next Management Partners, the magazine is an online publication since it stopped issuing a print edition in 2012. Histor ...

'' reviewed the song as being "quirky," and even referenced its underperformance in the United States, stating: "If you slept on '5 Minutes,' you missed one of 1998's most badass singles."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

contributor

Stephen Thomas Erlewine Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...

praised the song for it being a "great moment to make ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love''">/nowiki> ''Why Do Fools Fall in Love''/nowiki> a first-rate urban contemporary and hip-hop soundtrack."

Music video

Production and release

A music video for the single was directed by Rashidi Natara Harper in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

and premiered on The Box in mid-July 1998. In spite of the single's non-charting performance in the US, the music video received frequent airplay on

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and College Television Network.

Synopsis

The video begins with a toddler riding her bike in a neighborhood in an opposite angle from a paper-machete alien strolling down the street. The video then cuts to

Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...

who is sitting in an open-trunk of a vehicle while performing her adlibs.

is then shown singing her verses while sitting in a blue chair in a front yard. The video then transitions to Mo picking up her girlfriends and riding in a car to meet up with the song's antagonist in an attempt to settle a feud. During the song's bridge, Mo and her girls are seen fighting with the antagonist. By the latter, Mo and accompanying backup dancers are caught in a still frame while the video intercuts with paper-machete aliens dancing with Missy, who is dressed in a Scottish attire.

Track listings and formats

;UK CD single # "5 Minutes" (Radio Version) — 4:08 # "5 Minutes" (Video Version) — 4:38 # "5 Minutes" (LP Version) — 4:52 ;UK 12" vinyl # "5 Minutes" (Radio Version) — 4:08 # "5 Minutes" (Instrumental) — 4:51 # "5 Minutes" (Acappella) — 4:53 ;"The Remixes" (Promo) # "Flavahood Remix" — 4:09 # " Timbaland Remix" — 4:06 ;US 12" vinyl # "5 Minutes" (LP Version) # "5 Minutes" (Radio Version) # "5 Minutes" (Instrumental) # "5 Minutes" (Acapella) ;US 12" promo vinyl # "5 Minutes" (Video Version) # "5 Minutes" (Instrumental)

Chart performance

Release history

References

{{authority control 1998 singles 1998 songs Lil' Mo songs Missy Elliott songs Songs written by Lil' Mo Songs written by Missy Elliott Elektra Records singles