Released: May 30, 2000

Featuring: Nas Monica

Songwriter: Peter Gabriel Bryan-Michael Cox Monica Nas Jermaine Dupri

Producer: Jermaine Dupri Bryan-Michael Cox

[Intro: Jermaine Dupri & Monica]
Uh-huh, oh (Oh)
Uh-huh, oh
So So Def (I've got to have it)
See this is what it's all about right here
Understand me, see my life's real (I've got to have it)
I don't know about yours
Everything I do is an event
Nas, Monica, and me (I've got to have it)
When it comes to my honeys in the strip club (oh)
Sumpin' on dubs in the middle of the block
Like what? Say my name (What?)

[Verse 1: Nas & Monica]
When you see me with the crispy fade
Icing it out, glowing with the lights is out (hmm)
Yo, say my name! (Ooh)
When you see a Bentley or Ferrari, a Mazuradi
It's probably me, say my name (ooh, oh)
When you hear this song bump in the club
When you're chillin' on the corner with your thugs, say my name
I make it hot and take your block
Who they wanna be and hate they not, yo, say my name
When your girl don't call you when you beep her
And you hit it and her thing feel deeper, say my name
Pull on her hair, spankin' her rear
While I'm in 'em bitches all I wanna hear is you say my name
Squeeze my gats beef is done
Police come you know the game, don't say my name
Dipped out crazy, Timbs chicken and gravy
Q.B., Dupri baby

[Chorus: JD & Monica]
When it comes to the clubs packed, Cristal flowin'
(I've got to have it)
When it comes to homes, plushed out chrome stuck out in traffic (I've got to have it)
When it comes to a neck full of glow
And a check full of O's, you know (I've got to have it)
When it comes to my honeys in the strip club
Sumpin' on dubs in the middle of the block
Like what? Say my name!
(I've got to have it)

[Verse 2: Monica]
Gotta have my tied up Iceberg Gucci Rolley
Bezzled up, bezzled up
Gotta have me a double O
With a six in the front
And a bump-bump in the truck
Gotta have me an escalade
My house is laid
A man that keeps my bills paid
My records play every day
What can I say?
I've got to have it

[Chorus: JD & Monica]
When it comes to the clubs packed, Cristal flowin'
(I've got to have it)
When it comes to homes, plushed out chrome stuck out in traffic (I've got to have it)
When it comes to a neck full of glow
And a check full of O's, you know (I've got to have it)
When it comes to my honeys in the strip club
Sumpin' on dubs in the middle of the block
Like what? Say my name!
(I've got to have it)

[Verse 3: Jermaine Dupri]
When you see a black do-rag through the tint
Of a black Bent going too fast, say my name
When you talk about longevity
And niggas who know how to keep gettin' that cash, say my name
When you're sick of your songs, sittin' on the right
And wanna know what the top feel like, say my name
If you wanna know what being hot feel like
And shuttin' down the spot feel like, say my name
JD from the home where the bowls get thrown
And the dough get gone real quick like
Keep niggas sick like 40 karats and a chain
Foolish ain't it? Say my name
Everything you did I've done did double
If you hate to see flash then your ass is in trouble
Scram now and don't look back
'Cause until I die it's like that

[Chorus: JD & Monica]
When it comes to the clubs packed, Cristal flowin'
(I've got to have it)
When it comes to homes, plushed out chrome stuck out in traffic (I've got to have it)
When it comes to a neck full of glow
And a check full of O's, you know (I've got to have it)
When it comes to my honeys in the strip club
Sumpin' on dubs in the middle of the block
Like what? Say my name!
(I've got to have it)

[Outro: Monica]
I've got to have it

Jermaine Dupri

Inspired at 12 years old by producer Teddy Riley, Jermaine Dupri Mauldin wrote his first song for the female rap group Silk Tymes Leather at 14. In his teens, he was also a dancer for Run DMC and Whodini, and worked as a DJ for the rappers of Fresh Set.

Later, Dupri would become most known for creating the record label So So Def and launching or furthering the careers of many artists such as Kris Kross, Da Brat, Xscape, Janet Jackson, Bow Wow, TLC among many others. As a producer, he’s been the man behind several chart-topping singles for Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Usher, Nelly, Ashanti, Ludacris and Fabolous. Dupri also has many successful singles as a solo artist including “Welcome To Atlanta” (featuring Ludacris) and “Money Ain’t A Thing” (featuring Jay-Z).

Dupri won a Grammy in 2006 for his work on the Mariah Carey song “We Belong Together”. In 2018, he became the second hip-hop artist ever to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.