So Gone

"So Gone"
Single by Monica
From the album After The Storm
Released	7 June 2003 (US)
Format	Digital download CD maxi single 12" Maxi Single
Length	4:02
Genre	R&B
Label	J Records
Writers	Missy Elliott Kenneth Cunningham Jamahl Rye Zyah Ahmonuel
Producers	Missy Elliott Spike & Jamahl
Director	Chris Robinson
Chart Positions	#10 (USA)
Monica Singles Chronology
Too Hood (2002)	So Gone (2003)	Knock Knock (2004)

"So Gone" is a R&B song written by American rapper-songwriter Missy Elliott, Kenneth Cunningham, Jamahl Rye and Zyah Ahmonuel for Monica's third studio album After The Storm (2003). The song was co-produced by Elliott and Spike & Jamahl. Released in the summer of 2003, the single caused a successful comeback for Monica, peaking at number 10 on Billboard's U.S. Hot 100 and number 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop tracks charts. In spite off being the album's lead single, the track has never officially been released outside the North American music market except for the U.K., where it got a limited 12" vinyl only release.

Song information

File:Shot monica sogone.jpg

Monica in "So Gone"

In opposition to Jermaine Dupri's preponderant influence on After The Storm the song was primarily written by Missy Elliott, being one of three new additions to the album, commissioned after the delay of the original album, All Eyes On Me in 2002. According to MTV, the single is one of a couple of songs Elliott and Monica recorded during a common studio session week in Miami in early 2003, "So Gone" being done in a short period of "probably three or four hours" with additional help from co-producers Spike & Jamahl. Supported by background singer Tweet and based on a retro influenced sample by The Whispers' "Are You My Number One", the track introduced a more Ol'School oriented facet of R&B at that time.

The lyrics of the song deal with the never ending context of an unfaithful love. Monica sings out of the cheatee's point of view, always asking herself why her boyfriend left her for his alleged lover and incessantly trying to find an answer in questions like "What she do I do betta? What she did to make you love her? ..."

Opposed to both previous singles "All Eyez On Me" and "Too Hood" the single did very well on the charts, becoming Monica's tenth top 10 hit of her entire career and her first top 10 single since "Angel Of Mine" in early 1999 with peaking at #10 on Billboard's Hot 100 and even #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop-Charts.

Music video

The music video for "So Gone" was shot by director Chris Robinson, and was filmed in various locations throughout Miami, Florida on April 1 and 2, 2003. Missy Elliott and actor Derek Luke made appearances in a handful of scenes.

The plot of the video follows the single's topic of alleged infidelity, showing Monica as wounded girlfriend, who believes having discovered her man's hidden secret. Unfortunately, she doesn't notice that her mind's only playing tricks on her and as a consequence she destroys her boyfriend home for no reason. At the end she gets arrested for setting off the security alarm. The video ends with Monica being taken away in a police cruiser, introducing the follow-up video to "Knock Knock."

Formats and tracklistings

These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "So Gone".

US CD single I

1. "So Gone (Radio Edit)"
2. "So Gone (Album Version)"
3. "So Gone (Remix) (featuring Busta Rhymes)"
4. "So Gone (Part II)"
5. "U Should've Known Better"

US CD single II

1. "So Gone (Album Version)"
2. "All Eyez On Me (Urban Radio Edit)"

Official remixes/versions

1. "So Gone [Remix]" (featuring Busta Rhymes & Tweet)
2. "So Gone [Remix]" (featuring Missy Elliott)
3. "So Gone [Smach Your Dub Mix]"
4. "So Gone [Full Vocal Edit Mix]"
5. "So Gone [Scumfrog Club Mix]"

Music charts

Worldwide

Chart	Position
Canadian Singles Chart	17
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	10
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	1
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay	1
U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play	1
World Singles Official Top 100	93
World Airplay Official Top 100	94
World R&B Top 30 Singles	18