I'm the One

Album: Grateful (2017)
Charted: 1 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song features Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber, Quavo and Lil Wayne all bragging to the ladies in their lives that they are "the only one" for them. The Biebs handles hook duties where he tells his girl he's "the real one" before Quavo, Chance and Wayne slide in with verses of their own.
  • This was the first time that Khaled has worked with Justin Bieber. The hip-hop connector said: "Let me tell you some. I've always wanted to work with Justin Bieber. Justin Bieber, first of all, is my friend, a very good person and he's very big, he's a super, he's a megastar. I told myself 'I'm not gonna ask Justin Bieber to do a record with me until I feel like I'm at a certain point in my career.' I won't play myself, because you know the answer I think is probably going to be 'No,' but not in a disrespectful way - because he really don't do features. So I waited to get where I'm at now.

    I said 'Bieber, I got this dream I wanna play for you, I feel we're good about it.' And he was like 'Man, let me hear it.' And I played the phone and he loved it. You know he knocked out."
  • The song was produced by Khaled with Nic Nac, who has also worked with artists like Chris Brown ("Loyal") and Pia Mia (" Do It Again").
  • The song debuted at #1 on the Hot 100. While Justin Bieber, Quavo and Lil Wayne had all previously reached the listing's summit, this was the first chart-topping single for Chance the Rapper and DJ Khaled.
  • Justin Bieber had previously entered atop the Hot 100 with "What Do You Mean?." This meant he became the first male artist to debut at #1 on the listing twice. (Britney Spears and Mariah Carey have also done so).
  • Justin Bieber and DJ Khaled are longtime friends, and after the Florida producer heard the instrumental from beatmaker Nic Nac for this tune, he knew he wanted the Canadian pop star as guest vocalist. It was in early January 2017 that he made the call and Bieber invited him to his place. "I hung up, jumped in the Rolls and brought a PA just to make sure I presented it right," Khaled told Billboard magazine.

    The pair listened to the track in Bieber's truck and the Canadian star liked what he heard. However, he insisted that Khalid play a match of ground hockey before agreeing to be on the tune. "I took the beating for the song," laughed Khaled.
  • Quavo recorded his verse within five minutes of hearing the beat. Khaled recalled to Billboard magazine:

    "I hit Quavo up, like 'Yo I got this record, I'm telling you it's gonna be big. I need you on it.' He's like, 'Khaled whatever you need I got you.'

    So we went into the studio, and we actually recorded in the studio where Michael Jackson recorded 'Thriller'… So Quavo and the whole Migos came through. I played [the beat] for Quavo and he was like, 'This is crazy.' The man really took five minutes. Five minutes listening to the beat, and then he went into the booth and just knocked the verse out."
  • This won Best Song (Rap/Hip-Hop) at the 2017 American Music Awards.

Comments: 1

  • Siahara Shyne Carter from United StatesI think song was made for me Who knows? xD
    My favorite part <,<


    Lookin' for the one? Well, bitch, you're looking at the one
    I'm the best yet, and yet, my best is yet to come
    'Cause I've been lookin' for somebody, not just any f--kin' body
    Don't make me catch a body, that's for any and everybody
    Oh my God! She hit me up all day, give no response
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.