"Girlfriend" served as the final single released by *NSYNC before their long hiatus, which began shortly after the Celebrity album cycle. Critics often cite the song's stylistic shift toward urban pop as a precursor to , particularly his debut album Justified , which also leaned heavily on Neptunes production.
: Features the band dancing on cars and a drag race won by Justin Timberlake. NSync ft Nelly - Girlfriend
: Nelly’s scenes are spliced in, showing him rapping alongside Timberlake and interacting with models in the backseat of a car. Lasting Impact "Girlfriend" served as the final single released by
: Nelly’s verses added a blistering pace that contrasted with the laid-back harmonies of Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez. : Nelly’s scenes are spliced in, showing him
Initially, the song was intended to be released as a solo *NSYNC track. However, just weeks before its release, the group announced a massive change: a remix produced by (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) featuring rapper Nelly .
: Produced by The Neptunes, the remix introduced a "cold" R&B-infused sound that differed sharply from the group's earlier bubbly pop hits.