The song was recorded at
Chung King Studios, and both versions were created from a sample of "Put it on the Line" by singer
Lyn Collins. In an interview with the Trackmasters, the beat was originally meant for
The Notorious B.I.G. However, the beat was given to LL Cool J at the insistence of
Chris Lighty, who was the manager of
Fat Joe at the time. The original version contains three verses from LL and with the chorus provided by Murray, while the remix version was given new verses written and recorded at separate times by LL, Murray,
Prodigy, Fat Joe, and
Foxy Brown. While LL and the
Trackmasters were working on the song, Fat Joe happened to be in another room one day, writing lyrics for his second album ''
Jealous One's Envy''. Being managed by Chris Lighty played a part in Joe being able to contribute a verse to the remix version. Prodigy, who also happened to be at Chung King Studios at some point, was writing rhymes in another room before being asked to contribute a verse. Foxy Brown, then being an up-and-coming artist, would be the last contributor to the record. Brown was secretly brought into the studio by Trackmasters, adding her verse after the song sessions were finished, without LL having any knowledge about her beforehand. Upon hearing her verse for the first time, LL assumed that Tone & Poke had a little boy to contribute a verse to his record. However, he was impressed when he was told that it was actually a young woman who contributed the verse. Both the original and remix versions are
braggadocious responses from LL to people who doubted his musical and rhyming abilities, which followed the commercial disappointments of several past releases. Despite the
East Coast/West Coast beef that was prominent at the time, none of the artists on the record were taking lyrical shots at
Tupac Shakur. However, LL did take a lyrical aim at
Kool Moe Dee,
MC Hammer, and
Ice-T, claiming that he emerged triumphant against all three with "
To da Break of Dawn", a single that was released from his fourth album
Mama Said Knock You Out. The song is also an alleged response to a fallen business deal that was proposed by
Puff Daddy, which was to include him doing a remix to The Notorious B.I.G.’s "Who Shot Ya." ==Reception and legacy==