Return the Favor

When Hilson talked to Digital Spy about the song, she said that Timbaland called her and said, "I've got a song that I think's better than 'The Way I Are'. I think it's bigger." The initial draft of the hook featured the line "If you kiss me then I’ll kiss you back", but according to Hilson in an interview with That Grape Juice, it was changed by unknown reason by Timbaland. After it was reported that In a Perfect World... would be pushed back to October 2008, "Return the Favor" surfaced online, and it was rumored to be the follow-up to "Energy." The sample was later removed by Hilson's management, before it was announced as the album's second single. The song was featured on December 15, 2008 episode of The Hills. ==Composition and critical reception==

"Return the Favor" is described as an electro-dance-pop record, Dan Nishimoto of Prefix Magazine noted that the song includes Timbaland's "signature dizzying 22nd-century flair that he's been employing ever since 2006." Andy Kellman of Allmusic noted the song as a standout track from In a Perfect World.... According to J.K. Glei of Cincinnati Metromix said the song has "cascading synths," and a "classic pop structure." While noting the song "follows the same blueprint" of Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous", Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said it was a "satisfying pop romp" and said even though Hilson lacked Furtado's distinctiveness, that it "shouldn't have a problem striking a chord at radio." Nick Levine of Digital Spy said, the song was "a perfectly decent slice of midtempo Timba-pop, but it's not really in the same league as the brilliant 'The Way I Are'." MTV Buzzworthy said "slightly less out-there are the beats -- which sound an awful lot like Hilson and Timbaland's first collaboration, "The Way I Are"—and the cameo from Timba himself." Less than impressed with Timbaland's rapping and "less than sexy" vocal appeal, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said the "unfortunate pairing" was reprised, and the song "encapsulates the record’s shortcomings." ==Chart performance==

"Return the Favor" was the most successful in the United Kingdom and Ireland, peaking at nineteen in both countries. In Austria, the song debuted and peaked at twenty-five on the Austrian Singles Chart, before falling off after six weeks. On the Swedish Singles Chart, It debuted and peaked at thirty, before falling off after six weeks on the chart. In Belgium, "Return the Favore" appeared on Belgian Tip Charts, peaking at six in Flanders, and seventeen Wallonia. While debuting and peaking at twenty-one on the German Singles Chart, it completed nine weeks on the chart before falling off. It made the lower regions of the ARIA Singles Chart appearing at eighty. ==Music video==

The music video was directed by Melina, who directed Hilson's video for "Energy." A preview of the video was released on October 14, 2008, and the full video premiered on October 23, 2008. Featuring a futuristic concept, the video begins with a small clip from Timbaland and Hilson's previous hit "The Way I Are", before it cuts to Hilson dancing in a future-like room while scenes are shown on a wall behind Timbaland, who is seated in a chair. The review also compared Timbaland's look a cross between Run D.M.C. and The Matrix. ==Track listing==

• European Promo CD • "Return the Favor" – 5:29 ;German Maxi CD • "Return the Favor" (Radio Edit) – 3:38 • "Return the Favor" (Sketch Iz Dead Remix) – 4:40 • "Return the Favor" (Instrumental) – 5:48 • "Return the Favor" (Video) – 3:53 == Personnel ==

Credits lifted from the liner notes of In a Perfect World.... • Songwriters – Timothy Mosley, Keri Hilson, Ezekiel Lewis, Bulewa Muhammed, Patrick Smith, Candice Nelson, Walter Millsap III • Production – Timbaland • Editors – Walter Millsap III, Dave (d-lo), Marcella Araica • Recording – Scott Naughton • Mixing – Demacio Castellon • Vocal arrangement – The Clutch • Additional production, vocal production – Walter Millsap III ==Charts==