• The single was released on April 27, 2004, produced by Rick Rubin, and peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
• The title and chorus are taken from Ice-T's '99 Problems' off the 1993 album 'Home Invasion'
• Jay-Z, Norman Landsberg, Felix Pappalardi, Billy Squier, John Ventura, & Leslie Weinstein share writing credits on the song
• The song samples beats from 'The Big Beat' by Billy Squier, and 'Long Red' by Mountain.
• Certain lyrics are based on Jay-Z's experiences as a cocaine dealer. Also the music video was shot in black-and-white and contains a controversial scene at the end where Jay-Z is gunned down.