Back Then

Mike Jones' solo top 40 hit about fame and rejection.

Elements Of This World · CC BY 2.0

"Back Then" is a track by American rapper Mike Jones, arriving as the second single from his first studio album, *Who Is Mike Jones?*, on February 15, 2005. The song reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Jones’ only solo appearance in that chart’s top 40. It also performed well on the Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, landing at numbers 6 and 15 respectively. A music video for the single was directed by Dr. Teeth.

The lyrics explore the contrast between the romantic attention Jones receives after gaining wealth and fame versus the rejection he faced before his success. A repeated line—“Back then hoes didn’t want me / Now I’m hot hoes all on me”—captures the song’s central theme. Some listeners interpret the track as a critique of fame’s effects or hypergamy, while others view it as expressing a misogynistic or chauvinistic attitude. The song appears in the 2007 Xbox 360 game *Def Jam: Icon*, where Jones is a playable character who provided his own voice and likeness.

Commercially, "Back Then" became Jones’ most successful single. On the Pop 100 chart, it reached number 45, and on the Hot Digital Songs chart, it peaked at number 26. The single eventually earned a Platinum certification, making it Jones’ second single to achieve that status.

The music video, also directed by Dr. Teeth, depicts Jones’ life before fame, showing him being rejected by women and later giving those same women the cold shoulder. The video opens and closes with a club concert scene where fans chant his catchphrase, “Who? Mike Jones!” Cameo appearances include comedian Ali Siddiq and DJ Michael “5000” Watts.

Track listings for the UK and US 12-inch singles include a radio version, an instrumental, and an album version, each running around four minutes.

Quick Facts

Artist: Mike Jones
Album: Who Is Mike Jones? and The American Dream
Released: 2005-02-15
Recorded: 2004
Genre: Hip hop
Label: Swishahouse · Warner Bros. · Asylum
Writer: Mike Jones · Salih Williams
Producer: Salih Williams
Prev Title: Still Tippin'
Next Title: Flossin'
Next Year: 2005

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

The song deals with the popularity and sexual attention rappers receive because of their money, contrasts, and the way Jones was treated before achieving success. It is sometimes seen as a critique of the effects of fame or hypergamy; conversely, it is often considered to present a misogynistic or chauvinistic attitude toward women. The repeated line "Back then hoes didn't want me / Now I'm hot hoes all on me" sums up the general attitude of the lyrics, which describe Jones' life before fame, constant rejection from women, and giving them the same treatment now that he is a successful rapper.

The music video, directed by Dr. Teeth, looks at Mike Jones's life before he was famous, getting shut down by every woman he met, and how he reacts to those same women who passed him up. The video is bookended with a club concert that has fans saying his catchphrase, "Who? Mike Jones!" Ali Siddiq and DJ Michael "5000" Watts make cameo appearances.

Reader's Guide

"Back Then" became Jones' most successful single to date, peaking at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving success on the Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts at numbers 6 and 15 respectively. It was also a moderate hit on the Pop 100 chart, peaking at number 45, and on the Hot Digital Songs chart at number 26. The single eventually went Platinum, becoming Jones' second platinum single. Its inclusion in the 2007 Xbox 360 video game "Def Jam: Icon" introduced the song to a gaming audience, with Mike Jones providing his own voice and likeness as a playable character. The song's legacy is tied to its commercial performance as Jones' only solo top 40 hit and its controversial lyrics, which have been interpreted both as a critique of fame and as misogynistic.

Did You Know?

The song was released on February 15, 2005, as the second single from Mike Jones' debut album.
It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, Jones' only solo top 40 hit on that chart.
The music video was directed by Dr. Teeth, who directed most of Mike Jones' videos.
The song is featured in the 2007 Xbox 360 video game Def Jam: Icon, where Mike Jones is a playable character.