"Whatever" is the third and final single by R&B quintet Ideal from their self-titled debut album, Ideal (1999). The song features guest vocals by Lil' Mo and additional vocals and writing credits by Robert "R.L." Huggar (credited as R.L.-oquent) from the R&B trio Next. It also features production by Eddie Berkeley, Kobie and Kier "KayGee" Gist of Naughty by Nature. The song samplesOliver Cheatham's "Get Down Saturday Night".[2]
In 2001, the song won an ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Award for "Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs".[3] To date, "Whatever" is the group's second and last-known successful single.
Background
A demo for the song was originally recorded by KayGee and R.L. in the former's New Jersey basement studio.[4] When the duo heard that Ideal needed an uptempo song, the demo was given to them and later went on to be re-recorded at The Battery Studios in New York City.[4][5][6] Maverick Cotton, lead singer of Ideal, confirmed that the need for an uptempo song was due to the fact that "summertime [was] coming up," and the group "just wanted to make a summertime jam [that people] could ride through the summer with."[4] However, because the group's self-titled debut had already been completed and released months prior to the single's finalization, Ideal confirmed that "Whatever" would see a release on the "future pressings of the [album]."[4][5]
Music video
On April 13 and 14 of 2000, the music video for the single was shot in Miami, Florida and directed by Darren Grant.[5][7] It also featured cameo appearances by KayGee and R.L., however it excluded guest vocalist Lil' Mo due to undisclosed reasons.[5] In late April 2000, the video premiered on BET.[8]
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