Get on the Bus (song)

In 1997, rapper Missy Elliott was handpicked by Elektra Records chairman and CEO Sylvia Rhone to executive produce a soundtrack of original songs for director Gregory Nava's romantic drama Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), inspired by the life of singer Frankie Lymon, starring Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, and Larenz Tate.^[2] Breaking away from the historic doo wop-inspired rock & roll of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, Elliott collaborated with her longtime production partner Timbaland to write and produce a collection of contemporary R&B tracks to be recorded by various artists for inclusion on the soundtrack.^[2]

Among the songs the pair wrote for the album was "Get on the Bus,"^[2] which depicts a young woman resolute in ending her relationship with her boyfriend, irrespective of his feelings on the matter.^[3] Elliott selected Destiny's Child to record the track, with their vocals laid down at Manhattan Center Studios.^[1] In September 1998, group member Kelly Rowland elaborated on the song in an interview with the MTV Radio Network: "Your boyfriend's been getting on your nerves and just fussing and the first verse is saying, "I don't want to fuss with you, so I'm gonna sit down on the couch and basically ignore you." Then she says that "it doesn't matter what it takes, but get outta my face, catch a cab, get on a bus, get outta here"."^[3]

Released exclusively in Europe, "Get on the Bus" was issued as the second single from the Why Do Fools Fall in Love soundtrack,^[2] following Melanie B's "I Want You Back." The song became a moderate commercial success, reaching number 15 in the Netherlands and in the United Kingdom.^[4][5] It also peaked at number on the UK R&B Singles Chart and number nine on the UK Dance Singles Chart.^[6][7] In the United States, although it was not officially released as a single, the song received limited airplay on urban contemporary radio, which helped it reach number 63 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.^[8]

An accompanying music video for "Get on the Bus" was directed by Earle Sebastian.^[9] It focuses on Destiny's Child, performing in a silver-white room and inside and around a Lincoln Navigator SUV. The members are dressed in white clothes. Timbaland appears during his rap verses, while the choreography was crafted by Fatima Robinson.^[10] Frequent Robinson collaborator Aaliyah also contributed to the production in an unspecified role.^[10]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Writing's on the Wall.^[1]