: It is set in the key of G minor with a moderate R&B groove and features electronic tones, "stabbing" synths, and a thumping bass-beat. Chart Performance and Accolades
: It was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. Lyrical Meaning and Themes
Directed by , the music video premiered on March 12, 2009.
The lyrics explore how a powerful love can unexpectedly "knock you down," often depicted as a metaphor for falling so hard for someone that it disrupts your usual composure.
: Originally written by Hilson and produced by Danja , the song evolved when Ne-Yo requested to write and perform the second verse. Kanye West later joined the project after expressing interest in collaborating on Hilson's debut album.
: The video includes scenes of Kanye West painting a portrait of Hilson and a physical confrontation between West and Ne-Yo that visually represents the song's title.
: As of April 2011, the single had sold over 2.1 million digital copies in the United States.
: The song presents a narrative arc. Hilson describes a perfect love gone wrong, Ne-Yo represents a new, fulfilling love, and Kanye West provides a rap interlude reflecting on the heartbreak of a lost relationship.
