Released in November 2002, Tyrese’s “How You Gonna Act Like That” is one of the defining anthems for what the early 2000s defined as “ghetto love.” Produced by The Underdogs (Harvey Mason Jr. and Damon Thomas), the song utilized the specific, crisp R&B acoustic guitar riffs (played by Eric Jackson) that defined the era’s sound.

The next file entry in our library is, indeed, “How You Gonna Act Like That” (and make sure you spin the track once you’re done reading this).

RELATED: [THE FILES] 132.3 | Destiny’s Child World Tour (2002)

The Charts

• The Numbers: The track peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
• The Impact: Rolling Stone recently archived it as the 51st greatest R&B song of the 21st century, noting that Tyrese’s raw, dramatic delivery helped bridge the gap between 90s soul and the polished 2000s pop-R&B.

The Music Video

• The Storyline: The video featured Tyrese dealing with the fallout of a breakup, oscillating between “tough guy” energy and total emotional vulnerability.
• The Cameo: If you watch the Soul Train performance of this track, look closely at the background singers. You’ll also spot a very young Luke James getting his start as well.

Pop Culture Impact

Decades later, “How You Gonna Act Like That” has evolved into a meme-worthy anthem (the “Keep it That Way” part of the video that frequently goes viral). More important, however, it’s the song people play when they’re feeling “delusional yet justified,” and it remains a staple for any late-night R&B kickback.

And that’s exactly why it’s an entry in one of our files.

Featured Photo: J. Records

Author Bio

Jael Rucker is the founder of Decked Out Magazine. She has previously worked as the Associate Commerce Editor at PureWow, focusing on analytics and trends to pitch stories and optimize articles that build and engage their audience. Her work has also been seen in Footwear News and WWD. Prior to 2024, she was the style and pop culture editor at ONE37pm for over three years, contributing numerous product reviews, brand profiles and fashion trend reports, which included interviewing Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg and more.