Williams, who wrote and produced the track with Chad Hugo as the production duo The Neptunes, recently told The Hollywood Reporter that the word is one you wouldnt play with these days.
And theres many different angles, right? Obviously, what my people and my DNA and my ancestors had to endure and overcome, but then theres also all the atrocity that happens in human trafficking every day, the artist said. So, no, thats not something I would say.
He added that there are a lot of songs that show what was contextually acceptable at one time is no longer acceptable in another.
But I think thats for the better, he said.
He continued, I think there are a lot of songs where I wouldnt say half the things that I said before. As the time changes, so does mentality and hopefully it evolves to a better place. And its not about being politically correct, its about being universally aware.
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The song, which led to an iconic performance from Spears at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards , was initially meant for Janet Jackson before it was passed off to the Toxic singer.
The track ushered in a new era for Spears at the time and marked The Neptunes first global hit.
She was eager and ready to transition. And I put a fire under that notion. I was like, Oh, thats how you feeling? OK, lets put this fire under that. Lets go, said Williams of recording the song with Spears.
THR noted that Spears appears in Morgan Nevilles upcoming documentary film Piece by Piece , a look at Williams life and career through Lego animation.
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The artist revealed that he hasnt spoken to the pop icon in maybe 10-plus years.
I think Ive seen her in the elevator one time. I think we were all going into the same place or something, he said. I can remember exactly where it was, and she had her sunglasses on, and I was like, I know thats Britney. Maybe she doesnt remember me. Thats fine.
Aside from Im a Slave 4 U, Williams and Hugo also worked with the singer on her songs Boys and Why Should I Be Sad. The latter was their last collaboration, from her 2007 album Blackout.
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