It was written by musicians Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones, with production helmed by the former, it was released on September 5, 1994, by the Atlantic Recording Corporation.

It features Norwood in her tomboyish image, dancing in front of a jeep near a forest, surrounded by backup dancers.

In 1995, a hip hop remix with new lyrics from female rappers MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Yo-Yo was released.

In an interview with Complex Magazine several years later, she stated: "'I Wanna Be Down' was interesting" and continued: "I did not understand the thing first.

The photo was taken by photographer Michael Miller who has previously worked with artists such as Cypress Hill and Daddy Freddy.

[10] In Europe, the song was released via East West Records and had the same table of contents as on the CD / Maxi single in the USA.

[11] Steve Baltin from Cash Box concluded that "I Wanna Be Down" "has the teen-aged Brandy poised to be the next big thing in the R&B market."

[14] Ralp Tee from the magazine's RM Dance Update wrote, "Just 16 years old, Brandy ventures into the same musical territory as fellow teenager Aaliyah.

Simply exploding on import over last weekend, the track is essentially a catchy two-stepper with the arrangement kept to a basic drum and bass pattern, interspersed with subtle keyboard and synth guitar.

"[15] Another editor, James Hamilton, described it as a "slinky girls' superb smoochy Isleys-ish guitar backed 86bpm US smash".

[16] The original music video for "I Wanna Be Down" was directed by Keith Ward and premiered prior to the single's official release in September 1994.

The video portrays Norwood in her tomboyish image, dancing in front of a Hummer near a forest, surrounded by backup dancers.

[3] Upon its release, Atlantic Records head Sylvia Rhone came up with the idea of re-recording the track with a group of rappers.

[18] "I Wanna Be Down" was eventually remixed with new lyrics from female rappers MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Yo-Yo.

[19] A simple performance video, it features appearances by Lyte, Latifah, and Yo-Yo and was photographed "in glamorous black and white and vivacious color, complete with flashbulbs popping to the beat.