The song was released on September 16, 2002, as Timberlake's debut solo single, following the announced hiatus of NSYNC earlier that year.

[2] MTV News reported in July 2002 that Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams (known collectively as the Neptunes) were working on multiple tracks for Justified.

[3] When the duo picked Timberlake up from his hotel in Virginia Beach, they listened to Earth, Wind & Fire albums during the car ride.

"[4] The production duo commented that despite not being content with sampling music, for inspiration, they listened to both Off the Wall and Thriller, albums by Michael Jackson.

[4] Hugo commented that "We just wanted to re-create that sense of those timeless, classic songs, without any of the 'bling, bling, hit me on my two-way' style of the new R&B.

The song features a rap verse written and performed by hip hop duo Clipse.

[6] Serban Ghenea mixed the song at Windmark Recording, while Daniel Botancourt and Tim Roberts were additional engineers.

"[5] On October 14, 2002, a CD single was released in Germany containing the album version of the song, its instrumental and two club extended mixes.

He booked the hottest producers (The Neptunes) and a bubbling-under hip-hop duo (Clipse) to show that the bubblegum had officially popped.

Entertainment Weekly's Craig Seymour wrote "Over a lo-fi Neptunes-produced track dashed with Spanish guitar, live drums, and Planet Rock-like electro bleeps... [Justin proves that] while no innovator, he is a fine student".

[14] In his review of the album Justified for Rolling Stone, Ben Ratliff wrote "In Like I Love You, a nasty funk rhythm on loud, live drums shares the space with a tiny guitar strum and Timberlake's breathy, studied tenor; it's minimalism influenced by Michael Jackson.

But a softer, harmony-and-hook-filled chorus sets it off, thus pleasing preteen girls and beat junkies alike.

"[16] Slant Magazine called it a "well-oiled Neptunes production" and "the acoustic guitar loops and snap-crackle-pop percussion of "Like I Love You" pick up where NSYNC's hit "Girlfriend" left off.

[22] "Like I Love You" stayed on the chart for a total of twelve weeks[22] and was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments of 70,000 units.

[30] The opening scenes at the convenience store were filmed at a 7-Eleven storefront at the corner of Oxford Street and Hazeltine Avenue in Van Nuys, CA.