Released on October 18, 2004, as the album's lead single, the track reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 2005.

The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics, with most praising its sensual lyrics, guitar riff and her vocal performance.

After her successful second studio album Chapter II (2003), which topped the Billboard 200 chart and was certified Platinum, spawned two hit singles, "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" and "Rain on Me",[1] and earned her three Grammy nominations,[2] Ashanti released her first Christmas album called Ashanti's Christmas in 2003.

[9] There is a second official remix that replaces Caddillac Tah and Young Merc with Dipset rappers Cam'ron and Juelz Santana.

[10] Lyrically, "Only U" has Ashanti imagining a man providing sexual pleasure for her, finding herself always standing by his side or looking for reasons to be close to him, acting out of character and falling for him more with each day.

1-single-by-numbers in which Aurelius' Linkin Park-style guitar riffs sit atop a shuffling beat the Trackmasters or the Neptunes could have put their hands to.

"[14] Low Key of MV Remix wrote that "'Only U' finds Ashanti taking a risk with a rock-influenced sound, which thankfully works out well.

Ashanti sounds better than ever over Seven Aurelius smashing guitar riffs and ambient sirens, making for one of her best efforts yet.

"[15] Steve Jones of USA Today praised the song for having "engaging beats and airy vocals," writing that "it works well.

"[16] "The Bland Is Out There" review was positive, writing that, "The beat complements Ashanti's slight voice It's the one single so far which has fit right into her range.

"[13] Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times was mixed, writing that the song "revolves around a corroded keyboard line that sounds distinctly menacing - that is, until Ashanti arrives, singing, 'Ooh, I can't wait to get next to you'.

The original version is shot in widescreen format but the slots that are normally left black at the top and bottom of the screen were replaced with upside down or reversed images of the main shot in the middle of the screen, which flickered back and forth to give the illusion that two scenes were playing at once.

The alternate version had the scenes shown in regular widescreen format with the shots and the top and bottom of the screen plain black.

Bottles of Herbal Essences hair products are seen during the shower scene as Ashanti was the then-new spokesperson for the haircare company.

[31] Seven Aurelius, who co-wrote and produced the song, makes a guest appearance at the beginning and at the end of the video playing the guitar.

With a bag on his head, they bring him out of Las Vegas to kill him in the desert after that the prisoner digs his own tomb.