It was written by Isaac Phillips, Paris Davis, Sean Bryant, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Norwood for her second studio album Never Say Never (1998).

Billboard editor Chuck Taylor called "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" a "summery, you-can-sing-along-with-the-hook record."

He compared the favorably to Norwood's debut single "I Wanna Be Down," citing it "hypnotic," and found that her "rougher-than-usual vocals styles at times even sound like Mary J.

"[4] Da’Shan Smith from Revolt declared the song one of Never Say Never's "outstanding cuts" and found that it recalls "the '94 days of Brandy, but elevated it for the '98 present and subsequent future.

A Matrix-themed clip, it begins with people walking in front of a building and later on a sidewalk.