Before I Let You Go

"Before I Let You Go"
Single by Blackstreet
from the album Blackstreet
Released	November 22, 1994
Studio	Future Recording Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia, US)
Genre	R&B
Length	4:59
Label	Interscope
Songwriter(s)	C. Hannibal D. Hollister M. Riley T. Riley L. Sylvers
Producer(s)	Teddy Riley
Blackstreet singles chronology
"Booti Call" (1994) "Before I Let You Go" (1994) "U Blow My Mind" (1994)
Music video
"Before I Let You Go" on YouTube

"Before I Let You Go" is a song by American R&B group Blackstreet, recorded for the group's self-titled debut album (1994). The song was released as the third single for the album in November 1994 by Interscope Records. It was notable for featuring lead vocals from Dave Hollister who joined the group upon the album's release.

"Before I Let You Go" peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Hot R&B Singles chart. This made it the group's highest charting single on both charts respectively before it was surpassed by "No Diggity" two years later. The song lyrically focuses on the narrator who does not want to lose the love of his life out of concern that she is no longer romantically interested and wants her to "say goodnight" as opposed to "say goodbye."

Critical reception

Ralph Tee from the Record Mirror Dance Update gave "Before I Let You Go" three out of five, naming it "the big ghetto love ballad" of the album. ^[1]

Track listing

• 12", CD, Maxi

1. "Before I Let You Go" (Main Mix One) - 5:00
2. "Before I Let You Go" (Main Mix Two) - 5:00
3. "Before I Let You Go" (Instrumental) - 5:00
4. "Before I Let You Go" (Acapella Mix) - 4:52
5. "Before I Let You Go" (Reggae Dub Mix) - 5:00
6. "Before I Let You Go" (T.R. Mix) - 4:56
7. "Before I Let You Go" (Blackstreet Live Version) - 5:10

Personnel

Information taken from Discogs. ^{[2] [3]}

• drums – Gerald Heyward
• engineering – Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, George Mayers
• guitar – Serban Ghenea
• mixing – Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, George Mayers, Teddy Riley
• production – Teddy Riley
• remixing – Teddy Riley
• writing – C. Hannibal, D. Hollister, M. Riley, T. Riley, L. Sylvers

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1994) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 [4] 7 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [5] 2 US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [6] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) [7] 85 Chart (1995) Position US Billboard Hot 100 [8] 46 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) [9] 8

Notes

1. Tee, Ralph (December 3, 1994). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 10. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
2. "Blackstreet - Before I Let You Go (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs . Retrieved August 21, 2010.
3. "Blackstreet - Blackstreet (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
4. "Blackstreet Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
5. "Blackstreet Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
6. "Blackstreet Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
7. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
8. "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
9. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2021.

External links

"Before I Let You Go" Music video on YouTube