What I Got

"What I Got" is a song from American band Sublime's self-titled third album (1996). The song's chorus is a lift from "Loving" by reggae artist Half Pint, who is credited as a co-writer. The melody and pacing of the verses is identical to the Beatles' "Lady Madonna".

It was released after singer Bradley Nowell's death in 1996 from a heroin overdose and became the band's biggest radio hit. It was the second single to be released by the band, following "Date Rape" in 1991.

"What I Got" reached the number-one spot on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and was also a radio hit, peaking at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. In New Zealand, "What I Got" peaked at number 34 on the RIANZ Singles Chart; What I Got: The Seven Song EP charted higher, reaching number 33 on the same chart. Elsewhere, the single reached number two on the Canadian RPM Alternative 30 chart and number 19 in Iceland. It is ranked on Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" at number 83.

Music video

The video for "What I Got", shot after Nowell's death, mainly contains a collage of archive videos and photos of him, as a tribute to the singer. The video includes images of Long Beach, California, where the band met their success, as well as live footage from a Sublime show at The Capitol Ballroom in Washington, DC.

Track listings

Charts

Release history

References