The "story" of Chris Brown's "Under the Influence" is one of the most remarkable R&B comebacks in recent music history. It transformed from an obscure album track to a global diamond-certified phenomenon three years after its initial release.

The song’s narrative explores an intense, intoxicating attraction that feels like an addiction. Chris Brown – Under the Influence Lyrics - Genius

The song was originally released on October 4, 2019, as part of the extended edition of Brown’s ninth studio album, Indigo . It was a deep cut, co-written by Nigerian superstar and produced by Kiddominant (KDDO) . At the time, it received little mainstream attention, overshadowed by the album's lead singles. The Viral Rebirth (2022)

: A sped-up version of the track went viral on TikTok in early 2022, fueled by dance challenges and fan-made edits.

: By mid-2022, it became the most Shazamed song in the world. It eventually reached over one billion streams on Spotify , making it Brown's first song to hit that milestone.