"4 Minutes" is a song by American singer songwriter Madonna from her eleventh studio album, Hard Candy. It was released as the lead single from the album on March 17, 2008 by Warner Bros. Records. Initially known as "4 Minutes to Save the World", the song's development was motivated by a sense of urgency to save the planet from destruction, and how people can enjoy themselves in the process. According to Madonna, the song inspired her to produce the documentary I Am Because We Are. The song features vocals by American musicians Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. An uptempo dance song with an urban, hip hop style, it also incorporates Timbaland's bhangra beats. The instrumentation used in the song includes brass, foghorns and cow bells. The song's lyrics carry a message of social awareness, inspired by Madonna's visit to Africa and the human suffering she witnessed. "4 Minutes" has been praised by many contemporary critics. Some have noted, however, that Madonna rather than Timberlake appeared as more of a featured artist in the song. "4 Minutes" achieved worldwide success by topping the charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and other European nations.