That's What I Like

What distinguishes this song's harmony is its studied, deliberate simplicity. The I–vi–IV–V loop in B♭ major is left unadorned by intent — a stable platform for rhythmic and dynamic escalation rather than a harmonic journey. Mars and the Stereotypes consciously modelled the 24K Magic era on late-70s/80s funk and new jack swing, genres where groove and feel consistently outrank chord complexity. The song's musical interest is architectural: syncopated synth stabs, layered brass voicings, and a rhythmically assertive bass line animate the static chord sequence and create the sense of momentum that carries the track. The result is a Grammy-winning record whose chord chart is almost incidental to its impact — a masterclass in substituting rhythmic and arrangemental sophistication for harmonic complexity.

Bruno Mars had already written and produced a full demo of "That's What I Like" that, according to co-producer Ray Romulus of The Stereotypes, sounded like a ballad. Mars felt the song was missing a certain bounce and asked The Stereotypes—who had known him since 2007 but rarely collaborated after he signed with Atlantic—to help him find the right groove. The team shifted and fine-tuned the production until the track had the infectious, body-moving feel Mars envisioned. The song was co-written by Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Jonathan Yip, Ray Romulus, Jeremy Reeves, and Ray McCullough II.

Released as the second single from 24K Magic, "That's What I Like" fuses hip hop soul, pop, and R&B with a groove-driven production by Shampoo Press & Curl and The Stereotypes. The track topped the Billboard Hot 100, earned Diamond certification from the RIAA, and swept the 2018 Grammys with wins for Song of the Year, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Performance, cementing Bruno Mars as the decade's premier pop-R&B craftsman.