"If Your Girl Only Knew" was released as the album's lead single on July 12, 1996 and it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 34 during the week of August 31, 1996. The song reached its peak at number 11, eight weeks later on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of October 19, 1996. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart the song debuted at number 12 for the week of August 31, 1996. on September 28, 1996 during the song's fifth week on the chart it reached its peak at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and it stayed at number one for two weeks. According to Datu Faison from Billboard "Key factors leading to Aaliyah's big 5-1 leap include a 20% unit increase at R&B core stores, which pushes an identical 5-1 jump on hot R&B singles sales. Audience impressions increase another 9%, moving the record 9-7 on Hot R&B airplay". The song also peaked within the top 10 at number 6 on the rhythmic charts during the week of November 2, 1996. Towards the end of 1996, it was reported by Billboard that the song sold over 600,000 copies in the United States.