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Always Strapped

{{Infobox song

| name = Always Strapped

| cover = Birdman Always Strapped Single Cover 2009.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Birdman featuring Lil Wayne and Mack Maine

| album = Priceless

| released = March 17, 2009 (digital)

| recorded = 2006, 2009 (Remix)

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Southern hip hop}}

| length = 3:28 (single version w/o Mack Maine)
4:34 (album version)
5:49 (remix version)

| label = {{hlist|Cash Money|Universal Motown}}

| writer = {{hlist|Dwayne Carter|Bryan Williams|Jermaine Preyan|R. Cobbs II}}

| producer = Mr. Beatz

| chronology = Birdman

| prev_title = Foolish (Remix)

| prev_year = 2008

| next_title = Written on Her

| next_year = 2009

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Lil Wayne

| type = singles

| prev_title = Prom Queen

| prev_year = 2009

| title = Always Strapped

| year = 2009

| next_title = Every Girl

| next_year = 2009

}}

}}

"Always Strapped" is the first single from rapper Birdman's fourth studio album, Priceless. It was released officially on iTunes on March 17, 2009. The song features Lil Wayne and Mack Maine, and was produced by Mr. Beatz. The song peaked at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Background

In 2006, a version of this song leaked online with Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana. It is believed this version was intended for their shelved collaborative album, "I Can't Feel My Face".{{cite AV media | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOS26td-hgY | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230425232124/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOS26td-hgY | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 25, 2023 |title = YouTube, a Google company |website=YouTube}} Then, in November 2006, another version leaked online on a bootleg mixtape by DJ Joey Fingaz, believed to be a leftover from Like Father, Like Son. Lil Wayne used the same first verse as the previous version, although re-recorded and Juelz Santana was replaced with Birdman.{{cite AV media |url-status = live |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/rwzOI_alFS8 |archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwzOI_alFS8 |title = Lil Wayne Always Strapped Original Beat Featuring Birdman [DL] |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} The final version released 3 years later, in 2009, featured the same vocals from the leaked version with Birdman and Lil Wayne, but with a new instrumental. Mack Maine was later added to the song also.

Music video

There are two videos for the song, first the original version of the song and the remix version of the song.

The first video was premiered on MTV Jams, Sucker Free Sunday, and MTV.com on June 14, 2009, and was the video for the original version of the song. Birdman and Lil Wayne raps their verses from the original version of the song. However, Mack Maine is featured in the video and raps his own new verse.{{Cite web |url=http://www.newlilwayne.com/2009/06/video-birdmans-always-strapped-remix-with-lil-wayne-and-mack-maine/ |title=Birdman - Always Strapped Remix with Lil Wayne and Mack Maine |access-date=2009-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629000058/http://www.newlilwayne.com/2009/06/video-birdmans-always-strapped-remix-with-lil-wayne-and-mack-maine/ |archive-date=2009-06-29 |url-status=dead }}

This version ranked at #18 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.

The second video was the remix premiered on BET's 106 & Park on June 15, 2009. The remix video featured Young Jeezy and Rick Ross, who also filmed his part on the video. DJ Khaled, Lil' Twist, Rick Ross, 2 Pistols, Yo Gotti, All Star Cashville Prince, and Kevin Rudolf make appearances in the video. Birdman, Lil' Wayne, Young Jeezy and Rick Ross rap their verses from the remix version of the song.{{Cite web |url=http://www.newlilwayne.com/2009/06/birdman-always-strapped-remix-2-music-video-f-lil-wayne-rick-ross-jeezy/ |title=Birdman – Always Strapped Remix 2 music video f. Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Jeezy |access-date=2009-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627030250/http://www.newlilwayne.com/2009/06/birdman-always-strapped-remix-2-music-video-f-lil-wayne-rick-ross-jeezy/ |archive-date=2009-06-27 |url-status=dead }}

Remixes and versions

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
scope="col" | Chart (2009)

! scope="col" | Peak
position

scope="row" {{single chart|Billboardhot100|54|artist=Birdman|song=Always Strapped|artistid={{BillboardID|Birdman}}|access-date=March 12, 2014}}
scope="row" {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|10|artist=Birdman|song=Always Strapped|artistid={{BillboardID|Birdman}}|access-date=March 12, 2014}}
scope="row" {{single chart|Billboardrapsongs|5|artist=Birdman|song=Always Strapped|artistid={{BillboardID|Birdman}}|access-date=March 12, 2014}}
scope="row" {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|29|artist=Birdman|song=Always Strapped|artistid={{BillboardID|Birdman}}|access-date=May 15, 2022}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" | Chart (2009)

! scope="col" | Position

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2009|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 6, 2020}}

| 51

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Birdman|title=Always Strapped|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2012|access-date=October 27, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Birdman}}

{{Lil Wayne singles}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2009 singles

Category:Birdman (rapper) songs

Category:Lil Wayne songs

Category:Mack Maine songs

Category:Cash Money Records singles

Category:Gangsta rap songs

Category:Songs written by Lil Wayne

Category:2009 songs

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