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Boo'd Up

{{short description|2018 single by Ella Mai}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2019}}

{{use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Boo'd Up

| cover = Ella Mai Boo'd Up.png

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Ella Mai

| EP = Ready {{noitalic|and the album}} Ella Mai

| recorded = January 2017{{Cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3kokEY5HUc&list=PLwFs58D1XAMbyGbBoB7xDc23MZ7FU9d-Q&index=48 | title=How Ella Mai Created 'Boo'd Up' | Billboard | How It Went Down | website=YouTube }}

| released = {{start date|2018|02|20|df=yes}}

| genre = R&B{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/ella-mais-bood-up-return-of-female-rb-singers-w520365|title=Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up" marks the return of female R&B singers|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=23 May 2018|access-date=17 June 2018}}{{cite magazine|last= Billboard Staff|title= The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List|magazine= Billboard |url= https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-songs-all-time-hits/|date= October 19, 2023|accessdate= February 10, 2024|quote= An addictive, punch-drunk R&B love song with a brain-sticking, near-nonsense-sounding chorus...}}

| length = * 4:16 (EP version)

  • 3:59 (album version)

| label = * 10 Summers

| writer = * Joelle James

| producer = * Mustard

  • Dopson {{small|(co.)}}

| prev_title = Naked

| prev_year = 2017

| next_title = Trip

| next_year = 2018

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|6YNZlXfW6Ho|"Boo'd Up"}}}}

}}

"Boo'd Up" is the sleeper hit and debut commercial single by English singer Ella Mai from her third extended play, Ready (2017), and as the eighth single from her debut studio album Ella Mai (2018). Serving as the lead single for the EP, the song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ella-mai/chart-history/hsi/|title=Ella Mai Chart History: Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=16 July 2018}} It was a minor hit in her native UK, peaking at 52 whilst peaking within the top 50 in Australia and Canada. A remix featuring Nicki Minaj and Quavo peaked at number 8 in New Zealand. The song was written by Mai, Joelle James, Dijon "Mustard" McFarlane and Larrance Dopson of 1500 or Nothin', and produced by the latter two. It was nominated for Song of the Year and won Best R&B Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2019-grammy-awards-complete-nominations-list|title = 61st GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominees & Winners List|date = 7 December 2018}}

Background and release

American singer-songwriter Joelle James first wrote "Boo'd Up" in 2014 originally for herself. She later looked for an artist to give the song to, eventually giving it to Ella Mai after feeling that "synergy of it would be perfect for her."{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2018/05/23/bood-up-joelle-james-lyrics-song|title=How Joelle James wrote "Boo'd Up," the surprise hit of the summer|last=Gore|first=Sydney|date=23 May 2018|website=The Fader|access-date=16 June 2018}}

Mai originally released the song in February 2017 as part of the Ready EP. "Boo'd Up" rose in popularity on social media as well as in nightclubs over the next few months,{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2018/05/24/ella-mai-bood-up-interview|title=Ella Mai's Slow Burn|last=Howard|first=Jackson|date=2018|website=The Fader|access-date=16 June 2018}} notably in the Bay Area and later in Dallas, Texas. After Mai served as the opening act on Kehlani's tour, her music reached a bigger audience and the song grew on radio airplay in the spring of 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/hiphop/ella-mai-bood-up-billboard-hit-blew-up-r-b-comeback/|title=How Ella Mai's Unlikely 'Billboard' Hit 'Boo'd Up' Exploded In Popularity A Year After Its Release|last=Johnson|first=Cherise|date=15 June 2018|website=Uproxx|access-date=16 June 2018}} The song became her first top 10 song in the US in the following month, deeming it her "breakthrough hit".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8458488/ella-mai-bood-up-top-10-hot-100|title=Ella Mai Scores First Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100 With 'Boo'd Up'|last=Zellner|first=Xander|date=30 May 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=16 June 2018}} Rolling Stone wrote that the single is "one of the biggest singles by a breakout female R&B singer in the past 10 years."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/ella-mais-bood-up-return-of-female-rb-singers-w520365|title='Boo'd Up': How Ella Mai Is Leading Female R&B Singers Back Onto the Charts|last=Leight|first=Elias|date=23 May 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=16 June 2018}}

In support of the song and its commercial success, Mai announced a US concert tour titled after the song, during the month of August.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8460892/ella-mai-bood-up-summer-tour-dates|title=Ella Mai Announces Boo'd Up Summer Tour|last=Penrose|first=Nerisha|date=13 June 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=16 June 2018}}

Critical reception

In December 2018, Billboard magazine ranked "Boo'd Up" as the third best song of the year.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2018/8489483/best-songs-2018-staff-picks | title=Billboard's 100 Best Songs of 2018: Critics' Picks | date=11 December 2018 | magazine=Billboard | access-date=3 January 2019 }} Rolling Stone listed "Boo'd Up" among the 100 best R&B songs of the 21st century, commenting that "it has a piano refrain reminiscent of Stevie Wonder’s “These Three Words.” But it also sounds wholly contemporary. Mai settles into the music with a warm and inviting voice and treats romance as a source of domesticated bliss. As she rhapsodizes about her partner, she confirms that yes, zoomers need love, too."{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-rnb-songs-21st-century-1234878625/tank-please-dont-go-1234878670/| title=The 100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=3 January 2024 }}

Music video

An accompanying music video for the song, directed by Nick Walker, premiered via Mai's Vevo channel on 26 April 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/04/ella-mai-bood-up-video/|title=Ella Mai, Kamaiyah And Khalid Free Their Inner Youth In "Boo'd Up" Visual|work=Vibe|date=26 April 2018|access-date=21 June 2018}} It features cameo appearances from singer Khalid, rapper Kamaiyah, and YouTube personality Alissa Ashley.{{Cite news|url=http://freshestradio.com/watch-ella-mais-new-music-video-for-bood-up-f-cameos-by-khalid-and-kamaiyah/|title=Watch Ella Mai's New Music Video for "Boo'd Up" f/ Cameos by Khalid and Kamaiyah|work=Freshest FM|access-date=2018-07-05|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/music/ella-mai-bood-up-music-video.html|title=Ella Mai Shares Moments Of Affection In New Video For "Boo'd Up"|last=Kevito|date=April 2018|access-date=16 June 2018|archive-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616030128/http://www.okayplayer.com/music/ella-mai-bood-up-music-video.html|url-status=dead}} Model Donnell Blaylock Jr. plays Mai's love interest in the video.{{Cite web|url=http://gossiponthis.com/2018/05/09/ella-mai-bood-up-music-video-donnell-blaylock-jr/|title=WATCH: R&B Newcomer Ella Mai Gets "Boo'd Up" in Music Video|work=Gossip On This|date=9 May 2018|access-date=21 June 2018}}

As of August 2021, the music video has over 460 million views.

Remixes

American rappers T-Pain, Fetty Wap, Plies, Fabolous, Dave East, Vado, and Young Dro released remixes to the song.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/fetty-wap-tackles-ella-mais-bood-up-for-his-latest-remix-new-song.1978981.html|title=Fetty Wap Tackles Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up" For His Latest Remix|last=Goddard|first=Kevin|date=12 June 2018|website=Hot New Hip Hop|access-date=16 June 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/06/fetty-waps-remix-of-ella-mais-bood-up-stream/|title=Fetty Wap's Remix Of Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up" Gives Us A Lot Of Feelings|last=Arevalo|first=Lydia|date=13 June 2018|website=Vibe|access-date=16 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Vado-and-dave-east-bood-up-remix-lyrics|title=Vado & Dave East – Boo'd Up Remix Lyrics|website=Genius|access-date=10 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/young-dro-remixes-some-of-the-hottest-tracks-on-adderall-flow-mixtape-new-mixtape.118566.html|title=Young Dro Remixes Some Of The Hottest Tracks On "Adderall Flow" Mixtape|work=HotNewHipHop|date=31 October 2018|access-date=1 November 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/nicki-minaj-and-quavo-join-ella-mai-on-new-bood-up-remix-listen/amp/|title=Nicki Minaj and Quavo Join Ella Mai on New "Boo'd Up" Remix: Listen|website=pitchfork.com|date=4 July 2018 |access-date=2018-07-04}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/t-pain-serves-best-bood-up-remix-yet-new-song.1979342.html|title=T-Pain Serves Best "Boo'd Up" Remix Yet|publisher=HotNewHipHop|date=6 July 2018|access-date=6 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/t-pain-proving-hes-still-t-pain-steals-the-bood-up-remix-from-nicki-minaj-and-quavo-696583/|title=T-Pain, Proving He's Still T-Pain, Steals the 'Boo'd Up' Remix From Nicki Minaj and Quavo|publisher=Rolling Stone|date=6 July 2018|access-date=6 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/07/t-pain-dropped-best-remix-of-ella-mai-bood-up|title=T-Pain Dropped the Best Remix of Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up"|publisher=Complex|date=6 July 2018|access-date=6 July 2018}}

Live performances

On 17 November 2018, Mai performed the song on Saturday Night Live, with Jezebel describing Mai as "Pure '90s R&B Heartthrob".{{Cite web|url=https://jezebel.com/on-saturday-night-live-ella-mai-is-pure-90s-r-b-heartt-1830523774|title = On Saturday Night Live, Ella Mai is Pure '90s R&B Heartthrob}} It comes on the heels of Ella Mai’s critically acclaimed performance at the BET Awards 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/amp/en-us/2018/06/202696/lla-mai-bet-awards-performance-controversial-twitter-reactions|title=Twitter is Pissed About How the BET Awards Treated Ella Mai}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.vibe.com/2018/06/ella-mai-bood-up-bet-awards-performance|title = Ella Mai Performs "Boo'd Up" at 2018 BET Awards|date = 25 June 2018|access-date = 10 April 2019|archive-date = 23 September 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200923221548/https://www.vibe.com/2018/06/ella-mai-bood-up-bet-awards-performance|url-status = dead}}

Charts

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|46|artist=Ella Mai|song=Boo'd Up|rowheader=true|access-date=14 July 2018}}
{{single chart|Canada|43|artist=Ella Mai|rowheader=true|access-date=18 July 2018}}
scope="row"| Ireland (IRMA){{cite web|url=http://irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Singles|title=IRMA – Irish Charts|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|access-date=21 July 2018}}

| 85

{{single chart|Portugal|93|artist=Ella Mai|song=Boo'd Up|rowheader=true|access-date=7 August 2018}}
{{single chart|UK|52|date=20180803|rowheader=true|access-date=4 August 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|5|artist=Ella Mai|rowheader=true|access-date=16 July 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|4|artist=Ella Mai|rowheader=true|access-date=16 July 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|28|artist=Ella Mai|rowheader=true|access-date=18 September 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|3|artist=Ella Mai|rowheader=true|access-date=24 July 2018}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-100-songs|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|date=2 January 2013|access-date=4 December 2018}}

| 15

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|magazine=Billboard|date=2 January 2013|access-date=5 December 2018}}

| 10

scope="row"| US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/rhythmic-songs|title=Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|date=9 December 2014|access-date=23 August 2019}}

| 16

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|certyear=2023|access-date=6 June 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=Ella Mai|title=Boo'd Up|award=Gold|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|access-date=June 13, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Ella Mai|title=Boo'd Up|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|access-date=3 February 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Ella Mai|title=Boo'd Up|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=31 December 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Ella Mai|title=Boo'd Up|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|access-date=14 May 2021|id=15426-4856-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Ella Mai|title=|award=Platinum|number=8|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|access-date=9 May 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" | Worldwide

| 22 February 2017

| Digital download {{small|(along with Ready EP)}}

| rowspan="5" | {{hlist|10 Summers|Interscope}}

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/ready-ep/1440879671 |title=Ready - EP |date=22 February 2017 |publisher=iTunes Store. Apple Inc|access-date=30 September 2018}}

SiriusXM The Heat

|4 February 2018

|Rhythmic/R&B Hits

|

scope="row" rowspan="3" | United States

| rowspan="2" | 20 February 2018

| Rhythmic contemporary

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases |title=Top 40/R Future Releases |publisher=All Access. All Access Music Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217220028/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases |archive-date=17 February 2018 |access-date=30 September 2018}}

Urban contemporary

| style="text-align:center;"|{{Citation needed|date=September 2018}}

10 July 2018

| Contemporary hit radio

| style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web |url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases |title=Top 40/M Future Releases |publisher=All Access. All Access Music Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708023035/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases |archive-date=8 July 2018 |access-date=30 September 2018}}

Nicki Minaj and Quavo remix

{{Infobox song

| name = Boo'd Up (Remix)

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Ella Mai, Nicki Minaj and Quavo

| album =

| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2018|7|4}}

| recorded = 2018

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|hip hop}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=37}}

| label = * Interscope

| writer = * Joelle James

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Nicki Minaj

| type = single

| prev_title = Bed

| prev_year = 2018

| title = Boo'd Up (Remix)

| year = 2018

| next_title = Fefe

| next_year = 2018

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Quavo

| type = single

| prev_title = Ghostbusters

| prev_year = 2018

| title = Boo'd Up (Remix)

| year = 2018

| next_title = No Brainer

| next_year = 2018

}}

}}

A remix of "Boo'd Up" with rappers Nicki Minaj and Quavo was released 4 July 2018.{{cite web |first=Rob |last=Arcand |url=https://www.spin.com/2018/07/ella-mai-bood-up-remix-ft-nicki-minaj-quavo/ |title=Ella Mai – "Boo'd Up (Remix)" ft. Nicki Minaj & Quavo |work=SPIN |date=4 July 2018 |access-date=26 July 2018}}

The remix version of the song features newly added verses and lyrics by both Quavo and Minaj and marks the second collaboration between the two. Its music was also slightly modified with several parts being reorganized and changed.{{cite magazine |first=Jon |last=Blistein |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ella-mai-taps-nicki-minaj-quavo-for-slick-bood-up-remix-696060/ |title=Ella Mai Taps Nicki Minaj, Quavo for Slick 'Boo'd Up' Remix |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=4 July 2018 |access-date=26 July 2018}}

=Composition=

The music of "Boo'd Up" is mostly kept the same as the original, with the sound being slightly altered and several parts reorganized. The remix also contains a reference to Minaj's 2011 hit, "Super Bass".{{cite web |first=Anne Victoria |last=Clark |url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/07/ella-mai-releases-bood-up-remix-with-nicki-minaj-quavo.html |title=Ella Mai Releases 'Boo'd Up' Remix With Nicki Minaj and Quavo |work=Vulture |date=4 July 2018 |access-date=26 July 2018}} Migos member Quavo drops an ad-libbed verse of his own. The remix comes to a close with a faux recorded phone conversation between Quavo and Minaj. She asks him to be picked up from somewhere but he's actually already outside.{{cite magazine |first=Michael |last=Saponara |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8464071/ella-mai-bood-up-remix-nicki-minaj-quavo |title=Nicki Minaj & Quavo Join Forces With Ella Mai For 'Boo'd Up (Remix)': Listen |magazine=Billboard |date=5 July 2018 |access-date=26 July 2018}}

=Track listing=

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download – Official Remix

| title1 = Boo'd Up (Remix)

| note1 = with Nicki Minaj and Quavo

| length1 = 3:37

}}

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Flanders Tip|12|artist=Ella Mai, Nicki Minaj & Quavo|song=Boo'd Up (Remix)|rowheader=true|access-date=1 September 2018}}
{{single chart|Flanders Urban|12|artist=Ella Mai, Nicki Minaj & Quavo|song=Boo'd Up (Remix)|rowheader=true|access-date=14 December 2018}}
scope="row"| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2018-07-13|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=16 July 2018|access-date=13 July 2018}}

| 8

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Ella Mai|title=Boo'd Up (Remix)|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|id=2018-08-03|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relmonth=4}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true | noshipments=true}}

=Release history=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

scope="row"| Worldwide

| 4 July 2018

| Digital download

| {{hlist|Interscope|Young Money}}

|{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/bood-up-remix-single/1407070771 |title=Boo'd Up (Remix) - Single |date=4 July 2018 |publisher=iTunes Store. Apple Inc|access-date=30 September 2018}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Ella Mai}}

{{Nicki Minaj singles}}

{{Quavo}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for "Boo'd Up"

|titlestyle = background: lightblue

|list =

{{Grammy Award for Best R&B Song}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song}}

}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2018 singles

Category:2018 songs

Category:Ella Mai songs

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Nicki Minaj songs

Category:Quavo songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Mustard (record producer)

Category:Songs written by Ella Mai

Category:Songs written by Larrance Dopson

Category:Songs written by Mustard (record producer)

Category:Songs written by Nicki Minaj

Category:Songs written by Quavo

Category:Young Money Entertainment singles

Category:Remix singles