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Lil Boo Thang

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Lil Boo Thang

| cover = Paul Russell - Lil Boo Thang.png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Paul Russell

| album =

| EP = Again Sometime?

| released = {{Start date|2023|08|18}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = * Nu-disco

  • pop rap{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/paul-russell-lil-boo-thang-top-10-hot-rap-songs-chart-1235462539/|title=Paul Russell Brings 'Boo Thang' to Top 10 on Hot Rap Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|last=Anderson|first=Trevor|date=November 2, 2023|access-date=December 27, 2023}}

| length = 1:54

| label = Arista

| writer = * Paul Russell

| producer = Sean Cook

| prev_title = Touristy Places

| prev_year = 2023

| next_title = Say Cheese

| next_year = 2024

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|5AgDZcM8In8|"Lil Boo Thang"}}}}

}}

"Lil Boo Thang" is a song by American rapper Paul Russell, released as a single on August 18, 2023, through Arista Records and featured on his 2024 EP Again Sometime?. Russell originally previewed the track on TikTok, where it went viral, receiving more than 10 million views. The song samples the 1977 track "Best of My Love" by the Emotions, which was written by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/paul-russell-hot-100-debut-lil-boo-thang-1235425997/|title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Paul Russell's 'Lil Boo Thang' Gets Bigger With Debut|magazine=Billboard|last=Zellner|first=Xander|date=September 26, 2023|access-date=September 27, 2023}}

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by Jamar Harding released on September 19, 2023, on YouTube.

Background

Russell first previewed the track on TikTok on June 28, 2023, after which he signed with Arista Records to release it as a single.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/business/record-labels/lil-boo-thang-tiktok-viral-artist-paul-russell-signs-arista-1235394491/|title='Lil Boo Thang' Viral Artist Paul Russell Signs With Arista|magazine=Billboard|last=Schneider|first=Marc|date=August 17, 2023|access-date=September 27, 2023}} Russell told Billboard that he wrote the song after being "stressed out on a Thursday afternoon, so [he] just turned on some of the music that makes [him] happy and imagined that [he] was celebrating something".

In an episode of Genius' Verified series, Paul Russell explains the lyrics, and says the term lil boo thang refers to a partner in a caring, spicy, romantic relationship.{{Cite web |title=Paul Russell Breaks Down The Meaning Of “Lil Boo Thang” |url=https://genius.com/a/paul-russell-breaks-down-the-meaning-of-lil-boo-thang |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Genius |language=en}}

Commercial performance

"Lil Boo Thang" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 99 in September 2023, marking Russell's first chart appearance. It peaked at number 14 on the chart in January 2024.

Remix

A remix of "Lil Boo Thang" by producer Galantis was released on December 15, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://celebsecrets.com/paul-russell-dishes-on-viral-single-lil-boo-thang-and-whats-to-come-in-the-new-year-exclusive/|title=Paul Russell Dishes On Viral Single "Lil Boo Thang" and What's to Come in the New Year (Exclusive)|website=Celeb Secrets|last=Vacca|first=Brianna|date=December 15, 2023|access-date=January 25, 2024}}

Usage in media

The song plays during a scene in Companion and A Minecraft Movie (both 2025).{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/a-minecraft-movie-soundtrack-song-guide/|title= A Minecraft Movie Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play|website=ScreenRant |first=Charles |last=Papadopoulos |date=April 5, 2025 |access-date=April 6, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/companion-movie-soundtrack-song-guide/|title= Companion Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play|website=ScreenRant |first=Cooper|last=Hood|date=January 31, 2025 |access-date=April 9, 2025}}

Charts

{{col-start}}

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=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Lil Boo Thang"

! scope="col"| Chart (2023–2024)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2024-01-08|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=January 8, 2024|access-date=January 5, 2024}}

| 17

{{single chart|Flanders|32|artist=Paul Russell|song=Lil Boo Thang|rowheader=true|access-date=January 29, 2024}}
{{single chart|Wallonia|20|artist=Paul Russell|song=Lil Boo Thang|rowheader=true|access-date=February 4, 2024}}
scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2024-01-13/|title=Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of January 13, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 9, 2024}}

| 5

scope="row"| Global 200 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-global-200/2024-01-13/|title=Billboard Global 200: Week of January 13, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 9, 2024}}

| 79

scope="row"| Hungary (Editors' Choice Top 40){{cite web |title=2024/12. heti Editors' Choice Top 40 slágerlista |url=https://slagerlistak.hu/editors-choice-radios-jatszasi-lista/2024/12 |publisher=MAHASZ|language=hu|access-date=January 4, 2025}}

| 1

{{single chart|Ireland4|28|date=20240105|rowheader=true|access-date=January 5, 2024}}
scope="row"| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2023&month=11&day=20|title=Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of November 15, 2023|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=November 15, 2023}}

| 11

scope="row"| Latvia Airplay (LAIPA){{cite web|url=https://parmuziku.lv/muzikas-zinas/latvija/latvijas-speletako-dziesmu-radio-top-2024-gads-4-nedela-9881|title=Latvijas spēlētāko dziesmu Radio Top 2024. gads – 4. nedēļa|trans-title=Latvia's most played songs Radio Top 2024 – Week 4|language=lv|publisher=LAIPA|access-date=30 January 2024|date=January 29, 2024}}

| 7

scope="row"| Netherlands (Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2024/week-4|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 4, 2024|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=January 27, 2024}}

| 13

scope="row"| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2024-01-05|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=January 8, 2024|access-date=January 5, 2024}}

| 11

scope="row"| Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.turntablecharts.com/charts/1|title=TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: December 1st, 2023 - December 7th, 2023|magazine=TurnTable|access-date=14 December 2023|archive-date=14 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214205820/https://www.turntablecharts.com/Charts/Top50|url-status=live}}

| 53

scope="row"| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100){{cite web|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-airplay|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay|publisher=OLiS|language=pl|access-date=January 22, 2024|type=Select week 13.01.2024–19.01.2024.}}

| 20

scope="row"| San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50){{cite web |url=https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218074942/https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare |archive-date=2024-02-18 |title=Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 11/02/2024|language=it |publisher=San Marino RTV |date=18 February 2024 |access-date=13 July 2024}}

| 1

{{single chart|Slovakia2|31|year=2024|week=12|rowheader=true|access-date=March 26, 2024}}
{{single chart|UK|20|date=20240105|rowheader=true|access-date=January 5, 2024}}
scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-01-13/|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of January 13, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 9, 2024}}

| 14

scope="row"| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/2024-02-17/|title=Adult Contemporary: Week of February 17, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 13, 2024}}

| 15

scope="row"| US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-pop-songs/2024-02-03/|title=Adult Pop Airplay: Week of February 3, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 31, 2024}}

| 2

scope="row"| US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/2023-12-16/|title=Hot Rap Songs: Week of December 16, 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 28, 2023}}

| 5

scope="row"| US Pop Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/pop-songs/2023-11-25/|title=Pop Airplay: Week of November 25, 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 21, 2023}}

| 5

scope="row"| US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rhythmic-40/2023-12-09/|title=Rhythmic Airplay: Week of December 9, 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 5, 2023}}

| 8

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Lil Boo Thang"

! scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2024|title=Rapports annuels 2024|publisher=Ultratop|language=fr|access-date=January 1, 2025}}

| 78

scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/canadian-hot-100/|title=Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 13, 2024}}

| 38

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/hot-100-songs/|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 13, 2024}}

| 78

scope="row"| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/adult-contemporary-songs/|title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 15, 2024}}

| 37

scope="row"| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/adult-pop-songs/|title=Adult Pop Airplay Songs — Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 15, 2024}}

| 16

scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/pop-songs/|title=Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 15, 2024}}

| 25

scope="row"| US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/rhythmic-songs/|title=Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 16, 2024}}

| 46

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Lil Boo Thang"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=February 12, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Paul Russell|title=Lil Boo Thang|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=January 22, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Paul Russell|title=Lil Boo Thang|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=January 22, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Paul Russell|title=Lil Boo Thang|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=September 6, 2024|id=19746-6682-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Paul Russell|title=Lil Boo Thang|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2025|access-date=February 18, 2025}}

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

References

{{reflist}}

Category:2023 songs

Category:2023 singles

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:Songs written by Al McKay

Category:Songs written by Maurice White