Shutterbugg

"Shutterbugg" is the debut solo single by American rapper Big Boi. It is the first single released in promotion of his debut solo album, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. The song features singer Cutty on the song's chorus. The song was co-produced by Scott Storch and Big Boi himself. "Shutterbugg" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2011.^[2] Rolling Stone named it the fourteenth best single of 2010 in its year-end list.^[3] PopMatters ranked it number seven on its year-end best songs list.^[4] It is also featured on the NBA 2K11 soundtrack.

Background

"Shutterbugg" contains samples of two songs. The first of these is Soul II Soul's "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)", written by Nellee Hooper, Beresford Romeo, Caron Wheeler and Simon Law. The second sample is from "You Are in My System", written and performed by The System's David Frank and Mic Murphy.

Music video

The video for "Shutterbugg" premiered on 28 May 2010 via Big Boi's Vevo site.^[5] It was directed by Chris Robinson and premiered on May 26, 2010.^[6] The video's concept incorporates various scenes that accentuate different lines from Big Boi's lyrics.^[7] On its concept, Big Boi said in an interview for MTV, "It goes with the rhymes. Chris Robinson was definitely onboard [with the concept]. What he took from the song was a lyrical, visual adventure. There's a lot of special stuff going on. He's freaking the visuals like I'm freaking the rhymes".^[7] Scenes in the music video include Big Boi rapping on a mountain of sneakers, a wall of red disposable cups and four kegs forming a backdrop, a group of puppets serving as a backing band, and a "buxom beauty" holding the disembodied head of Big Boi in the crook of her arm.^[7][8] Simon Vozick-Levinson of Entertainment Weekly wrote that the video "boasts appropriately nutty imagery to go with the song’s wild sound".^[8]

Reception

"Shutterbugg" peaked at number 60 on the U.S. R&B Charts but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. However, in the UK, the song became a top 40 hit, peaking at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart. "Shutterbugg" became a top 20 hit on the UK R&B Singles Chart, peaking at number 13. "Shutterbugg" was listed as the fifth best song of 2010 by Pitchfork Media.^[9] "Shutterbug" charted at #77 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2010, Australia's annual online music poll.

Formats and track listings

Digital download^[10]

1. "Shutterbugg" (featuring Cutty) (Explicit) - 3:34

Chart positions

References