Strange Clouds (song)
"Strange Clouds" is a song by American hip hop recording artist B.o.B, it features fellow American rapper Lil Wayne and is produced by Dr. Luke and Cirkut. The song was announced by Atlantic Records to be released on iTunes on September 27, 2011.[1] The song serves as the lead single off his upcoming second studio album of the same name. In its first week, it sold 197,000 digital copies,[2] debuting at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3]
Background
B.o.B performed the song at concert on three different occasions. The first time being in Colorado in late August 2011, then performed the track again in Syracuse, New York on September 13, 2011 and on September 20, 2011 at Tennessee Tech University.[4] On September 23rd, 2011 B.o.B released a trailer through his official website, depicting him in the studio playing the song.[5] The song leaked two days later on September 25th which thus prompted a rush release of the single which was originally scheduled to premiere on October 3rd, 2011.[6] The song was written by Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr., Dwayne Carter, Lukasz Gottwald and Henry Walter and was produced by Dr. Luke and Cirkut. It contains influences of dubstep and electro-hop. The official cover art for the single was released on September 26, 2011 on B.o.B's official website. The cover depicts an open grassy landscape on the bottom portion of the cover and a large open sky with a central mystical entity that resembles a nebula centered in the sky above.[7] Soon after the release of "Strange Clouds" it quickly took the top spot in digital sales on iTunes.[8] B.o.B included the song on his eighth mixtape, E.P.I.C (Every Play Is Crucial).
Music video
The music video, directed by Motion Family, premiered on MTV on December 5th, 2011. Cameo appearances include T.I., Big Kuntry King, 2 Chainz, Playboy Tre & Rich Kid Shawty.
Critical reception
Caryn Ganz of Rolling Stone gave the song three out of five stars, saying that "Wayne drops a wink-nudge verse about getting blitzed, but it’s B.o.B who lights up with a charming, tenacious flow."[9]
Charts
On the week of October 10, 2011 the song debuted at number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 making it the "Hot Shot Debut" of the week. In the first week of the song's release it sold 197,000 digital copies debuting at number three on the U.S. Hot Digital Songs. "Strange Clouds" marks his best debut sales week for a single, previously held by the 137,000 launch of "Airplanes" on May 1st, 2010.[10]
Chart positions
Release information
Purchasable release
References
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