Ali Bomaye

"Ali Bomaye"
Song by The Game featuring 2 Chainz and Rick Ross from the album Jesus Piece
Released December 11, 2012
Format Digital download
Recorded 2012
Genre Hip hop
Length 6:12
Label DGC Records, Interscope Records
Writer Jayceon Taylor, Byron Forest, Tauheed Epps, William Roberts, Maurice Jordan, Florence Welch, Paul Epworth
Producer Black Metaphor
Jesus Piece track listing

"Scared Now"
(1)		 "Ali Bomaye"
(2)		 "Jesus Piece"
(3)

"Ali Bomaye" is a song by American rapper The Game from his fifth studio album Jesus Piece. "Ali Bomaye" features fellow rappers 2 Chainz and Rick Ross, with production from Black Metaphor and samples "Seven Devils" by Florence and the Machine.[1] The song has since peaked at number one on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.

Background

When Muhammad Ali faced George Foreman in 1974's Rumble in the Jungle, Congolese audience members cheered Ali by shouting, "Ali Bomaye!", meaning, "Ali, kill him!" in Lingala.[2] The Game would take inspiration from that chant on the chorus of the track.[3] He told Vibe, "I just happened to be watching the movie and didn't have a song title or arc yet, so I was like fuck it... Ali Bomaye. And that's how I came up with the hook, really." He then sent the track to 2 Chainz and Rick Ross to polish off the song with their verses.[4] The song ends with a skit featuring comedian Kevin Hart.[5]

Music video

In January 2013, The Game shot the first part of the music video with Rick Ross.[6] On February 11 and 12, 2013 The Game shot the majority of the music video, with 2 Chainz in Los Angeles.[4][6] The final version of the music video was released on July 2, 2013, and featured cameo appearances from French Montana, DJ Khaled and Chris Brown, among others. The video was Executive Produced by Mahad Dar of Creative Dream Productions[7][8][9]

Critical reception

"Ali Bomaye" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. DJBooth.net said the "beat on "Ali Bomaye" is absolutely a beast, and on the whole it’s just one of those songs that demands some serious head nodding."[10] David Jeffries of AllMusic called the song a, "10 Commandments-busting anthem, which makes selling your soul to the devil sound swanky and sweet.[11] Slava Kuperstein of HipHopDX, praised the song's "rich production and epic vocal samples." Also saying, "2 Chainz and Rick Ross are merely tolerable on the cut (neither brings their best), but Game’s ear for production serves him well here."[12] However, Eric Revis of the New York Times called Ross' verse on the song "excellent".[13] Also Chris Dart of Exclaim! stated that The Game was overshadowed by 2 Chainz' charisma on the song.[14] However, Phillip Mlynar of Spin said, "2 Chainz sounds worryingly constipated" on the track.[15]

In August 2013, "Ali Bomaye" was serviced to DJ's as a promotional single from his fifth album Jesus Piece.[16] The song is also featured on the soundtrack to Grand Theft Auto V on the Radio Los Santos station, which features West Coast hip hop.[17][18]

Chart performance

Chart (2013) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (Billboard)[19] 1

References

  1. ↑ "Direct Sample of Vocals / Lyrics". WhoSampled. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  2. ↑ Ryan, Joe (2013). Heavyweight Boxing in The 1970s: The Great Fighters and Rivalries. McFarland. p. 172. ISBN 078649249X.
  3. ↑ Game Follow @TheGame   (2013-07-08). "Game ft. 2 Chainz & Rick Ross - Ali Bomaye Music Video | Listen". DJBooth. The DJBooth LLC. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Photos From Game's "Ali Bomaye" Video Shoot ft 2 Chainz, Chris Brown & Rick Ross". Vibe. Spin Media. 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  5. ↑ Amidon, David (2013-01-06). "The Game: Jesus Piece". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The Game Shoots ‘Ali Bomaye’ Video with Chris Brown, 2 Chainz". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  7. ↑ "New Video: Game Feat. 2 Chainz And Rick Ross 'Ali Bomaye'". Vibe. Spin Media. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  8. ↑ "The Game, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz Ali Bomaye Video". Complex. Complex Media. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  9. ↑ "The Game f/ 2 Chainz, Rick Ross - "Ali Bomaye" | Music Video". SoulCulture. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  10. ↑ Game Follow @TheGame  . "Game - Jesus Piece - Stream & Read Album Review". DJBooth. The DJBooth LLC. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  11. ↑ David Jeffries (2012-12-11). "Jesus Piece - Game | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  12. ↑ Kuperstein, Slava (2012-12-11). "Game - Jesus Piece | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  13. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/arts/music/the-game-eric-revis-and-ryan-blotnick-new-albums.html?_r=0
  14. ↑ Dart, Chris (2012-12-18). "The Game - Jesus Piece • Hip-Hop Reviews •". Exclaim!. Ian Danzig. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  15. ↑ Mlynar, Phillip (2012-12-13). "The Game, 'Jesus Piece' Review". Spin. Spin Media. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  16. ↑ "Game - Ali Bomaye (Feat. 2 Chainz And Rick Ross)". DJServicePack.com. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  17. ↑ Garrett, Ural (2013-08-24). "'Grand Theft Auto V' soundtrack leaks | Gaming". SoulCulture. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  18. ↑ "Grand Theft Auto 5: Listen to the Leaked Soundtrack Here". HEAVY. 2013-08-27. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  19. ↑ "Game – Chart History: Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 16, 2013.