Boss (The Carters song)

Last updated

"Boss"
Song by The Carters
from the album Everything Is Love
ReleasedJune 16, 2018
Recorded2017–2018
Studio U Arena (Paris)
Genre
Length4:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Boss" is a song recorded by American musical duo The Carters for their debut album Everything Is Love . [1] [2] Recognized by Bustle as "honor[ing] the hard work the couple have put in to everything they touch, ... extend[ing] to raising a family", the song was certified Gold in 2021 by the RIAA for sale of over 500,000 units. [3] [4]

Contents

Background and composition

“Boss” was written by Knowles, Shawn Carter, Tyrone Griffin Jr., and Dernst Emile II, and produced by The Carters, Derek Dixie, D'Mile, Stuart White, MeLo-X, and Mike Dean. Ty Dolla Sign also contributes backing vocals. [5] In his verse, Jay-Z raps about someone who is “not a boss", allegedly referring to Canadian rapper Drake, who reportedly declined a contract with streaming service Tidal to later accept a $19 million contract with Apple. [6] On Beyonce's rapped verse, she discusses the building of intergenerational wealth in Black communities, addressing her method of building a legacy and portfolio for their descendants. In thinking of how children down the line will benefit from her inheritance, she mentions that “My great-great-grandchildren already rich/That's a lot of brown chil’ren on your Forbes list...” [6] [3]

The Independent highlighted the "big brass [outro] (recorded in the team locker rooms at U Arena in Paris) that recall[ed] Beyoncé's mind-boggling show at Coachella; paying tribute to the traditional high school marching band." The track closes with their daughter Blue Ivy Carter offering a message to her younger twin siblings: “Shout out to Rumi and Sir, love, Blue.” [7] [3]

Reception

In their respective reviews of the parent album, both Pitchfork and The Guardian highlighted Beyonce's line on the song "My great-great-grandchildren already rich/That’s a lot of brown chil’run on your Forbes list”— as "the best of many flexes on the album." [8] [9] Bustle celebrated the inclusion of their daughter Blue Ivy Carter, before describing the song as a "masterpiece", as well as "an empowering anthem that honors the fact that the Knowles-Carters — or, for the sake of this album, the Carters — are legit bosses, in every sense of the word." [3]

Personnel

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Boss"
Chart (2018)Peak
position
UK Singles Chart (OCC) [10] 87
US Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [11] 77
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [12] 38

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [13] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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References

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