Length 4:34 | Label LaFace, Jive | |
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Released January 31, 2006 (U.S.)
September 4, 2006 (Europe) Format CD single, digital download, 12" single Recorded 2005; Sony Music Studios
Battery Studios
(New York City, New York)
Blue Basement Recordings
(Atlanta, Georgia) Writer(s) Kelis Rogers-Jones, Shondrae Crawford, Todd Shaw, Sean Garrett | ||
"Bossy" is a song by American R&B singer Kelis, featuring American rapper Too Short. It was released in the United States in January 2006 as the lead single from Kelis' fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here (2006). The song peaked at number 16 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making it the singer's second biggest Hot 100 hit thus far, as well as Too Short's first top 40 hit. While "Bossy" entered the top ten in Finland and the top 20 in Australia and New Zealand, it failed to chart or sell noticeably elsewhere. The song features an Roland 808 drum machine.
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On December 11, 2006, "Bossy" was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
The Redsoul 8055y remix was part of the runway soundtrack of the 2006 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
The song was featured on the 30 Rock episode "The Aftermath". It was featured on The O.C. in the episode "The Graduates".
It was also featured in the very popular Ultra Music compilation Ultra.Dance 08, part of the record label's Ultra.Dance series.
Chart performance
"Bossy" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in early 2006 and peaked at number 16 on the date issued August 5, 2006, becoming her third Hot 100 entry and her second biggest hit after 2003's "Milkshake". The song entered several other Billboard charts, including the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, on which it peaked at number 11.
In the United Kingdom, the single was released on September 4, 2006 and peaked at number 22, a lower position than those reached by the four singles from Kelis' previous album, Tasty. "Bossy" returned Kelis to the top 20 in Australia, where it peaked at number 18, but it was not as successful as the first two releases from Tasty, "Milkshake" and 2004's "Trick Me". The song fared better on the R&B charts of Australia and the UK, reaching numbers four and seven, respectively.
"Bossy" reached the top ten in Finland, the top 20 in Spain and New Zealand, and the top 40 in Ireland. The single also peaked at number 41 in Belgium and Switzerland, number 56 in Austria, and number 64 in Germany.
Music video
The video for "Bossy", directed by Marc Klasfeld—who would work with Kelis on "Blindfold Me" and "Lil Star" later that year—and produced by Rockhard Films Co was shot in February 2006 in Los Angeles, California.
The video presents Kelis in different scenarios and outfits, depicting an atmosphere from an upper-class world; from a diamond-filled party to a red Enzo Ferrari drive out in the night. It premiered on BET on April 24, 2006.