2008Released
4:44

Did You Know?

Interesting facts and trivia about American Boy (feat. Kanye West). By Songfacts®.

This is about one of Estelle's previous relationships. She told Giantmag: "It's based off my ex, ex-boyfriend. I met him during the first album and he got me pretty excited about American boys (laughs)."

Kanye West featured on this track and the album was executive produced by John Legend. In the same interview Estelle told how she originally met the two Americans in a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles: "I was in L.A. in this little crap session with a producer who was trying to jerk me and I didn't want to take part in the session anymore. So I went to get some food. I walked in there [Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles] and I was like that looks like Kanye West so I said, 'thank you, Jesus' (laughs). I was a big fan of his and John Legend, because I had heard his voice and it was amazing and I wanted to work with him. So I was speaking to this guy with Kanye for a long time, and this is before I realized it was him [John Legend]. So while talking to Kanye I asked him about John Legend because I wanted to meet him and Kanye was like 'he's right there.' So I was like oh, okay. He was cool about it though and we exchanged info and kept in touch over the years. He actually helped me write a few tracks on [her debut album] The 18th Day. When he'd come to the UK and Europe we'd do work and when I came over here [the US] he'd help too."

"American Boy" was produced by Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas. A number of critics have noticed that this uses the same beat as Will.I.Am's "Impatient" from his Songs About Girls album. Estelle told Giantmag.com what happened: "He played me the beat and before the track ["Impatient"] came out I had already recorded 'American Boy' with him. But when he played the beat for me, I was like I love it and I want to use it. But, I heard his track and I was like didn't you play that track for me? But, I think it was just one of those things were his album came out first and our lines got crossed up. But I'm not hating; there's no beef or anything like that. It worked out for both of us so I'm not mad."

Song Analysis

Key, BPM (tempo) and time signature of American Boy (feat. Kanye West).
CKey
MajorMode
4/4Time Signature
118BPM

Album

The album American Boy (feat. Kanye West) is released on.

Released By

The record label that has released American Boy (feat. Kanye West).
Homeschool/Atlantic
2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States
2008 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.

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