American Boy

Recorded in 2007 at The Record Plant in Hollywood, Hit Factory Criteria in Miami, and Circle House Studios in Miami; Kanye West’s vocals were recorded at Platinum Sound Recording Studios in New York City. The track was built from will.i.am’s instrumental for “Impatient,” with recording and engineering by will.i.am, Padriac Kerin, and Serge Tsai. Released in 2008 as the second single from Shine, it became Estelle’s breakthrough hit and reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. It paired Estelle’s crossover pop-R&B style with Kanye West’s guest verse and drew strong critical praise for its production and hook. The song remains Estelle’s signature hit and a defining late-2000s UK crossover single. It later won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and has continued to anchor discussions of Estelle’s career.