Hood Boy Explained

Hood Boy
Cover:Hood Boy.jpg
Alt:An image of Fantasia posing in front of multiple lights while wearing a low-cut, glittery dress.
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Fantasia featuring Big Boi
Album:Fantasia
Released:November 14, 2006
Label:J
Chronology:Fantasia
Prev Title:Ain't Gon' Beg You
Prev Year:2005
Next Title:When I See U
Next Year:2007

"Hood Boy" is a song by American singer Fantasia featuring American rapper Big Boi, from her second and eponymous studio album (2006). It was released as the album's lead single by J Records on November 14, 2006. "Hood Boy" was written by Johnta Austin, Anthony McIntyre and Antwan Patton (and credits Holland-Dozier-Holland and Frank DeVol through its sample), and produced by Austin and the Canadian production team Tone Mason. It samples the introduction of the Supremes' 1967 single, "The Happening". An uptempo R&B and hip hop song, "Hood Boy" explores Fantasia's appreciation for thugs.

The song's reception was mostly positive; music critics praised its composition and Fantasia's vocals. The single appeared on several United States Billboard charts, peaking at number three on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. According to one commentator, the song was successful on urban radio. Its music video, directed by Norwegian photographer Ray Kay, was released on November 30, 2006. In the video, Fantasia sings and dances in a barbershop and in front of a neon sign and Big Boi performs his verses. To further promote "Hood Boy", Fantasia performed it at the 2011 Artscape festival and the 2018 Essence Music Festival.

Background and release

Due to the lukewarm commercial performance of – and mixed critical response to – Fantasia's 2004 debut pop album (Free Yourself), she and J Records decided to record more R&B and hip hop for her second and eponymous album (2006).[1] [2] In her biography of Fantasia, Liz Sonneborn wrote that the singer "purposely cultivated a more daring sound" on her follow-up record.[3] Fantasia attributed the change in her musical style as an escape from her painful past, which was featured on the American reality competition series American Idol: "I'm not sad anymore; I'm not hurting anymore. I'm able to show people what music is to me."[4]

"Hood Boy" was written by Johnta Austin, Frank DeVol, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Anthony McIntyre, Antwan Patton, and produced by Austin and the Canadian production team Tone Mason. The track was mixed by Manny Marroquin and engineered by Aaron Fessel, Tatsuya Sato, and Chris Caramouche.[5] It was released on November 14, 2006, as the lead single from Fantasia.[6] The song was released as an audio CD, which includes the radio edit and instrumental,[7] and as a digital download.[8] An 11-track remix extended play (EP), Dance Vault Mixes, was released on February 20, 2007, as a digital download.[9] [10]

Composition and lyrics

"Hood Boy" is an uptempo three-minute, 34-second R&B and hip hop song.[11] [12] It samples the opening of the Supremes' 1967 song, "The Happening",[13] and has verses by the American rapper Big Boi.[14] The song's instrumentation includes an "opening salvo of horns". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it a modern interpretation of Ike & Tina Turner's music, and AXS's Kareem Gantt described the track as "a buffet of neo-soul mixed in with hip-hop".[15] Slant Magazine Sal Cinquemani cited the song as an example of the album's emphasis on production over vocals. "Hood Boys lyrics explore Fantasia's attraction to thugs, and Erlewine compared the song to Destiny's Child's 2004 single "Soldier". Curve's Margaret Coble saw it as a "radio-friendly thug ode".[16] The track includes references to "wifebeaters and chains" and "some sexual innuendos and the 'N' word".[17]

Reception

Critical reaction to "Hood Boy" was positive, with Kareem Gantt including it on his list of top ten Fantasia songs. Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the singer's performance, writing that she "remakes herself into a vibrant, vital diva". A Stereogum writer called Fantasia's voice a "raspy, divalicious vox". Henry Goldblatt of Entertainment Weekly described "Hood Boy" as 2006's strongest R&B release, and Michael Slezak called it "infectiously funky" and an "electrifying romp".[18] [19] Clover Hope of Billboard praised Fantasia's connection to the song, calling the tracks on more mature subjects "right up [the singer's] alley". However, Allison Steward of The Washington Post criticized "Hood Boy" as "credibility-shredding".[20]

The song appeared on several United States Billboard charts.[21] It peaked at number three on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart on December 30, 2006, and remained on the chart for four weeks. The song reached number 67 on Hot 100 Airplay in January 2007, and stayed on the chart for four weeks. It peaked at number 21 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on January 20, 2007, and remained on the chart for 19 weeks.[22] The song also reached number 21 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart that day, remaining on that chart for 16 weeks.[23] Jim Cantiello of MTV wrote that the single and its 2007 follow-up, "When I See U", were successful on urban radio.[24]

Music video and live performances

A music video for "Hood Boy", directed by Norwegian photographer Ray Kay, premiered on November 30, 2006, on BET. It was filmed in Crenshaw, Los Angeles; when describing the location, Fantasia said: "If you want to find a 'hood boy, you got to go to the 'hood to find one, and no better place to do it than Crenshaw."[25] In the video, Fantasia performs in front of a pink neon sign displaying her name; Michael Slezak compared the scene to Roxie Hart in the 1972 musical, Chicago. The singer also wears a short skirt, dancing in a barbershop and riding a motorcycle. Fantasia has a fauxhawk and large false eyelashes in some scenes, and Big Boi appears in others. The video ends with the police stopping a dance and Fantasia strutting away. Slezak praised the singer's confidence in the video.

To further promote the single, Fantasia performed it at the 2011 Artscape festival to a positive audience response.[26] She also sang it as part of the 2018 Essence Music Festival.[27]

"Hood Boy" was featured in an eleventh season episode of RuPaul's Drag Race as part of a lip-sync battle between Vanessa Vanjie Mateo and Plastique Tiara to determine who would be eliminated from the competition; the lip-sync resulted in Plastique Tiara being eliminated.[28]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.

Charts

Year-end charts

Release history

Region Format Date Label
United StatesAudio CD, digital downloadNovember 14, 2006J
Remix packageFebruary 20, 2007

References

Book sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Erlewine. Stephen Thomas. AllMusic. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171105005241/https://www.allmusic.com/album/fantasia-mw0000560169. November 5, 2017.
  2. Reviews. Hope. Clover. Billboard. 6 January 2007. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108022933/https://books.google.com/books?id=mBIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=%22Hood+Boy%22+%22Fantasia%22&source=bl&ots=ZsOnxKJ8yn&sig=k6V8wdV1pwgPfk4Dv0v6z4jChX4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjcsJWT-sTYAhVOt1MKHQisDPw4UBDoAQhFMAc#v=onepage&q=%22Hood%20Boy%22%20%22Fantasia%22&f=false. January 8, 2018.
  3. [#Sonneborn2008|Sonneborn (2008)]
  4. Web site: Fantasia's newest songs don't have time for pain: 'I'm not sad anymore; I'm not hurting anymore. I'm able to show people what music is to me.' Fantasia.. Abbott. Jim. January 26, 2007. Orlando Sentinel. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108022934/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-158429768.html. January 8, 2018.
  5. Web site: Fantasia. Tidal. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160523111109/http://listen.tidal.com/track/1287542. May 23, 2016.
  6. Web site: Video: Fantasia Feat. Big Boy -"Hood Boy". November 29, 2006. Rap-Up. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108022933/http://www.rap-up.com/2006/11/29/video-fantasia-ft-big-boy-hood-boy/. January 8, 2018.
  7. Book: Hood boy feat. Big Boi. 2006. WorldCat. 9781404213692. 194284458.
  8. Web site: Hood Boy (Radio Edit) - Single [feat. Big Boi]]. November 14, 2006. Apple Music. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108022934/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hood-boy-radio-edit-single-feat-big-boi/251455752. January 8, 2018.
  9. Web site: Dance Vault Mixes - Hood Boy. February 2007. iHeartMedia. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108022934/https://www.iheart.com/artist/fantasia-feat-big-boi-116180/albums/dance-vault-mixes-hood-boy-13636671/. January 8, 2018.
  10. Web site: Dance Vault Mixes: Hood Boy (feat. Big Boi). February 20, 2007. Apple Music. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108022933/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dance-vault-mixes-hood-boy-feat-big-boi/214979179. January 8, 2018.
  11. Fantasia. Goldblatt. Henry. January 4, 2007. Entertainment Weekly. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170219174708/http://ew.com/article/2007/01/04/fantasia/. February 19, 2017.
  12. Song Primes New Fantasia Album. George. Raphael. November 25, 2006. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108022933/https://books.google.com/books?id=bQ4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61&dq=%22Hood+Boy%22+%22Fantasia%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG6u-3_sTYAhWD7FMKHQ1LBiUQ6AEIMzAC#v=onepage&q=%22Hood%20Boy%22%20%22Fantasia%22&f=false. January 8, 2018.
  13. Web site: Fantasia. Cinquemani. Sal. Slant Magazine. 15 December 2006. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207123123/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/fantasia-fantasia. December 7, 2013.
  14. Web site: New Fantasia Video – "Hood Boy" (Feat. Big Boi). November 30, 2006. Stereogum. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20101102185021/http://stereogum.com/4064/new_fantasia_video_hood_boy_feat_big_boi/video/. November 2, 2010.
  15. Web site: The top 10 best Fantasia songs. Gantt. Kareem. March 15, 2016. AXS. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161229175559/http://www.axs.com/the-top-10-best-fantasia-songs-78717. December 29, 2016.
  16. Web site: Trying on some new sound: some artists never go out of style.(Children Running Through, Voila, Fantasia)(Sound recording review). https://web.archive.org/web/20180108174927/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-167981146.html. dead. January 8, 2018. Coble. Margaret. April 1, 2007. Curve.
  17. Web site: Fantasia. Kamen Goldmark. Kathi. 5 January 2007. Common Sense Media. March 7, 2018.
  18. Snap judgment: Fantasia's 'Hood Boy' video. Slezak. Michael. November 30, 2006. Entertainment Weekly. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108022933/http://ew.com/article/2006/11/30/snap_judgment_f-2/. January 8, 2018.
  19. Fantasia's 'Even Angels': The best 'American Idol' victory anthem the show has never had!. Slezak. Michael. February 2, 2010. Entertainment Weekly. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125140433/http://www.ew.com/article/2010/02/02/fantasia-barrino-even-angels-hell-yeah. November 25, 2015.
  20. Web site: Some Free Advice On Making That 'Idol' Time Pay Off. Stewart. Allison. December 17, 2006. WP Company LLC. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108022934/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5756644.html. January 8, 2018.
  21. https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?page=75&artist=Fantasia&f[0=ts_chart_artistname%3AFantasia&f[1]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2 Chart Search]. Billboard. January 7, 2017.
  22. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. January 7, 2017.
  23. R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. Billboard. January 7, 2017.
  24. Web site: Fantasia's Life is Still No 'Fairy Tale': Timeline. Cantiello. Jim. August 11, 2010. MTV. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150515081520/http://www.mtv.com/news/1645539/fantasias-life-is-still-no-fairy-tale-a-timeline/. May 15, 2015.
  25. Web site: Fantasia Unleashes Her Inner Rock Star: 'This Time It's My Own Vision'. Moss. Corey. November 22, 2006. MTV News. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151201092904/http://www.mtv.com/news/1546441/fantasia-unleashes-her-inner-rock-star-this-time-its-my-own-vision/. December 1, 2015.
  26. Web site: Review: Fantasia keeps it simple at Artscape. Chang. Hsia-Ting. July 16, 2011. The Baltimore Sun. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171122154342/http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/music/midnight-sun-blog/bal-concert-review-fantasia-keeps-it-simple-at-artscape-20110716-story.html. November 22, 2017.
  27. Web site: Fantasia Had Everyone In Tears When She Brought Her Brother On Stage During Her Emotional Essence Fest Performance. Davis. Rachaell. July 10, 2018. Essence. September 9, 2018.
  28. Web site: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 11: The Library Is Open!. Kile. Meredith B.. April 25, 2019. Entertainment Tonight. April 26, 2019.
  29. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2007. Billboard. September 21, 2021.

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