Swagga Like Us

About Swagga Like Us

"Swagga Like Us" is a song by American hip hop recording artists Jay-Z, T. I., Kanye West, and Lil Wayne and British recording artist M. I. A.. It was released on September 6, 2008 in the United States as the fifth single from T. I.'s album Paper Trail, and was also slated for inclusion on Jay-Z's eleventh album The Blueprint 3 (2009), although it ultimately did not make the final track listing. The song was produced by West and is constructed primarily around a vocal sample of "Paper Planes" by British musician M. I. A. "Swagga like Us" received mostly mixed reviews from music critics: whilst many complimented T. I.'s performance and the production, most denounced the other three rappers' performances as lyrically uninspired and overly brash, with Wayne and West also singled out for criticism from the perceived overuse of Auto-Tune in their vocals. Commercially, however, the song was a success despite a premature leak to the internet: it debuted and peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, and also charted modestly in a few overseas territories. It was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 51st Grammy Awards, winning the latter: the four rappers, alongside M. I. A. herself, also performed "Swagger Like Us" and the original "Paper Planes" during the ceremony. more »