Lil Boo Thang

"Lil Boo Thang" is a song by American singer Paul Russell, released as a single on August 18, 2023, through Arista Records. Russell originally previewed the track on TikTok, where it went viral, receiving more than 10 million views. The song samples the 1977 track "Best of My Love" by the Emotions, which was written by Maurice White and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire.^[2]

"Lil Boo Thang"
Single by Paul Russell
Released	August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)
Genre	Pop rap^[1]
Length	1:54
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Paul Russell Maurice White Al McKay
Producer(s)	Sean Cook
Paul Russell singles chronology
"Touristy Places" (2023) "Lil Boo Thang" (2023) "Say Cheese" (2024)
Music video
"Lil Boo Thang" on YouTube

Background

Russell first previewed the track on TikTok on June 28, 2023, after which he signed with Arista Records to release it as a single.^[3] Russell told Billboard that he wrote the song after being "stressed out on a Thursday afternoon, so [he] just turned on some of the music that makes [him] happy and imagined that [he] was celebrating something".^[3]

Commercial performance

"Lil Boo Thang" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 99 in September 2023, marking Russell's first chart appearance.^[2] It peaked at number 14 on the chart in January 2024.^[4]

Remix

A remix of "Lil Boo Thang" by producer Galantis was released on December 15, 2023.^[5]

Charts

Chart performance for "Lil Boo Thang"

Chart (2023–2024)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[6]	17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[7]	32
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[8]	20
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[9]	5
Global 200 (Billboard)^[10]	79
Ireland (IRMA)^[11]	28
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)^[12]	11
Latvia Airplay (LAIPA)^[13]	7
Netherlands (Tipparade)^[14]	13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[15]	11
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)^[16]	53
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)^[17]	20
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)^[18]	59
UK Singles (OCC)^[19]	20
US Billboard Hot 100^[4]	14
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[20]	15
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[21]	2
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)^[22]	5
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[23]	5
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[24]	8

Certifications

Certifications for "Lil Boo Thang"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[25]	Platinum	70,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)^[26]	Platinum	80,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[27]	Gold	15,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[28]	Silver	200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[29]	Gold	500,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Anderson, Trevor (November 2, 2023). "Paul Russell Brings 'Boo Thang' to Top 10 on Hot Rap Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
2. Zellner, Xander (September 26, 2023). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Paul Russell's 'Lil Boo Thang' Gets Bigger With Debut". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
3. Schneider, Marc (August 17, 2023). "'Lil Boo Thang' Viral Artist Paul Russell Signs With Arista". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
4. "Billboard Hot 100: Week of January 13, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
5. Vacca, Brianna (December 15, 2023). "Paul Russell Dishes On Viral Single "Lil Boo Thang" and What's to Come in the New Year (Exclusive)". Celeb Secrets. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
6. "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
7. "Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
8. "Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
9. "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of January 13, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
10. "Billboard Global 200: Week of January 13, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
11. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
12. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of November 15, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 15, 2023.
13. "Latvijas spēlētāko dziesmu Radio Top 2024. gads – 4. nedēļa" [Latvia's most played songs Radio Top 2024 – Week 4] (in Latvian). LAIPA. January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
14. "Tipparade-lijst van week 4, 2024" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
15. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
16. "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: December 1st, 2023 - December 7th, 2023". TurnTable. from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
17. "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 13.01.2024–19.01.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
18. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20244 into search. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
20. "Adult Contemporary: Week of February 17, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
21. "Adult Pop Airplay: Week of February 3, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
22. "Hot Rap Songs: Week of December 16, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
23. "Pop Airplay: Week of November 25, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
24. "Rhythmic Airplay: Week of December 9, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
25. "ARIA Top 50 Singles for week of 12 February 2024". Australian Recording Industry Association. February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
26. "Canadian single certifications – Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang". Music Canada. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
27. "New Zealand single certifications – Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
28. "British single certifications – Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 23, 2024.Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Lil Boo Thang in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
29. "American single certifications – Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 12, 2024.