Lil Boo Thang

"Lil Boo Thang" is a song by American rapper Paul Russell, released as a single on August 18, 2023, through Arista Records and featured on his 2024 EP Again Sometime?. 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
from the EP Again Sometime?
Released	August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18)
Genre	Nu-disco 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

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by Jamar Harding released on September 19, 2023, 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]

In an episode of Genius' Verified series, Paul Russell explains the lyrics, and says the term lil boo thang refers to a partner in a caring, spicy, romantic relationship.^[4]

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.^[5]

Remix

A remix of "Lil Boo Thang" by producer Galantis was released on December 15, 2023.^[6]

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Lil Boo Thang" Chart (2023–2024) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 17 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 32 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 20 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] 5 Global 200 (Billboard)[11] 79 Hungary (Editors' Choice Top 40)[12] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 28 Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[14] 11 Latvia Airplay (LAIPA)[15] 7 Netherlands (Tipparade)[16] 13 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 11 Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[18] 53 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[19] 20 San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[20] 1 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[21] 31 UK Singles (OCC)[22] 20 US Billboard Hot 100[5] 14 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[23] 15 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[24] 2 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[25] 5 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[26] 5 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[27] 8

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Lil Boo Thang" Chart (2024) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[28] 78 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[29] 38 US Billboard Hot 100[30] 78 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[31] 37 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[32] 16 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[33] 25 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[34] 46

Certifications

Certifications for "Lil Boo Thang"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[35]	Platinum	70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[36]	2× Platinum	160,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[37]	Platinum	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[38]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[39]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ 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. "Paul Russell Breaks Down The Meaning Of "Lil Boo Thang"". Genius. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
5. "Billboard Hot 100: Week of January 13, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
6. 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.
7. "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
8. "Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
9. "Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
10. "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of January 13, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
11. "Billboard Global 200: Week of January 13, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
12. "2024/12. heti Editors' Choice Top 40 slágerlista" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
13. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
14. "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of November 15, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 15, 2023.
15. "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.
16. "Tipparade-lijst van week 4, 2024" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
17. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
18. "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: December 1st, 2023 - December 7th, 2023". TurnTable. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
19. "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 13.01.2024–19.01.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
20. "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 11/02/2024" (in Italian). San Marino RTV. February 18, 2024. Archived from the original on February 18, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
21. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 12. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
23. "Adult Contemporary: Week of February 17, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
24. "Adult Pop Airplay: Week of February 3, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
25. "Hot Rap Songs: Week of December 16, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
26. "Pop Airplay: Week of November 25, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
27. "Rhythmic Airplay: Week of December 9, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
28. "Rapports annuels 2024" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
29. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
30. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
31. "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
32. "Adult Pop Airplay Songs — Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
33. "Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
34. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
35. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
36. "Canadian single certifications – Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang". Music Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
37. "New Zealand single certifications – Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang". Radioscope. Retrieved January 22, 2025. Type Lil Boo Thang in the "Search:" field.
38. "British single certifications – Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
39. "American single certifications – Paul Russell – Lil Boo Thang". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 11, 2024.