Both of Us

"Both of Us"
Single by B.o.B featuring Taylor Swift
from the album Strange Clouds
Released	May 22, 2012
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2011
Genre	Alternative hip hop conscious hip hop country rap
Length	3:36
Label	Grand Hustle Rebel Rock Atlantic
Writer(s)	B.o.B Ammar Malik Lukasz Gottwald Henry Walter Taylor Swift
Producer(s)	Dr. Luke Cirkut
B.o.B singles chronology
"So Good" (2012) "Both of Us" (2012) "Out of My Mind" (2012)
Taylor Swift singles chronology "Eyes Open" (2012) "Both of Us" (2012) "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (2012) Music video "Both of Us" on YouTube

"Both of Us" is a song by American rapper B.o.B, released on May 22, 2012, as the third single from his second studio album, Strange Clouds (2012).^[1] The song features vocals from American country pop singer and songwriter Taylor Swift. The artists co-wrote the song alongside Ammar Malik and the song's producers, Dr. Luke and Cirkut.

"Both of Us" was released to critical acclaim, most praising Swift's feature, with some calling the country rap collaboration as a sweet and melodic catchy song.^[2] It debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number 46. The song sold 143,000 copies in its first week, along with the album release, debuting at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the week's top debut.

"Both of Us" is an alternative hip hop song, with musical influences of country rap and dubstep, and lyrical influences of conscious hip hop.

Background

	"Both of Us" (2012) This sample features the chorus of "Both of Us" which features country pop singer and songwriter Taylor Swift.
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The lyrics of "Both of Us" talks about racism and bullying. It was Swift who came up with the idea for the collaboration after she visited B.o.B's label, Grand Hustle Records. The rapper explained, "She came to Atlanta and she hit up Grand Hustle. I wasn't there. Tip was there and I eventually linked with her in Dallas and the rest is history." This is not the first time Swift contributed to a hip hop song, her other collaborations with include her hook up with T-Pain at the CMT Music Awards (2009) and two years later, the superstar recruited T.I., Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida, to assist her during the Speak Now Tour.^[3]

Music video

The music video, directed by Jake Nava, was released on June 27, 2012. B.o.B announced the video on Twitter, sharing a photo and a release date time frame: "On the set of the #BothOfUs music video in Nashville with @taylorswift13. Video premieres end of June!".^[4]

Synopsis

The video begins with B.o.B standing before a small American flag then cuts to Swift singing the song's hook in a dark lit pool hall. B.o.B then takes to the train tracks and streets to deliver his verses while Swift croons the hook in a picturesque field while donning a white cotton dress, and shows a dog that leaves Swift awestruck with his high flying antics. Footage of the artists is interspliced with scenes of life in Nashville's less glamorous neighborhoods like tatted locals, cowboy-boot-wearing young women, shirtless youths playing in sprinklers, teens kissing, a mobile home (this leaves viewers knowing that the video isn't glamorous, but instead leaves viewers appreciating the little things in life – It's not about the money, it's understanding that a romp through a sprinkler or a good game of billiards is enough to take you away from the mundane moments of everyday life). As the first chorus precedes Swift is shown singing at a field covered with dandelions and flowers and several shots of B.o.B and Swift are interspliced. As the video closes out, viewers are left with a sort of fantasy, with B.o.B and Swift re-imagined as the every man and every woman living simple life in rural Tennessee, much like the folks in the video. At the end, we see B.o.B standing in a driveway with a car backing up and B.o.B staring at it.

Chart performance

The song was successful in Australia, charting within the top ten in both Australia and New Zealand. It debuted on the Australian Singles Chart at number 46 and eventually peaked at number five. The song also peaked at number ten in New Zealand. The song sold 143,000 copies in its first week, along with the album release, debuting at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the week's top debut. The single sold over 1,000,000 digital copies as of August 25, 2013.^[5]

Charts

Chart (2012)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[6]	5
Australia Urban (ARIA)[7]	1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8]	23
Ireland (IRMA)[9]	26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10]	10
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[11]	19
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12]	22
UK R&B Chart[13]	5
US Billboard Hot 100[14]	18
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[15]	24

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[16]	Platinum	70,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[17]	Gold	7,500[18]
United States (RIAA)[19]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
United States[1][20]	May 22, 2012	Digital download	Atlantic
		Contemporary hit radio	Atlantic Grand Hustle Rebel Rock
United Kingdom[21]	July 22, 2012	Digital download	Atlantic

References

1. "Both Of Us ft. Taylor Swift - B.o.B Official Blog". Bobatl.com. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
2. "Song of the Week: 'Both of Us,' B.o.B featuring Taylor Swift". NJ.com. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
3. "Both of Us by B.o.B Songfacts". Songfacts.com. 2012-04-11. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
4. "Twitter / MTV: MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE @bob...". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
5. http://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/480278/ask-billboard-taylor-swifts-career-sales
6. "Australian-charts.com – B.o.B Feat. Taylor Swift – Both Of Us". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
7. "ARIA Urban Singles Chart - 23/3/15" (PDF). ARIA Colle scheissearts. October 11, 2015. Archived from the original on May 30, 2012.
8. "Club Music, Hot Dance Songs, Club Songs, Dance Club Music Charts". Billboard.com. 2012-06-02. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
9. "Chart Track: Week 32, 2012". Irish Singles Chart.
10. "Charts.org.nz – B.o.B Feat. Taylor Swift – Both Of Us". Top 40 Singles.
11. "Archive Chart: 2012-07-29". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
12. "Archive Chart: 2012-07-28" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
13. "R&B Singles Top 40 - 22nd July 2012". Official Charts. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
14. "Club Music, Hot Dance Songs, Club Songs, Dance Club Music Charts". Billboard.com. 2012-06-02. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
15. "Chart Highlights: Katy Perry's 'Wide Awake' Debuts on Pop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
16. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2012 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
17. THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
18. "RIANZ". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
19. "American single certifications – B.o.B – Both of Us". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
20. "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
21. "Both Of Us (Feat. Taylor Swift) – MP3 Single". Tesco Entertainment. Retrieved 2012-07-22.