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"Strange Clouds"
Single by B.o.B featuring Lil Wayne
from the album E.P.I.C. (Every Play Is Crucial) and Strange Clouds
Released	September 27, 2011
Recorded	2011
Genre	Hip hop dubstep
Length	3:46
Label	Grand Hustle Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Bobby Ray Simmons Jr. Dwayne Carter Jr. Lukasz Gottwald Henry Walter
Producer(s)	Dr. Luke Cirkut
B.o.B singles chronology
"We Don't Get Down Like Y'all" (2011) "Strange Clouds" (2011) "The One That Got Away" (2011)
Lil Wayne singles chronology
"Mirror" (2011) "Strange Clouds" (2011) "Weekend (Wicked Wow)" (2011)
Music video
"Strange Clouds" on YouTube

"Strange Clouds" is a song by American rapper B.o.B featuring fellow American rapper Lil Wayne. Produced by Dr. Luke and Cirkut, the song was announced by Atlantic Records to be released on iTunes on September 27, 2011, Wayne's 29th birthday. The song serves as the lead single from B.o.B's second studio album of the same name. In its first week, it sold 197,000 digital copies, debuting at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has sold over 1.3 million digital copies worldwide.

Background

Before the song's release B.o.B. performed the song at concert on three occasions. He debuted the song at Colorado in late August 2011, then performed the track again in Syracuse, New York on September 13, 2011 and on September 20, 2011, at Tennessee Tech University. On September 23, 2011, B.o.B released a trailer through his official website, depicting him in the studio playing the song. The song was written by Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., Dwayne Carter, Lukasz Gottwald and Henry Walter and was produced by Dr. Luke and Cirkut. It contains elements of dubstep and electro-hop. The official cover art for the single was released on September 26, 2011, on B.o.B's official website. The cover depicts an open grassy landscape on the bottom portion of the cover and a large open sky with a central mystical entity that resembles a nebula centered in the sky above. B.o.B included the song on his eighth mixtape, E.P.I.C (Every Play Is Crucial).

Music video

The song's official music video premiered on B.o.B's YouTube channel in December 2011. The video features both rappers performing the song in a grassy forested area, as various people look in trepidation at the sight of massive "strange clouds" forming in the sky. Grand Hustle Records label boss T.I. makes a cameo appearance, along with rapper 2 Chainz.

Critical reception

Caryn Ganz of Rolling Stone gave the song three out of five stars, saying that "Wayne drops a wink-nudge verse about getting blitzed, but it’s B.o.B who lights up with a charming, tenacious flow."

Remix

The official remix to "Strange Clouds" was released 12 January 2012 and features fellow Atlanta rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy. The remix maintains the original production from Dr. Luke, however B.o.B performs a new verse and a slightly modified chorus.

It was mentioned on February 6, 2012 by American rapper Tech N9ne through his official blog and a tweet reply to a fan on his Twitter account, that he was originally included in the remix. It was later confirmed on April 5, 2012 by B.o.B through a tweet reply to a fan on his Twitter account.

Remix video

The official music video for the remix to "Strange Clouds" was released on February 1, 2012. The video, directed by 1st Impressions, premiered on B.o.B's YouTube page on January 31, 2012.

Chart performance

On the week of October 10, 2011 the song debuted at number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 making it the "Hot Shot Debut" of the week. In the first week of the song's release it sold 197,000 digital copies debuting at number three on the U.S. Hot Digital Songs. "Strange Clouds" marks B.O.B's best debut sales week for a single, previously held by the 137,000 launch of "Airplanes" on May 1, 2010. As of February 9, 2012, "Strange Clouds" has been certified 2x platinum by the RIAA.

Charts and certifications

Release history

References

1. "Twitter: Atlantic Records". Atlantic Records. 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
2. "J. Cole Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Blink-182 Snags No. 2". billboard.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
3. https://www.billboard.com/artist/b.o.b/chart-history/hot-100
4. "Strange Clouds ft. Lil Wayne [Trailer] - B.o.B Official Blog". B.o.B Official Website. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
5. "Strange Clouds". Bobatl.com. 2011-09-26. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
6. https://www.complex.com/music/a/matt-cole/behind-the-scenes-photos-from-bob-lil-waynes-strange-clouds-music-video
7. Ganz, Caryn (12 October 2011). "Song Review, "Strange Clouds"". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
8. "Tech N9ne Reveals Feature On New 'Strange Clouds' Remix [Social]". therealtechn9ne.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
9. "Tech N9ne on Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
10. "B.o.B on Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
11. brichatl (1 February 2012). "B.o.B - Strange Clouds remix feat. T.I. & Young Jeezy". Retrieved 23 April 2018 – via YouTube.
12. "J. Cole Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Blink-182 Snags No. 2". Billboard, Keith Caulfield, L.A. 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
13. ""Strange Clouds" is Platinum". bobatl.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
14. "Chartifacts - Week Commencing: 10th October 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
15. "B.o.B – Strange Clouds". Top 40 Singles.
16. "B.o.B – Strange Clouds". Swiss Singles Chart.
17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
18. "B.o.B Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
19. "B.o.B Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
20. "B.o.B Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
21. "B.o.B Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
22. "Canadian single certifications – B.o.B – Strange Clouds". Music Canada. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
23. "American single certifications – B.o.B – Strange Clouds". Recording Industry Association of America.
24. . iTunes.com. Retrieved September 29, 2011.

v t e B.o.B
Discography Production discography
Studio albums	B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray Strange Clouds Underground Luxury Ether
Compilations	Elements We Want Smoke
Mixtapes	G.D.O.D. (Get Dough or Die) Psycadelik Thoughtz
Singles	"Nothin' on You" "Don't Let Me Fall" "Airplanes" "Bet I" "Magic" "I'll Be in the Sky" "Strange Clouds" "Play the Guitar" "So Good" "Both of Us" "Out of My Mind" "We Still in This Bitch" "Headband" "Ready" "John Doe" "Not for Long" "Back and Forth"
Featured singles	"Don't Go There" "So High" "Price Tag" "We Don't Get Down Like Y'all" "The One That Got Away" "Am I a Psycho?" "Memories Back Then" "Brokenhearted" "Up Down (Do This All Day)" "Paranoid" "Numb" "Secrets" "Hood Go Crazy"
Promotional singles	"Show Stopper" (remix) "Blow" (Remix) "Good Life" (Remix) "Body Party" (Remix)
Other songs	"Generation Lost" "I'm On 2.0" "Flatline"
Related articles	Label No Genre
Category

• 2011 songs
• 2011 singles
• B.o.B songs
• Songs written by Lil Wayne
• Songs written by B.o.B
• Lil Wayne songs
• Songs about cannabis
• Song recordings produced by Dr. Luke
• Songs written by Dr. Luke
• Grand Hustle Records singles
• Atlantic Records singles
• Song recordings produced by Cirkut
• Dubstep songs