| "B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)" | |||||
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| Single by OutKast from the album Stankonia |
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| Released | 2000 | ||||
| Recorded | ??? | ||||
| Genre | Hip hop / Drum and Bass | ||||
| Length | 4:38 | ||||
| Writer | OutKast | ||||
| Producer | Earthtone III | ||||
| OutKast singles chronology | |||||
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Contents |
Background
"B.O.B." (an acronym for Bombs Over Baghdad) is a 2000 single by OutKast for the LaFace/Arista Records label. The first single from their album Stankonia, "B.O.B." is high-tempo and jungle-influenced, with a BPM rate of 155. The song is also noted for its use of a choir (the Morris Brown College Gospel Choir) in the chorus. The inspiration for the song came when André 3000 was in a London hotel room and overheard a news report about "bombs over Baghdad."[1]
Chart Success
The song's frenetic nature, as well as the genre-bending "shock" of the song, led many radio outlets in the United States to limit its airplay.[2] Unlike the follow-up single "Ms. Jackson", which peaked at #1, "B.O.B." only reached #69 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. [3]. The song however, was a minor hit on Modern Rock radio.
Military use
The song reportedly had been used as a rally song for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. André 3000 did not seem pleased that the song, being lyrically anti-war, was being used as a war rally; however, he noted that it might be a "good thing" if it improves soldier morale. [4] Big Boi, meanwhile, has voiced his opposition to the 2003 invasion but noted he cannot control how the public interprets his work. [5].
Critical Reception
- It was named the #2 song in the "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" list in 2005 by Blender, second only to "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
- The song was also named the #1 single of 2000-2005 by Pitchfork Media.
Trivia
- "Bombs Over Baghdad" was one of the many songs temporarily banned from mainstream radio following the September 11th attacks.
- In 2001 the song was featured in the video game Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX for the PlayStation and Sega Dreamcast.
- Dave Chappelle's "Black Bush" referenced the song while defending the invasion of Iraq on Chappelle's Show by saying, "Stankonia has said they're willing to drop bombs over Baghdad."
- "Deca Skateboards used it as the introduction in their 2001 video "2nd to None"!
- "Bombs Over Baghdad" is used in the 2001 film How High starring Method Man and Redman.
- The 2002 film Bad Company starring Chris Rock and Anthony Hopkins used the song.
- "Bombs Over Baghdad" provided the background to an action montage used for ESPN's coverage of the ATP Masters Series tennis.
- There is a remix of the song, replacing the beat of the song with heavy guitars. Officially, the author of the remix is unknown, but it is often attributed to Zack De La Rocha of Rage Against the Machine.
