Swagga Like Us

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"Swagga Like Us"
Single by Jay-Z and T.I. featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne
from the album Paper Trail and The Blueprint 3 (intended)
Released	September 6, 2008
Recorded	2008
Studio	Record Plant (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	5:27 (album version) 4:14 (single version)
Label	Roc-A-Fella Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Clifford Harris Kanye West Shawn Carter Dwayne Carter Jr. Mathangi Arulpragasam Topper Headon Mick Jones Joe Strummer Wesley Pentz Paul Simonon
Producer(s)	Kanye West Mike Caren
T.I. singles chronology
"Wish You Would" (2008) "Swagga Like Us" (2008) "Ready for Whatever" (2008)
Kanye West singles chronology
"Put On" (2008) "Swagga like Us" (2008) "Stay Up! (Viagra)" (2008)
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Mr. Carter" (2008) "Swagga like Us" (2008) "Jockin' Jay-Z (Dopeboy Fresh)" (2008)
Lil Wayne singles chronology
"Official Girl" (2008) "Swagga like Us" (2008) "Mrs. Officer" (2008)
Audio
"Swagga Like Us" on YouTube

"Swagga Like Us" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and T.I. featuring fellow American rappers Kanye West and Lil Wayne, the former of whom also produced the song, constructed primarily around a vocal sample of "Paper Planes" by British musician M.I.A. It was released on September 6, 2008, in the United States as the fifth single from T.I.'s sixth album Paper Trail (2008). The track was also initially slated for inclusion on Jay-Z's eleventh album The Blueprint 3 (2009), however it ultimately failed to make the final track listing.

"Swagga like Us" received mostly mixed reviews from music critics: whilst many complimented T.I.'s performance and the production, most denounced the other three rappers' performances as lyrically uninspired and overly brash, with Wayne and West also singled out for criticism for the perceived overuse of Auto-Tune in their vocals. Commercially, however, the song was a success despite a premature leak to the internet: it debuted and peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, and also charted modestly in a few overseas territories. It was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 51st Grammy Awards, winning the latter: the four rappers, alongside M.I.A. herself, also performed "Swagga Like Us" and the original "Paper Planes" during the ceremony.