"Otis" | ||||
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Single by Jay-Z and Kanye West featuring Otis Redding | ||||
from the album Watch the Throne | ||||
Released | July 20, 2011 | |||
Recorded | November 2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:58 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Kanye West | |||
Jay-Z singles chronology | ||||
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Kanye West singles chronology | ||||
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Otis Redding singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Otis" on YouTube |
"Otis" is a song by American hip hop artists Jay-Z and Kanye West from their first collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song posthumously features soul singer Otis Redding, whose version of "Try a Little Tenderness" is sampled in the song. The production was covered solely by West. The track was premiered by Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 radio show and was released onto the Internet the day afterward. Lyrically, the song has the two rappers sharing lines discussing wealth, decadence and fame. The track received highly positive reviews from music critics who praised the trading off of verses by the two rappers and the Redding-sampled beat, which was compared to the style heard on West's The College Dropout. Several publications placed the song amongst the best of the year.
The track was released as the second single from Watch the Throne on July 20, 2011. The song peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached position 2 on both the Billboard Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song has since been certified 2× platinum for sales exceeding 2,000,000. The song received a music video directed by Spike Jonze in August 2011. The video primarily shows West and Jay-Z modifying a Maybach luxury car and then driving around in it with no doors or windows, while four girls are smiling in the backseat. The music video also features comedian Aziz Ansari. After its release, the video was met with positive reception. The cover art was designed by Italian fashion designer Riccardo Tisci.
Jay and West performed the song at all the stops on their 2011 Watch the Throne Tour. It was also performed at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards and at the 2012 Radio 1's Big Weekend musical festival. At the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012, "Otis" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance.
Background and release
On July 7, 2011, "Otis" was previewed along with the other songs from Watch the Throne by Jay-Z at a private listening session at the Mercer Hotel in New York City.[1] A select group of reporters, music journalists, and contest winners were present at the listening session.[1] After the listening session, it was confirmed that a song called "Otis", would appear on the album.[2] It was reported that the song would sample soul music singer Otis Redding's version of "Try a Little Tenderness".[3] On July 20, "Otis" was premiered on Funkmaster Flex's Hot 97 radio show and subsequently was released for download to the Internet as a way to promote the upcoming album.[4] On July 22, the song was released to the iTunes Store and was a free download for those who pre-ordered the album. It was sent by The Island Def Jam Music Group to rhythmic contemporary and urban contemporary radio on August 9.[5][6] The cover art for "Otis" was designed by Italian fashion designer Riccardo Tisci, who had previously designed the artwork for the "H•A•M" single cover and the Watch the Throne album cover. It features the American flag, both artists names and the name of the song and the album.[7] The artwork was released onto the internet following the song's release and could be downloaded along with the song.[7]
Bu Thiam, Def Jam vice-president of A&R, was with West and Jay-Z throughout the recording process and saw how the duo came up with several of the Watch the Throne tracks. He recalled the story of the song "Otis": "[Kanye] was late for his flight, we were in the studio working all day and he was late for his flight. As we were leaving he was like, 'Yo hold on for a second.' So he drops his bags and goes to the MPC (beat machine) and his assistant is rushing him and he's just f----ing with [the beat]. What's so crazy is the whole time he's doing that Jay is writing his verses in his head. But Jay is watching the NBA playoffs, I think it was the championship; Miami Heat & Dallas Mavericks. So Jay is watching the playoffs. I'm not even thinking Jay is paying attention to what 'Ye is doing and by the time he is finished it's like 'I invented swag ...' And I'm like, 'What the f--- just happened?'"[8]
Composition
"Otis" is two minutes and fifty-eight seconds long and is a mid-tempo hip-hop song.[9] The song, which was produced by West, is built upon a sample of "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding.[3][10] Jay-Z and West promptly rap over the sample in style reminiscent to past Kanye productions.[11] Pitchfork's Tom Breihan summarized the composition, writing
- ... here's Jay-Z on the "Otis" intro: "It sounds so soulful! Don't you agree?" Well, yeah. If you're willing to plunk down enough money to sample "Try a Little Tenderness", that'll happen. But even if the sample works as a sort of audio money-flaunt, it's also a tough and hard chop from Kanye—Otis Redding's magnificent voice mostly limited to a couple of hellfire grunts, the song itself held to a sharp guitar stab."[12]
Alexis Petridis of The Guardian stated
- the single Otis boldly samples Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness", an idea that veers wildly from inspired – at one point the ballad is manipulated into a propulsive sweaty grunt-a-thon – to a clubfooted mess.[13]
The song ends with sampled screaming.[14] Some people believe the song also includes a part from Datsik's "Swagga," which is a dubstep track. The part is included when Jay-Z says, "guess I got my swagga back." This is a common misconception. Jay-Z is making a reference to one of his earlier songs "All I Need" from The Blueprint which Datsik samples the line from.
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the song Roc Nation executive Lenny Santiago took to Instagram to share how Kanye created the beat within 20 minutes. Lenny recalls:
- Five years ago today, the song "Otis" was released. It's one of my favorite songs, tracks and Lyrics from the classic album, Watch The Throne by Jay Z & Kanye West. This record stands out to me cause I vividly remember the day of its inception. We were in the Mercer Hotel, NYC, where a lot of the album was made. The day or rather session for that day was coming to an end. Kanye had to catch a flight if I'm not mistaken. We were almost towards the end of the album and he was telling everyone in the room that as soon as he returns, he wanted to fuck with this Otis Redding sample idea he had. As he was being reminded that he had to leave to catch his flight, he sort of brushed that off and was like, fuck it, let me just play y'all a piece of the song so you could see how dope it is. He then approached the MPC and Keyboard and plays it. Everyone in the room does the ugly face like when you hear some dope shit or see the sickest slam dunk at a contest. Lol. He then begins to chop the sample lil by lil (But fast) and actually starts creating the track. Ye being one of my favorite producers, I'm literally hype as Fuck and in awe. I begin to snap the Canon cam like an Uzi. Lol. This is 1 of the pictures captured here of course. 15 or 20min later before he runs off to catch his flight, he creates the phenomenal track known to us as "OTIS".[15]
Critical reception
The song received highly positive reviews from critics and the style has been compared to that of West's The College Dropout album.[3][14][16] Pitchfork Media's Tom Breiham praised the song, saying "Jay and Kanye trade off verses and never pause for a chorus, each one building on whatever the last one said-- an old-school rap-collab style you almost never hear anymore. And since these guys are working loose and casual, it gives them chances to show how funny and clever they are without telegraphing their own importance.[12] Simon Vozick-Levinson of Rolling Stone gave the song a four stars rating out of five wrote that "West twists a few seconds of Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" into a Blueprint-style barrage, setting the stage for some slick collar-popping from Jay-Z ("Photo shoot fresh, looking like wealth / I'm about to call the paparazzi on myself"). Jay's performance, in turn, inspires Ye to step up his wordplay ("Luxury rap, the Hermès of verses / Sophisticated ignorance, write my curses in cursive"); the younger star sounds like he pulled an all-nighter trying to outdo his mentor's rhymes."[17] Frank Berg of NME gave the song a mostly positive review, stating that "What we have here are two titans of black music duetting with another from beyond the grave. For that reason, it's unquestionably An Event", though feeling "In all honesty, if this winds up being the highlight of Watch the Throne we'll all be a bit disappointed."[18]
Seattle Weekly's Joe Williams enjoyed the song, writing "even with the slow, bubbling beat and energetic keyboards, topped with top-notch delivery by Jay and Kay, it's Redding in the background that gives the single its true life and flair."[19] Josiah Hughes of Exclaim! magazine commented that "if the over-the-top aggression of "H•A•M" had you worried that this would be a Waka Flocka ripoff, fear not, as "Otis" makes the most of its Otis Redding sample with some soulful feel-good boom-bap."[20] Sam Gould The Independent remarked "having seen oddball rap collective Odd Future become the talking point of the blogosphere, Eminem and old partner-in-crime Royce da 5'9" start work on their own bruising collaborative effort, and hazy vibe rappers Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y take steps in the same direction, Jay and Ye have recognised the throne is far from unchallenged, and have come together in the most remarkable dual alliance since André 3000 and Big Boi became Outkast."[21] The New York Observer writer Foster Kamer mused, "remember early Kanye? These guys finally do. 'Otis' is the perfect anti-single for this album, because it's a reminder that what we always loved about these two collaborating is still very much there. Not only do they not need hooks, neither of them need to remind us that they don't. There was that first line of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, 'I fantasized 'bout this back in Chicago,' and then, the relief after it, where you didn't have to worry about the rest of that album", and Billboard claimed "Otis gets better with each play".[14]
However, Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot was less enthusiastic about the track, musing that "the references to luxury cars and private jets quickly lose their escapist luster, grossly out of step with a summer in which joblessness and foreclosure are becoming all too common for many Americans" and that "just as disappointing is that the Redding sample – a thrilling burst of agitated vocals, classic Memphis horns, organ and drums – never goes anywhere."[22] In an interview with Redding's widow, Zelma Redding, Us Weekly reported that Mrs. Redding approved the song, saying "We are proud that Otis' legacy continues to inspire some of today's popular artists. We like 'Otis' and thank Kanye and Jay-Z for honoring our Otis through their music."[23]
Pitchfork Media named the song the 42nd best song of 2011.[24] XXL named the song the fifth best of the year, and Spin named the song the 17th.[25][26] Time's Claire Suddath placed the song at number four on her best of the year list, writing "the lead single off Watch the Throne mixes and loops Otis Redding's passionate shouts and screams from "Try a Little Tenderness," paying homage to his soulful style while mixing it up by adding heavy beats and chopping up the original track's piano tune."[27] Complex named the song the 100th best Jay-Z song of all time.[28] HotNewHipHop named "Otis" one of the 15 greatest sample flips in hip-hop history.[29]
Remixes
Papoose remixed the song and performed a freestyle over it.[30] Papoose released a music video of his version of the song.[31] Rappers Tinie Tempah, Chipmunk, Wretch 32, and Jadakiss with Styles P of The LOX also released a remix and freestyle.[32] Rapper The Game used some of this song's content to record a diss track named "Uncle Otis", referring to Otis Redding's vocal sample on the track.[33] He insulted Jay-Z and Kanye West along with musicians Big Sean, Kreayshawn amongst others.[34][35] The Game however has gone on record, saying that "It's poking jokes and taking shots, but that's what I do" and that song wasn't serious in nature.[36] Writing about the song, Pop Crush commented that "an obvious attempt to get some promotion for his upcoming disc, The R.E.D. Album. Later Game used the "Otis" instrumental for a twenty-minute freestyle entitled "Daytona 500 (500 Bars)." Cassidy did his. Rappers DMX and Busta Rhymes also made a collaborative "Otis" remix.[37] Singer Ne-Yo also recorded a freestyle rap over "Otis" for a mixtape.[38] Teen singer Justin Bieber also rapped a written verse over the track during a live radio show.[39] YG and Reem Riches collaborated for their version of the song along with a music video.[40] Angel Haze and Iggy Azalea also remixed the track for a live show.[41] In 2019, YBN Cordae freestyled over the instrumental during his Funkmaster Flex freestyle on Hot 97.[42]
Music video
The music video was directed by Spike Jonze and was filmed in Downey, California, USA.[43] Pitchfork Media reported that "Jay-Z and Kanye West are doing something big for the video for Otis."[44] The video, featuring a cameo by Aziz Ansari,[45] was released on Thursday, August 11, 2011, on MTV and affiliated networks at 8:56 pm ET/PT with an encore showing at 11:00 pm ET/PT on MTV2.[46] The video was uploaded on music video site VEVO on the same day.[47]
The video primarily shows West and Jay-Z destroying and then customizing a Maybach 57 and then racing around an industrial lot in it (with no doors or windows), while four models smile and laugh from the backseat.[47] The "dynamic duo take a saber saw to a glistening new Maybach and turn it into a tricked-out 'Thunderdome' cruiser, then do doughnuts in a parking lot with a gaggle of models packed in the back."[47] The video "eschews the narrative spazzouts and stoner-boggling tricks of previous Jonze videos" preferring instead to "luxuriate in the icon status of its two principals. We get fireworks, fist bumps, a fast car, and general larger-than-life camaraderie rather than, say, guys on fire running in slow-motion. It's like The Expendables, if that movie only starred two guys, and both of them were rappers who didn't do any onscreen fighting."[48] The car was put up for auction, and the proceeds donated toward the East African Drought Disaster.[49] However, the car only fetched $60,000 at auction, despite its $350,000 retail price and $100,000-$150,000 evaluation before the auction.[50]
The music video won Video of the Year at the 2012 BET Awards. Pitchfork Media named the video amongst the best of the year.[51] In 2019, Billboard named the video as the fourth best music video 2010s.[52]
Live performances
On August 28, 2011, Jay-Z & Kanye West performed the song for the first time at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. The two rappers marched down the runway with "flames erupting in the background."[53] The song was performed at all stops of their 2011–12 Watch the Throne Tour, generally as one of the opening tracks. It was performed "with a Givenchy-designed American flag flashing on the stage's main screen."[54] During Jay-Z's setlist at the 2012 Radio 1's Big Weekend festival, West joined Jay-Z to perform "Otis" and other Watch the Throne hits like "Niggas in Paris" and "No Church in the Wild".[55]
Accolades
"Otis" appeared at #33 on the 2011 Triple J Hottest 100.[56]
Year | Ceremony | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Antville Music Video Awards | Most Fun Video | Nominated | [57] |
Best Performance Video | Nominated | |||
Best Hip-Hop Video | Nominated | |||
Soul Train Music Awards | Hip-Hop Song of the Year | Nominated | [58] | |
2012 | ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards | Award Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | Won | [59] |
BET Awards | Best Collaboration | Nominated | [60] | |
Viewer's Choice | Nominated | |||
Video of the Year | Won | |||
BET Hip Hop Awards | People's Champ Award | Nominated | [61] | |
Grammy Awards | Best Rap Song | Nominated | [62] | |
Best Rap Performance | Won | |||
MP3 Music Awards | Best Hip Hop/R&B/Rap | Nominated | [63] | |
MTV Video Music Awards | Best Direction | Nominated | [64] | |
MTV Video Music Awards Japan | Best Hip-Hop Video | Nominated | [65] | |
Best Collaboration | Nominated | |||
iHeartRadio MMVAs | Most Streamed Video of the Year | Nominated | [66] | |
Music Video Production Awards | Best Hip-Hop Video | Won | [67] | |
UK Music Video Awards | Best Urban Video – International | Won | [68] | |
Chart performance
"Otis" debuted at position 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending August 6, 2011, after a partial week of sales and airplay[69] in which it sold 44,000 digital copies and received an audience of 22 million impressions on all radio formats.[70] The following week, "Otis" jumped into the Hot Digital Songs top 10 at number 9 selling 113,000 copies,[71] and reached number 12 on the Hot 100.[72] The song also debuted at 15 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and 13 on Billboard's Hot Rap Songs.[73][74] Following the same week, the song debuted at number 89 on the Canadian Hot 100 and rose to number 37 the next week.[75] In the UK, the song debuted at 67 on the Singles Chart, and 26 on the R&B Chart.[76][77]
Credits and personnel
- Produced by Kanye West
- Recorded by Noah Goldstein
- Mixed by Anthony Kilhoffer
- Mixed and recorded at The Mercer Hotel
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
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Certifications
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References
- 1 2 Horowitz, Steven (July 9, 2011). "Details Emerge On Jay-Z & Kanye West's Watch the Throne". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- ↑ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (July 8, 2011). "Jay-Z Previews 'Watch the Throne' in New York". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
- 1 2 3 Fitzmaurice, Larry (July 8, 2011). "More Watch the Throne Details Emerge". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ↑ Markman, Rob (July 26, 2011). "Jay-Z And Kanye West Drop 'Otis'". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ↑ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases | R&B Song and Hip-Hop Music Release Dates". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ↑ "Urban/UAC Future Release Dates". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on July 30, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
- 1 2 Kim, Soo-Young (July 20, 2011). "Watch The Throne's "Otis" Cover Art Also Creative Directed By Riccardo Tisci". Complex Media. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ↑ "Otis by the Throne - Songfacts".
- ↑ "Watch the Throne (Deluxe Version)". Apple Inc. July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
- ↑ Osei, Anthony (July 18, 2011). "Production Credits: Kanye West & Jay-Z Watch The Throne". Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
- ↑ Rabin, Nathan (August 9, 2011). "Kanye West and Jay-Z: Watch The Throne". The A.V. Club. Onion Inc. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- 1 2 Breihan, Tom (July 21, 2011). "Kanye West and Jay-Z: Otis". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ↑ Petridis, Alexis (August 11, 2011). "Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch the Throne – review". The Guardian. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- 1 2 3 Ahmed, Insanal (July 22, 2011). "The Internet's Top Tastemakers React To Jay-Z & Kanye West's "Otis"". Complex. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
- ↑ Cheung, HP (July 21, 2016). "Here's the Story Behind Kanye West & JAY Z's "Otis" Beat". HYPEBEAST. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- ↑ Kaufman, Gil (July 21, 2011). "'Otis' Latest In History Of Classic Kanye West Samples". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ↑ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (July 21, 2011). "Jay-Z and Kanye West, 'Otis'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ↑ Berg, Frank (July 21, 2011). "Jay-Z And Kanye West, 'Otis' – Review". NME. UK. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ↑ Williams, Joe (July 21, 2011). "Jay-Z/Kanye West's 'Otis' May Have Less 'Bitches,' But It's Overflowing With Soul". Seattle Weekly. Village Voice Media. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
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- ↑ Gould, Sam (July 22, 2011). "Watch The Throne: the two superpowers of rap". The Independent. UK. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
- ↑ Kot, Greg (July 21, 2011). "Jay-Z, Kanye West single 'Otis' a letdown". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ↑ Drew, Ian (July 22, 2011). "EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: Otis Redding's Widow Endorses Jay-Z/Kanye West Tribute Song". Us Weekly. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
- ↑ Pitchfork Staff (December 12, 2011). "The Top 100 Tracks of 2011". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ↑ "5. otis-jay-z-kanye-west". XXL. Harris Publications. December 11, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
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- ↑ Suddath, Claire (February 11, 2011). "4. Jay-Z and Kanye West, Otis". Time. Time Inc. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
- ↑ Barber, Andrew (December 11, 2011). "The 100 Best Jay-Z Songs". Complex. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
- ↑ Christopher Armstrong (October 21, 2017). "Top 15 Greatest Hip-Hop Samples". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
- ↑ "Papoose – Otis (Remix)". You Ain't in the Mood Yet. July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ↑ Adejobi, Alicia (July 26, 2011). "New Music Video: Papoose – Otis (Remix)". Taletela. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ↑ Huynh, David (July 26, 2011). "Styles P and Jadakiss – Otis (Freestyle)". Hype Track. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ↑ Lynch, Sean (July 22, 2011). "Game – Uncle Otis (Diss Track)". The Source. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Game Disses Jay-Z, Kanye, Kreayshawn, Sesame Street, Paula Abdul & Your Momma On "Uncle Otis"". Smoking Section. July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
- ↑ Chandler, D.L. (July 4, 2011). "The Game Launches Salvo At Jay-Z, Kreayshawn On 'Uncle Otis' Dis". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
- ↑ Roper, Randy (July 23, 2011). "Game Claims "Uncle Otis" Is Not Jay-Z Diss, Says Song Is "Just Fun"". HipHop Wired. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
- ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (August 3, 2011). "Busta Rhymes & DMX To Release "Otis" Freestyle". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- ↑ Amaya (August 8, 2011). "Busta Rhymes & DMX To Release "Otis" Freestyle". Rap-Up. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- ↑ Hally Rubenstein, Jenna (November 2, 2011). "Justin Bieber Freestyle Rapped Over Otis". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
- ↑ DJ Ill Will (August 17, 2011). "YG – Otis (Freestyle) Feat. Reem Riches [New Song]". Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ↑ Pelly, Jenn (May 23, 2013). "Listen: Angel Haze and Iggy Azalea Remake Kanye West and Jay-Z's "Otis"". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
- ↑ Joe Price (August 1, 2019). "Watch YBN Cordae Impress Funkmaster Flex With His Freestyle". Complex. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ↑ Young, Alex (August 1, 2011). "Spike Jonze to direct Kanye & Jay-Z's "Otis" video". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (August 1, 2011). "Spike Jonze to Direct Jay-Z/Kanye "Otis" Video". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
- ↑ "Aziz Ansari Talks 'Otis' Vid Cameo". Rapfix.mtv.com. August 16, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ↑ Rob Markman. "Jay-Z And Kanye West's 'Otis' Video To Premiere Thursday!". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
- 1 2 3 Montgomery, James. "Jay-Z And Kanye's 'Otis' Video: Maybach Massacre". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ↑ Breiham, Tom (July 11, 2011). "Video: Jay-Z and Kanye West: "Otis"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ↑ Kaufman, Gil. "Jay-Z And Kanye West's 'Otis' Maybach Work: How Much Did It Cost?". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ↑ Banks, Alex. "The Story Behind the Heavily Modified Maybach in Jay Z & Kanye West's "Otis" Video". High Snobiety. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
- ↑ Pitchfork Staff (December 7, 2011). "The Top Music Videos of 2011". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ↑ "The 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 2010s: Staff Picks". Billboard. November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
- ↑ Kaufman, Gil (September 28, 2011). "Jay-Z, Kanye West Go Hard On 'Otis' At The VMAs". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
- ↑ Markman, Rob (September 28, 2011). "Jay-Z, Kanye West's Throne Tour Has Thrilling Liftoff". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
- ↑ Higgins Keenan (June 25, 2012). "Kanye, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Nas join Hackney 2012". Vibe. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
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- ↑ Jocelyn Vena (October 21, 2011). "Chris Brown, Beyonce Lead Soul Train Award Nods". MTV. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
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- ↑ "2012 BET Awards Winners & Nominees". BET. April 8, 2016. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ↑ "2012 Hip Hop Awards Winners & Nominees". BET. April 15, 2016. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ↑ "Nominees and Winners". GRAMMY. The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ↑ "MP3 Music Awards 2012 nominations". Music-News. 8 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ↑ Rebecca Ford (September 6, 2012). "VMAs 2012: Complete Winners List". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ↑ "VMAJ 2012 Nominees Announced!". MTV Asia. March 20, 2012. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ↑ "2012 MuchMusic Video Awards: The Show, The Winners". MuchMusic. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ↑ Steven Gottlieb (June 1, 2012). "2012 MVPA Award Winners". Video Static. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ↑ David Knight (October 12, 2011). "UK Music Video Awards 2011: here are the nominations!". Promo News. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ↑ Grein, Paul (July 27, 2011). "Week Ending July 17, 2011. Songs: Bad Meets Bruno". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ↑ Trust, Gary (July 28, 2011). "GBad Meets Evil Hits Top 10 on Hot 100, LMFAO Still No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media Media. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
- ↑ Caulfield, Keith (August 3, 2011). "Eric Church Lands First No. 1 Album, Amy Winehouse Continues to Climb". Billboard. Prometheus Global 2011-08-10.
- ↑ "Britney Spears Bounds Into Hot 100's Top 10, LMFAO Still No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 3, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
- ↑ "Kanye West Album & Song Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ↑ "Kanye West Album & Song Chart History: Rap Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ↑ "Kanye West Album & Song Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-08-15, 2010.
- ↑ "Kanye West: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- 1 2 "TOP 40 R&B SINGLES ARCHIVE". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 2010-10-1.
- ↑ "Kanye West & Jay-Z feat. Otis Redding – Otis". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ↑ "Kanye West & Jay-Z – Otis" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ↑ "KANYE WEST & JAY-Z FEAT. OTIS REDDING – Otis" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- ↑ "KANYE WEST & JAY-Z FEAT. OTIS REDDING – Otis" (in French). Ultratip.
- ↑ "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Kanye West & Jay-Z feat. Otis Redding – Otis" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
- ↑ "Chart Track: Week 25, 2013". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ↑ Billboard Japan Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2011-08-23
- ↑ "Kanye West & Jay-Z – Otis" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
- ↑ ":: Otis – Jay-Z & Kanye West ::". Gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ↑ "Kanye West & Jay-Z feat. Otis Redding – Otis". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
- ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ↑ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ↑ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
- ↑ "UK Singles Chart 2011" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
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(help) - ↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - 2011 Year End Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Jay Z & Kanye West – Otis". Music Canada.
- ↑ "Danish single certifications – Jay Z & Kanye West – Otis". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved August 21, 2019. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2018 to obtain certification.
- ↑ "British single certifications – Kanye West – Otis". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Jay-Z & Kanye West – Otis". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 28, 2022.