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Interscope RecordsElla Mai’s breakout hit “Boo’d Up” is number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, and number five on the Billboard Hot 100, and the song’s success is leaving her speechless.
“I literally had no words,” the 23-year-old singer tells Billboard. “I definitely believe that there are songs that, as artists, we don’t know the full potential. It’s definitely been amazing to watch the climb from debuting at 78.”
“Boo’d Up” is now certified platinum, and Mai remembers when she released the tune last year, she did not want to perform it.
“I thought it was too new and I was like, ‘No one’s gonna know what I’m talking about,’ so I just left it out and performed some of my older songs,” Mai says.
However, by popular demand, she added “Boo’d Up” to her set, and the reception was overwhelming.
“I saw such a change in the response from the audience every night once I put ‘Boo’d Up’ in,” Mai says. “Everyone would tell me how much they loved the song and how much they enjoyed the performance of the song so I was like ‘OK, maybe this is something.’”
Mai’s 15-city “Boo’d Up” tour kicks off August 6 in Dallas, and continues through August 28 in Seattle. She is performing in intimate venues, and tickets sold out immediately.
Monday night, Mai was a surprise guest during H.E.R.’s set on the Chris Brown Heartbreak On a Full Moon tour at the Barclays Center in New York City. The sold-out crowd sang along with her word for word as she performed “Boo’d Up.”
After the show, Mai tweeted, “thank you @HERMusicx for asking me to be a part of such an incredible set tonight in NY. you are the TRUTH”
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