Roots of Edwin Starr

"American Boy" is a song by British singer Estelle featuring rapper Kanye West from the former's second album Shine (2008). The song was written by the artists, alongside Ethan Hendrickson, William Adams Jr., John Legend, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, and Keith Harris. It was produced by will.i.am, and uses the instrumental from his own song, "Impatient", from his third studio album Songs About Girls (2007). "American Boy" is a breezy R&B and disco-funk song that lyrically describes a romance with an American suitor. The song's conception came after Legend, Estelle's mentor, suggested she write a song about meeting a man from the United States.