Why Andy Samberg Apologized to T-Pain After The Lonely Island's ‘I’m on a Boat’ Got a Grammy Nomination

“I’m connected a Boat” became a smash deed for The Lonely Island, but location was 1 point that irked Andy Samberg astir it: Its Grammy nomination.

Samberg and his The Lonely Island bandmates Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer said pinch Seth Meyers astir nan opus connected nan May 27 section of The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast. The opus “I’m connected a Boat” was featured connected The Lonely Island’s debut medium Incredibad, which was released successful February 2009. Taccone does not characteristic connected nan song, because Samberg and Schaffer wrote it while he was retired of town. But nan opus does characteristic T-Pain. 

A twelvemonth aft nan opus — and its over-the-top euphony video — premiered connected nan Feb. 7, 2009, section of Saturday Night Live, nan set and T-Pain were unexpectedly nominated for nan Grammy for champion rap/sung collaboration (now titled nan Grammy for champion melodic rap performance). 

Samberg, 46, and Schaffer, 47, went to nan Grammys and had a “blast,” Schaffer said, noting he ever wore his tuxedo from nan video. “We were nominated nether champion rap sung collaboration against songs for illustration ‘Run This Town,’ ” he said, referencing nan blockbuster collaboration betwixt JAY-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna. That way yet won, Samberg noted, adding, "thank God."

“I don't cognize if anyone's ever gone to nan Grammys hoping to suffer more,” Schaffer added. “We were like, ‘If we win, we can't get connected stage.’ We were only assured capable to spell because we were that judge that we were going to lose.” Meyers, 51, agreed that if they had won, it “might person been a weird tipping constituent that you wouldn't person recovered from.”

Samberg said they were “a small salty” astir not being nominated for champion drama medium because they had nan best-selling drama medium of nan year.  He joked, “And arsenic everyone knows, if you waste a lot, that intends it's precocious quality.”

Samberg remembered that erstwhile they made it to nan Grammys, they “bumped into T-Pain” and “were truthful excited to spot him.” 

“And earlier he said anything, we were like, ‘I know. I know,’ ” Samberg said. “He's like, ‘Dude.’ Because we hadn't talked since we sewage nominated. And we were like, ‘Oh, man. This is not a bully look.’ ”

“He was like, ‘You cognize really galore f------ songs I did this year? This is nan 1 that sewage nominated?’ ” Samberg remembered T-Pain, 40, saying. “We were like, ‘We know, we're sorry. It's because we’re White!’ ” Taccone, 48, noted that if it won, nan “only reason” it could person would person been because of T-Pain, but Samberg and Schaffer were assured that “Run This Town” would win. 

“We never, for a second, thought we'd win, which was, again, a relief,” Schaffer said. It fto them walk nan nighttime arsenic a “fun joke.” 

“But I will opportunity everyone other that had a bully rap opus collaboration that year, sorry,” Samberg joked. The duo spent nan nighttime pinch T-Pain, who had his adjunct get them drinks during nan event. Schaffer said he remembered because erstwhile P!nk performed “Glitter successful nan Air” successful a trapeze act, immoderate of nan glitter fell successful his drink.

T-Pain did triumph a Grammy that night, for champion R&B capacity by a duo aliases group pinch vocals for Jamie Foxx’s opus “Blame It,” which he appeared on. It was nan rapper’s 2nd Grammy.

The Lonely Island besides remembered that they first met T-Pain successful 2008, erstwhile he appeared connected SNL alongside Mariah Carey. T-Pain referenced nan “ultimate punch” from their 2007 movie Hot Rod. Samberg said, “And we were like, ‘Oh, s---. We emotion this dude.' And obviously, wrong a minute, we're like, ‘We would emotion to do a opus pinch you.’ And he was like, ‘Just fto maine know.’ ” When they wrote “I’m connected a Boat” they “immediately” thought of him, and he said yes correct away. 

The group person performed nan opus together aggregate times, including, astir recently, astatine the SNL 50 performance astatine Radio City Music Hall successful February. “I’m connected a Boat” reached No. 56 connected nan Billboard Hot 100 and concisely topped nan YouTube and iTunes charts aft it was released. 

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Two years aft their “I’m connected a Boat” nod, The Lonely Island yet received a Grammy information for champion drama medium for their merchandise Turtleneck & Chain.