The music video for " American Boy " was directed by Syndrome . It features guest appearances by John Legend , Kardinal Offishall , Sa-Ra 's Taz Arnold , Kidz in the Hall 's Naledge and Double-O , Danger Mouse , Consequence , Hi-Tek , Ryan Leslie , T.I. , Brandon Hines , LL Cool J , and '' 106 & Park '' s Terrence J , among others . The music video was nominated for Best UK Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards , but lost to The Ting Tings ' single " Shut Up and Let Me Go " ( 2008 ) . The video also ranked at number 45 on BET 's '' Notarized : Top 100 Videos of 2008 '' countdown , while its spin-off channel BET J listed it at number 10 on the year-end '' Last Call 2008 ! Top 50 Countdown ''
2008 MTV Video Music Awards
2008 MTV Video Music Awards
American Boy