"Push It" is a song by the group Salt-n-Pepa. It was released as the B-side of the "Tramp" single in 1987, and as its own single in 1988. It peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1988 and, after initially peaking at #41 in the UK, it re-entered the charts after the group performed the track at Nelson Mandela's 70th Birthday concert, eventually peaking at #2 that summer. The song has also been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The song is ranked #446 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was ranked #9 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
The original version of "Push It" was first released as the B-side to the 12" single "Tramp" in 1987. The corresponding 7" single contained a "Mixx-It" remix by San Francisco DJ and producer Cameron Paul; this was the radio version that gave the group its first mainstream hit. It advanced into the Billboard Top 40 the week of December 26, 1987, eventually reaching its peak of #19 the week of February 20, 1988. It also ties with "Let's Talk About Sex" as the group's highest-charting UK hit, with both peaking at #2 in that country.
The original 1986 editions of the album Hot, Cool & Vicious did not contain "Push It". When the Cameron Paul remix of "Push It" became a radio hit, the album was reissued with the "Push It" remix added, along with the original versions of "Tramp" and "Chick on the Side" replaced by remixes.
"Push It" was nominated for a Grammy Award, and the strength of that single catapulted the reissued Hot, Cool and Vicious album to platinum sales in the US with one million sold, making Salt-n-Pepa the first female rap act (group or solo) to go gold or platinum. The album ultimately sold 1.3 million copies worldwide.
The song quotes a line from "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks, with the word "girl" replaced with "boy": "Boy, you really got me goin'/You got me so I don't know what I'm doin'." The whispered "Push it" is sampled from a 1977 recording called "Keep on Pushin'" by the band Coal Kitchen.
The music video for "Push It" features a concert performance of the song, along with DJ Spinderella and Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor on keyboards and backing vocals.
"Push It" - 4:12 - B-side of "Tramp" 12" single
"Push It (Instrumental)" - 4:12 - B-side of "Tramp" 12" single
"Push It (Mixx-It Remix)" - 4:28 - B-side of "Tramp" 7" single; also known as Album Version, Remix, 7" Remix, Full-Length Remix, Radio Edit
"Push It (U.S. Remix)" - 3:29 - 1988 Europe/Australasia-only edited version of Mixx-It Remix
"Push It (The Shuv'd Mix)" - 5:06 - 1988 UK-only remix; also known as UK Mix
Covered by electro-industrial band Numb on Operation Beatbox (Re-Constriction Records, 1996).
Covered by eurodance band Solid Base on Express in 1999.
Covered by René Dif as "Let It All Out (Push It)" in 2002
Covered by British singer Harry in 2003 for a Rimmel commercial.
Covered by Crunk&B trio Taurus in their song "Taurus Here" which also served as a tribute to Salt-N-Pepa.
Covered by Australian Sophie Monk in 2007 for a push up bras promotion.
Covered by Death metal band Ten Masked Men on the album Return of the Ten Masked Men.
In 2008, on their Tangled Up Tour, the girl group Girls Aloud performed the song.
Covered by the "Bud Band" in Budweiser's UK adverts in 2008.
Covered in the episode "Showmance" of Glee by the Glee cast.
Sampling and remixes
Remixed with The Stooges' "No Fun" by Belgian group 2 Many DJs, becoming what is one of their signature mashups.
Remixed by American group, The Diplomats.
Sampled and remixed for Taurus's "Taurus Here".
Used as an excerpt for New Kids on the Block's "Step by Step" on their Live tour.
Sampled for Timbaland's "The Way I Are".
Destiny's Child's "Nasty Girl" interpolates the melody of "Push It".
Sampled in 2003 for "Let It All Out (Push It)," the first solo single of René Dif, lead male singer of Aqua.
Sampled for Ciara's "Do It".
Quoted in Missy Elliott's "Don't Be Cruel" on This Is Not a Test!.
Sampled for a 2007 McDonald's commercial.
Sampled by the Gorillaz in the song 'Kids with Guns'.
Sampled for the main bassline "Push The Ghosts" a 2007 single, by The Twang.
Sampled by Solomon on his mixtape "Rhyting Rhymes Vol. 1".
Sampled by Diplo in the song Sunshowers for the M.I.A. mixtape Piracy Funds Terrorism Volume 1.
Sampled and covered by Harlem rap group Dipset in 2004.
Sampled in Massari's song, Body body.
Sampled in Lady Gaga's performance of her song "Paparazzi" in V Fest 2009.
Sampled in Pitbull's song "Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)" featuring T-Pain.
Sampled in Miley Cyrus's song "SMS (Bangerz)" featuring Britney Spears
Sampled by Florida breaks artist DJ 43 for the track "Pepper Spray" in 1999.
Vocal Remixed by DJ ELKING, [DJ AM Tribute]
Sampled in Icy Blu's song, "Pump It (Nice an' Hard)", in 1991.
Salt-N-Pepa performed the song in a November 2014 advertisement for Geico, humorously applying the "push it" refrain to scenarios such as mowing a lawn, Lamaze classes, or football players against tackling dummies.
The song appears in video games DJ Hero 2, Dance Central, Burnout Crash, Get Up & Dance, SingStar Dance, Get On Da Mic and Def Jam Rapstar.
The song was used in the background of one of SNL's Spartan Cheerleaders sketches.
