Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Rump Shaker (song)

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Released
  
August 25, 1992

Recorded
  
April–May 1992

Label
  
MCA

Format
  
Vinyl, CD, cassette

Length
  
5:13

Genre
  
Dirty rap, new jack swing

"Rump Shaker" is a song by American hip-hop group Wreckx-N-Effect. It was released in August 1992 as the lead single from their second album Hard or Smooth. It features production and guest vocals from Teddy Riley, brother of Wreckx member Markell Riley.

Contents

Due to the massive success of Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You," the song would advance to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Nevertheless, it peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Singles, and No. 9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play.

The chorus of the 2008 single, "Paper Planes" by British musician M.I.A. was widely speculated to be based on the chorus, although the song's writers are not credited.

Composition

"Rump Shaker" is built on a saxophone sample from the 1972 song "Darkest Light" by Lafayette Afro Rock Band and a drum sample from "Midnight Theme" by Manzel. Other samples include "Scratchin'" by the Magic Disco Machine and "Blues and Pants" by James Brown (the vocal "come on!"). Riley's "Rump Shaker (Teddy 2)" remix adds a bass and piano sample from "Blind Alley" by The Emotions. Additionally, Teddy Riley's verse includes an allusion to the 1982 song "I Like It" by DeBarge, with the lines, "I like the way you comb you hair, I like the stylish clothes you wear, it's just the little things you do...".

The song opens with Teddy Riley chanting the chorus "All I wanna do is zooma-zoom-zoom-zoom in a poom-poom." Subsequent verses are rapped by Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, and Markell Riley. Teddy Riley's verse is notable for being written by his young protégé Pharrell Williams, later to achieve fame as a member of The Neptunes and a solo artist. It was rumored that Pharrell, along with fellow future-Neptune Chad Hugo, contributed additional production work, but producer Ty Fyffe stated in a 2011 interview that he and Teddy Riley alone produced the song and that Pharrell's only contribution was lyrical.

Reception

The accompanying music video, depicting Wreckx-N-Effect and Riley hosting a party at Virginia Beach, received criticism for its alleged exploitation of women in bikinis, with the New York Daily News referring to the group as "Horny Little Rap Kids." The video was banned from MTV.

A-side

  1. "Rump Shaker" (Radio Remix)- 4:34
  2. "Rump Shaker" (Bonus Beat)- 5:55
  3. "Rump Shaker" (Percapella)- 3:19

B-side

  1. "Rump Shaker" (Radio Mix)- 3:56
  2. "Rump Shaker" (Teddy 2)- 6:00
  3. "Rump Shaker" (Dub)- 6:00

References

Rump Shaker (song) Wikipedia