Pop, Lock, and Crank That Dougie back to the mid-2000s

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Getty Images for TV Guide

Photo Courtesy of Huffington Post.

So many artists fight for that song, that one song that will catapult them into stardom and land them on the top of the music charts. But what does it take to achieve such success?

Well, if you ask Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall, they would tell you the secret formula includes a catchy beat and a dance to match that will help the song go viral. Hilfigerrr and McCall’s song, “Juju on That Beat (TZ Anthem)” was released on Sept. 30 and it’s currently No.9 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Viral dance phenomena are certainly not new. So let’s take a walk down memory lane and remember all the songs we had before the Whip/Nae Nae, Shmoney, Quan, or Milly Rock:

Kid N’ Play – “Gittin’ Funky”

In 1988, Christopher “Kid” Reid and Christopher “Play” Martin released “Gittin’ Funky.” No, this song did not come out during the social media age, but the dance that was created for this song is still iconic. It gave us the funky Charleston, also known as the Kid ‘N Play Kickstep. Even though it came out nearly 30 years ago, people still do the kickstep today.

Terror Squad – “Lean Back”

This song includes one of the best female hip-hop verses of all time, and the video has appearances from Lil Jon, Kevin Hart, and DJ Khaled. In 2004, Terror Squad told us they were too cool to dance, so they would just “pull up their pants” and lean back to the beat.

Dem Franchize Boyz – “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It”

It was a huge year for viral dance in 2006 and to kick off the year, Dem Franchize Boyz showed us a dance that requires leaning, complicated shoulder movements, and a little snapping. To be honest, most people don’t know many of the other lyrics in this song, but as long as we’re leaning and snapping, I’m sure the “boyz” are satisfied.

Unk – “Walk It Out”

After being featured in movies such as Norbit and Stomp The Yard, and the hit TV dance show, America’s Best Dance Crew, Unk had everyone dancing as if their knees were giving out. But most of the time it just looked as though people were doing the funky chicken with their legs.

Huey – “Pop, Lock, and Drop It”

Thank you Huey for being responsible for this generation’s knee problems. I’m not exactly sure why Huey wanted us all to pop and lock, but he must have known that the sudden motion of squatting to the ground wasn’t good for the hinge joints.

Yung Joc – “It’s Goin’ Down”

Joc is the man responsible for introducing us all to the “joc-in”, also known as the motorcycle dance. This song was also featured in the movie Norbit and, luckily, it is a much easier dance to do than some of the others on this list.

Webstar & Young B – “Chicken Noodle Soup”

Nope, it’s not just something you eat, it’s also the name of one of the most popular dance crazes of the mid-2000s. This dance originated in Harlem, and immediately took off. We will forever dance along to this song with all the exaggerated arm shuffling.

Soulja Boy Tellem – “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”

Whether you were 5-years-old or 105-years-old, everyone wanted to watch Soulja Boy “YUUUUUUU” when this song came out in 2007. The song shot to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, was even nominated for a Grammy, and named the 23rd most successful song of the decade in 2009. We may not know exactly what this song is about, but you better believe we all dance along to it.

Cali Swag District – “Teach Me How To Dougie”

The dougie is appropriate for every high school dance, wedding, and sporting event–pretty much any type of gathering you can think of.  The dougie pays tribute to hip-hop icon, Doug E Fresh, who is popular for his beatboxing and his notorious dance, which includes running his hands over his head while dipping and leaning his shoulders.

New Boyz – “You’re A Jerk”

I had the pleasure of watching several people try this dance and fail miserably, on several occasions. Jerking includes intricate foot and leg movements, which often have the tendency to make people stumble. We haven’t heard much from the New Boyz since 2011, but the jerk will forever hold a place in our hearts.

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