The Humpty Dance
Encyclopedia
"The Humpty Dance" is a 1990 hip hop song by Digital Underground
, which was featured on their debut album Sex Packets
. The single climbed all the way to #11 on the pop charts, #7 on the R&B charts, and #1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart. The single is sung by Shock G
's alter ego
, "Humpty Hump", marking the character's second musical appearance; the first being Digital Underground's "Doowutchyalike," a pre-album video-single released in the spring of 1989. The Humpty Dance features a hypnotically-pulsating bassline and a particularly potent drumtrack that has been sampled by many different artists and producers. (see list below) In the song's video, a young Tupac Shakur
is visible in the background.
In 2008, "The Humpty Dance" was ranked number 30 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop and number 65 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s in 2007. The song was selected as one of many songs to hear and download in the musical reference book, 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die: And 10,001 You Must Download. The song was nominated for Best Rap Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards
, but lost to "U Can't Touch This
" by MC Hammer
. Canadian television channel MuchMoreMusic
's series Back In...
rated the song's video as one of the worst of 1990.
" by Sly & The Family Stone
, in the form of a one-measure-long drum loop. Digital underground incorporated the Family Stone drum loop with four other raw elements; a deep tonal kick drum that alternated between two bass notes, a handclap snare (also a sample, taken from "Theme From the Black Hole" by Parliament
), drum-machine hi-hats running continuously throughout which were programmed to 8th-notes, and a guitar hit happening once every bar, all assembled into the now-familiar pattern that forms the Humpty Dance drum track. The vocal sample that happens in the song's chorus sections is from Parliament's "Let's Play House" from their 1980 album, Trombipulation
.
, is sung by Shock G using a nasally voice. A fictional biography was constructed for Humpty, the story being that Edward Ellington Humphrey III, former lead singer of "Smooth Eddie and the Humpers," had become a rapper after burning his nose in a kitchen accident with a deep-fryer. Because of the "accident", the character is seen wearing a large nose disguise.
, where it was included in a dance routine performed by Super Cr3w
. The song was also featured in the 2000 film Charlie's Angels
. The song is also available for play in the 2004 karaoke video game Get On Da Mic
for Playstation 2
. It was sampled by Justin Timberlake
, Jimmy Fallon
on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
and by the Spice Girls
on their debut album "Spice
" as the track "If U Can't Dance". A performance of the song was featured in the movie "Nothing But Trouble"
The song was also featured in films The Wood
and The Green Hornet (2011 film)
.
humorously devoted the song "The Humpty Dance Awards" from their album The Body-Hat Syndrome
to the many recording artists who sampled the track. Since then, dozens more artists have jumped on the bandwagon, from Ice Cube to Public Enemy.
NOTE: Songs that didn't directly sample "The Humpty Dance" are not included in this list.
Humpty Dance copyright references:
http://www.faqs.org/copyright/i-made-love-4-da-very-first-time-musical-composition/
Digital Underground
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
, which was featured on their debut album Sex Packets
Sex Packets
- LP :-Cassette:The cassette version of the album has 3 extra tracks, plus an extended version of "Gutfest '89"...
. The single climbed all the way to #11 on the pop charts, #7 on the R&B charts, and #1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart. The single is sung by Shock G
Shock G
Gregory E. Jacobs , known by the stage names Shock G and Humpty Hump, is an American musician and rapper, known as the lead vocalist for the hip hop group Digital Underground...
's alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
, "Humpty Hump", marking the character's second musical appearance; the first being Digital Underground's "Doowutchyalike," a pre-album video-single released in the spring of 1989. The Humpty Dance features a hypnotically-pulsating bassline and a particularly potent drumtrack that has been sampled by many different artists and producers. (see list below) In the song's video, a young Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
is visible in the background.
In 2008, "The Humpty Dance" was ranked number 30 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop and number 65 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s in 2007. The song was selected as one of many songs to hear and download in the musical reference book, 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die: And 10,001 You Must Download. The song was nominated for Best Rap Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards
1990 MTV Video Music Awards
The 1990 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on September 6, 1990, honoring the best music videos from June 2, 1989, to June 1, 1990. The show was hosted by Arsenio Hall at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles....
, but lost to "U Can't Touch This
U Can't Touch This
"U Can't Touch This" is MC Hammer's 1990 super hit signature song, from his album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em. The album sold more than 10 million copies, due primarily to this single, and gaining multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA, and other Recording Industries.Rick James sued Hammer...
" by MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
. Canadian television channel MuchMoreMusic
MuchMoreMusic
MuchMore is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media, based at 299 Queen Street West in Toronto, Ontario....
's series Back In...
Back In...
Back In... was a retrospective documentary series currently broadcasting on the Canadian music video channel MuchMoreMusic. The series also airs on Star! and some Citytv stations. 20 episodes have been broadcast, each profiled by a different year, going from 1980 to 1999. Each episode's title would...
rated the song's video as one of the worst of 1990.
Composition
Of the five raw elements that make up the Humpty Dance drum track, one is a sample from "Sing a Simple SongSing a Simple Song
"Sing a Simple Song" is a 1968 song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, the b-side to their #1 hit "Everyday People". The song's lyrics, sung in turn by Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Rose Stone, and Larry Graham, with spoken word sections by Cynthia Robinson, offer a simple solution for...
" by Sly & The Family Stone
Sly & the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
, in the form of a one-measure-long drum loop. Digital underground incorporated the Family Stone drum loop with four other raw elements; a deep tonal kick drum that alternated between two bass notes, a handclap snare (also a sample, taken from "Theme From the Black Hole" by Parliament
Parliament (band)
Parliament was a funk band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
), drum-machine hi-hats running continuously throughout which were programmed to 8th-notes, and a guitar hit happening once every bar, all assembled into the now-familiar pattern that forms the Humpty Dance drum track. The vocal sample that happens in the song's chorus sections is from Parliament's "Let's Play House" from their 1980 album, Trombipulation
Trombipulation
Trombipulation is a 1980 album by the funk band Parliament . It was released by Casablanca Records. It was the last album of original material produced by the group. Unlike previous Parliament albums, George Clinton did not serve as sole producer of the album, as other P-Funk figures assisted in...
.
Synopsis
The Humpty Dance is a tribute to Humpty's sexual prowess despite his ridiculous appearance. Humpty introduces the appearance theme with the opening line, "I'm about to ruin the image and the style that you're used to," a protest against the uniformity among successful rappers of the time.Humpty Hump
"The Humpty Dance" is Shock G's second song to feature his alter ego, "Humpty Hump" who first debuted on "Doowutchyalike" which was Digital Underground's first video release in 1989. The character, which sports a buffoon persona, colorful clothes, and Groucho glassesGroucho glasses
Groucho glasses, often called funny glasses or beaglepuss, are a novelty disguise that caricature Groucho Marx. Typically consisting of black horn-rimmed glasses with attached eyebrows, large plastic nose, and bushy moustache, Groucho glasses were marketed as early as the 1940s. Groucho glasses...
, is sung by Shock G using a nasally voice. A fictional biography was constructed for Humpty, the story being that Edward Ellington Humphrey III, former lead singer of "Smooth Eddie and the Humpers," had become a rapper after burning his nose in a kitchen accident with a deep-fryer. Because of the "accident", the character is seen wearing a large nose disguise.
In popular culture
The song was featured in the VH1 series I Love the 90's, and also on the MTV show America's Best Dance CrewAmerica's Best Dance Crew
America's Best Dance Crew, often abbreviated as ABDC, is an American competitive dance reality television series that features street dance crews from the United States and around the world. It is produced by American Idol judge Randy Jackson and airs on MTV...
, where it was included in a dance routine performed by Super Cr3w
Super Cr3w
Super Cr3w is a breakdance crew from Las Vegas, Nevada who won the 2nd season of America's Best Dance Crew.-Early history:Before their popularity on ABDC, Super Cr3w was formed from three different b-boy dance crews and formed a "Super Crew" of their own.-Connection with...
. The song was also featured in the 2000 film Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels (film)
Charlie's Angels is a 2000 American action comedy film directed by McG, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as three women working for a private investigation agency...
. The song is also available for play in the 2004 karaoke video game Get On Da Mic
Get On Da Mic
Get On Da Mic is a video game for the PlayStation 2 published by Eidos and co-developed by A2M and Highway 1 Productions. Unlike the many other singing games available for the PlayStation 2, this game focuses exclusively on Hip-Hop songs....
for Playstation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
. It was sampled by Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
and by the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
on their debut album "Spice
Spice
A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavour a dish or to hide other flavours...
" as the track "If U Can't Dance". A performance of the song was featured in the movie "Nothing But Trouble"
The song was also featured in films The Wood
The Wood
The Wood is a 1999 romantic comedy, written by Rick Famuyiwa and Todd Boyd. Famuyiwa also directed the film, which stars Omar Epps, Richard T. Jones, and Taye Diggs.-Plot:...
and The Green Hornet (2011 film)
The Green Hornet
The Green Hornet is an American radio and television masked vigilante created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell, in 1936. Since his radio debut in the 1930s, the Green Hornet has appeared in numerous serialized dramas in a wide variety of media...
.
Charts
| End of year chart (1990) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 11 |
| US Rap Chart Hot Rap Songs Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
1 |
"The Humpty Dance" as a source of samples
The Humpty Dance is one of the most sampled songs recorded by a hip hop/rap artist, boasting over 40 usages in other songs. By 1993, less than three years after its release, it had already been sampled in over 20 popular songs, most of them utilizing its drum track. In fact, it was sampled so much that Digital UndergroundDigital Underground
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
humorously devoted the song "The Humpty Dance Awards" from their album The Body-Hat Syndrome
The Body-Hat Syndrome
The Body-Hat Syndrome is the fourth album from rap group Digital Underground, on which they continued to cultivate their own brand of P-Funk culture, stuffing what had been their first year of silence with a fresh batch of funk-infused rap...
to the many recording artists who sampled the track. Since then, dozens more artists have jumped on the bandwagon, from Ice Cube to Public Enemy.
NOTE: Songs that didn't directly sample "The Humpty Dance" are not included in this list.
Songs That Sampled The Humpty Dance
title, artist, (description of use)- A Crazy Break, WC & the Maad Circle (full drum loop)
- Back to the Underground, WC & the Maad Circle (vocal + snare & kicks used in drum track)
- Behind Closed Doors, WC & the Maad Circle (raw instrumental used as their drum track)
- Blow Your Mind, Redman (drum loop)
- Buck tha Devil, Da Lench Mob (full drum loop)
- Bumbell, Yukmouth feat Tech N9ne (bassline)
- Can't Truss it, Public Enemy (full drum loop)
- Cherish the Day, (Best of Sade version), Sade (raw instrumental used as drum track for last 30 secs of her song)
- City to City, Straw tha Vegas Don feat Shock G (raw instrumental scratched in first verse)
- "Cotex", BWP (full drum loop; looped in reverse)
- D.O.G. Me Out, Guy (piece of loop, muted, as kick drum support)
- Don't Be Afraid, Aaron Hall (full drum loop)
- Dr. Trevis, Redman (bit of drum loop underneath)
- Dr. Trevis (Signs Off), Redman (bit of drum loop underneath
- Flip Squad's in da House, Big Kap, Flip Squad, Funkmaster Flex (full drum loop + bassline)
- Here We Go Again, Portrait (raw instrumental as their drum track)
- Hold Onto My Bumper, Dice (full drum loop)
- How I'm Comin, LL Cool J (full drum loop)
- How Ya Gonna Reason With a Psycho, Insane Poetry (full drum loop)
- I Made Love (4 Da Very First Time), Little Shawn (drum track doubled up)
- If U Can't Dance, Spice Girls (drum loop + bassline)
- Imma Gitz Mine, Erick Sermon (chopped & muted drum bit underneath; kick drum support)
- Is It Good to You, Heavy-D & the Boys (full drum loop)
- Jackin' For Beats, Ice Cube (raw instrumental)
- Live and Learn, Joe Public (full drum loop)
- Lost in the Storm, Chubb Rock (raw intrumental used as their drum track)
- Love Don't Make Sense, Alexander O'Neil (full drum loop)
- Mama Said Knock You Out, LL Cool J (full drum loop)
- Not Your Money, Oaktowns 357 (full drum loop)
- PlayGround, ABC (full loop, muted, used for kick drum support)
- Really Doe, Ice Cube (bit of drum track underneath)
- SMPTE, The Boys (full drum loop)
- Stop What Ya Doin, Apathy (Opening line)
- Teddys Jam, Guy (full loop)
- The Break Up, WC & the Maad Circle (full drum loop)
- The Humpty Dance Awards, digital underground (full drum loop + bassline)
- The Money is Made, Detroits most Wanted (full drum loop)
- Time 4 Sum Aksion, Redman (drum track chopped underneath; kick drum support)
- Two 4 the Time, Nubian Crackers (raw instrumental as their drum track)
- Walk Thru Hell, K-Stone (raw full instrumental)
- Who's the Mack? Ice Cube (vocal sample)
- Wild Wild West, Will Smith (bassline)
- You Gotta Believe, Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch (full drum loop)
Humpty Dance copyright references:
http://www.faqs.org/copyright/i-made-love-4-da-very-first-time-musical-composition/