Boots on the Ground (song)

Last updated
"Boots on the Ground"
Boots On The Ground Coverart 2024.jpg
Single by 803Fresh
ReleasedDecember 20, 2024 (2024-12-20)
Genre
Length3:24
Label Snake Eyez
Songwriter Douglas Furtick
Producer T Da Wizard

People with fans dancing to "Boots on the Ground" at a Library of Congress program documenting soul line dancing, February 27, 2025 Library hosts R&B and soul line dancing in the Great Hall with Queen Nur, featuring DJs AJ RIvers and Chris Blues, at "Live! At the Library" February 27, 2025 - 13.jpg
People with fans dancing to "Boots on the Ground" at a Library of Congress program documenting soul line dancing, February 27, 2025

"Boots on the Ground", also known as "Boots on the Ground: Where Them Fans At?" is a song written and performed by American singer Douglas Furtick, under the stage name 803Fresh.

Contents

The song is strongly associated with the "Boots on the Ground" soul line dance, with Jaterrious Trésean Little, aka Trè Little of Newnan, Georgia, credited with creating the dance steps. [1] [2] [3] The popularity of the song was enhanced by a TikTok challenge. [4]

The song was released on December 20, 2024 on the Snake Eyez Music Group label written by Douglas Furtick (803 Fresh) and produced by T Da Wizard.

Charts & Participatory Culture

On the week of April 26, 2025, the song went to number 1 on the Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales chart and stayed number 1 for eight weeks. [5] On June 4, the song rose to number 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay Chart. [6]

The official music video, shot at South Carolina State University [7] featuring their Marching 101 band, debuted May 15, 2025 on the Sherri Shepherd Show. As of September 25, 2025, the video amassed over 17 million views. [8] A video of the song posted on the 803Fresh YouTube channel had 12 million views. [9]

Celebrities and public figures filmed performing the dance and/or clips to the viral song include dancers at the Library of Congress, [10] the Atlanta, Georgia, police department, [11] 2024 US presidential candidate and former Vice President Kamala Harris, [12] former US first lady Michelle Obama, [13] Good Morning America news anchor Robin Roberts, [14] singer Beyoncé during the Cowboy Carter Tour in Los Angeles, [15] a tent-raising with the UniverSoul Circus, [16] and R&B singer Fantasia recorded the remix along with a music video. [17] Numerous 2025 high school, college and other graduations ceremonies featured the line dance song. [18] [19] [20] Award shows featured the song including the red carpet broadcast preceding the BET Awards 2025. [21] [22] [23] Several major league basketball events featured 803 Fresh performing "Boots on the Ground" live including appearances at Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals in June of 2025 [24] and at the Kevin Hart Fever Fest preceding the Indiana Fever WNBA All-Star event in July. [25] [26] [27]

Cultural experts and journalists have identified several trends driving the internet dance craze behind the song—a love of community in Southern soul line dance tradition and the desire for connection during summer cookouts. [28] Other contributing factors include resilience in a time of political uncertainty, shared dance culture of fan clacking, and the popularity of the "Boots on the Ground" dance and song as a summer sensation. [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]

Honors and recognitions

On May 6, 2025, Hamilton R. Grant sponsored, along with other members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, a resolution honoring 803Fresh, [36] and proclaiming May 6th "Boots on the Ground Day". [37] [38]

On May 22, 2025, 803Fresh received a Community Service Award from John P. Thomas school in Columbia, South Carolina. [39]

On June 9, 2025, 803Fresh received a Billboard plaque recognizing the Boots on the Ground song achieving #1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart. [40] [41]

One June 19, 2025, a Google Doodle image created for the holiday Juneteenth featured images of fans, of boots on the ground and of people performing a soul line dance. [42]

Charts

Chart performance for "Boots on the Ground"
Chart (2025)Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 ( Billboard ) [43] 10
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [44] 20

See also

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Bonnie Newman (April 8, 2025). "In era of chaos, 'Boots on the Ground' dance brings escape with a beat". BND Institute of Media & Culture. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Newnan choreographer's dance becomes national sensation". 11Alive.com. May 9, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Meet Tre Little, The Creator Behind the Viral Line Dance 'Boots on the Ground'". Gaye Magazine. May 21, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  4. ↑ "803Fresh's 'Where Them Fans At' Challenge Is Blowing Up—Here Are the Wildest Versions Yet". BET. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  5. ↑ "R&B Digital Song Sales". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  6. ↑ Anderson, Trevor (June 4, 2025). "803Fresh's Viral 'Boots on the Ground' Rises to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  7. ↑ University, SC State (May 16, 2025). "SC State's Marching 101 shines in 803Fresh's video". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  8. ↑ 803Fresh (May 15, 2025). 803Fresh - Boots On The Ground (Official Music Video) "Where Them Fans At?" . Retrieved May 18, 2025– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ 803Fresh (April 11, 2025). 803Fresh - Boots On The Ground [Where Them Fans At] (Official Audio) . Retrieved May 18, 2025– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ "Video: Soul line dancing to 'Boots on the Ground' song at the Library of Congress". TikTok. February 28, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Atlanta Police makes 'Boots on the Ground' video to recruit new officers". 11Alive.com. May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Kamala Harris dancing video takes internet by storm". Newsweek. May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  13. ↑ Stahl, Jay. "Michelle Obama dances with Beyoncé's mom Tina Knowles in new video". USA Today. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Celebrating the legacy of soul line dancing". Good Morning America. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  15. ↑ Oatman, Alexis (May 4, 2025). "Beyoncé Joins In On Viral #BootsOnTheGround Challenge". HOT 97. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  16. ↑ Michel, Deeandra (May 5, 2025). "Universoul Circus kicks off opening week in Charlotte with tent raising". WCCB Charlotte's CW. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Summer Starts with Soul: Fantasia Sets the Dell on fire at 2025 Season Opener". ThisisRnB.com - New R&B Music, Artists, Playlists, Lyrics. July 13, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  18. ↑ Carr, Tolly (May 17, 2025). "HBCU Graduation flexes with Boots on the Ground dance". HBCU Gameday. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  19. ↑ "For JCSU valedictorian, graduation is a 'surreal' outcome". www.thecharlottepost.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  20. ↑ "TikTok - Make Your Day". tiktok.com. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  21. ↑ "See All The Performers & Special Guests Ahead Of The 2025 BET Awards". iHeart. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  22. ↑ 803Fresh - “Boots on the Ground” - BET Awards 2025 | BET. June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025– via www.bet.com.
  23. ↑ "Photo: The 25rth Annual BET Awards Held in Los Angeles - LAP2025060951 - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  24. ↑ "SC artist 803Fresh performs 'Boots on the Ground' at Game 1 of the NBA Finals". WIS-TV. June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Fever Fest: The Kid LAROI, G-Eazy and more headline WNBA All-Star Event". WRTV Indianapolis. June 23, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Fever Festival | Indiana Fever Festival". Fever Fest. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Hartbeat announce star-studded music & comedy lineup for WNBA All-Star 2025 in Indianapolis". wthr.com. June 23, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  28. ↑ Cornwell, Cassie (May 23, 2025). "South Carolina local going viral with song 'Boots on the Ground'". Post and Courier. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Black joy and boots: How line dancing is fanning cultural connection". www.cnn.com. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  30. ↑ "'Where Dem Fans At?': Get Ready for the Cookout with Line Dancing". New Pittsburgh Courier. May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  31. ↑ Curry, Walter B. (May 14, 2025). "From Wagener-Salley to the World: The Global Impact of 803 Fresh". LowCountry Panorama. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  32. ↑ Whittaker, Celeste E. "How South Jerseyans showed off soul line dancing on national TV, at Library of Congress". Courier-Post. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  33. ↑ McGhee, Tracy Chiles (June 12, 2025). "The Art of Line Dancing: Sliding Into Joy With 'Boots on the Ground'". Word In Black. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  34. ↑ Turner, Kia (June 20, 2025). "How 'Boots on the Ground' Two-Stepped Onto Everyone's Summer Playlist". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  35. ↑ Dr. Talia Moore (July 7, 2025). The Hidden Message Behind 'Boots on the Ground' Dance: Why Black Culture Uses Rest as Resistance . Retrieved July 13, 2025– via YouTube.
  36. ↑ "2025-2026 Bill 4485: 803 Fresh, entertainer - South Carolina Legislature Online". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  37. ↑ Rigby, Tiffany (May 5, 2025). "SC House of Representatives honors 803 Fresh with resolution recognizing "Boots On The Ground" hit song". ABC Columbia. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  38. ↑ "S.C. artist 803Fresh being honored at State House". WIS TV. May 6, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  39. ↑ Edwards, Kandiss (May 22, 2025). "803 Fresh Has His 'Boots On The Playground'". Black Enterprise. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  40. ↑ Kesler, Alex (June 11, 2025). "803Fresh performs viral 'Boots on the Ground' at BET Awards". WACH. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  41. ↑ 100K views · 3.5K reactions | When Billboard Presented 803Fresh With His Plaque for His #1 Charting Single #BootsOnDaGround 🔥‼️ This Was A Monumental Moment For #SouthernSoulMusic 📷✨🔥... | By Dustin LeGrand Singletary | Facebook . Retrieved June 12, 2025– via www.facebook.com.
  42. ↑ "Juneteenth 2025 Doodle - Google Doodles". doodles.google. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of May 31, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of May 31, 2025". Billboard . Retrieved May 29, 2025.
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