The Humpty Dance

Last updated
"The Humpty Dance"
Humptydancesingle.jpg
Single by Digital Underground
from the album Sex Packets
ReleasedJanuary 20, 1990 (1990-01-20) [1]
Recorded1989
Studio Starlight Sound (Richmond, California)
Genre
Length
  • 6:30 (original version)
  • 4:42 (radio edit)
Label Tommy Boy
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Shock G
Digital Underground singles chronology
"Doowutchyalike"
(1989)
"The Humpty Dance"
(1990)
"Same Song"
(1991)

"The Humpty Dance" is a song by the American hip-hop group Digital Underground from their debut album Sex Packets . Released as the second single from the album in January 1990, it reached No. 11 on the pop chart, No. 7 on the R&B chart, and No. 1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart. The song is sung by Shock G's alter ego, "Humpty Hump", marking the character's second musical appearance; the first was Digital Underground's "Doowutchyalike," a pre-album video-single released in the spring of 1989. The song has been sampled by many different artists and producers.

Contents

In 2008, "The Humpty Dance" was ranked No. 30 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop and No. 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 (ironically, Hammer is name-checked in "The Humpty Dance"). Canadian television channel MuchMoreMusic's series Back In... rated the song's video as one of the worst of 1990.

In 2021, it was listed at No. 241 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time." [3]

Composition

Of the five raw elements that make up the "Humpty Dance" drum track, one is a sample from "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly and 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 the band 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 . [4]

Subject matter

"The Humpty Dance" is a tribute to Humpty's sexual prowess despite his ridiculous appearance. [5] 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. [6]

In the final verse, Humpty describes the Humpty Dance itself as a loose, easy dance, "like MC Hammer on crack ... Anyone can play this game." The contrast is with the precision dancing in MC Hammer's videos. The song ends with an invitation for people of all races to join in the dance. [7]

Humpty Hump

"The Humpty Dance" is Shock G's second song to feature his alter-ego "Humpty Hump," who debuted on "Doowutchyalike" which was Digital Underground's first video release in 1989. The character, which sports a buffoon persona, colorful clothes, and Groucho glasses, is sung by Shock G. 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. [8]

The song was featured in the VH1 series I Love the '90s , and also on America's Best Dance Crew , where it was included in a dance routine performed by Super Cr3w. The song was also featured in Charlie's Angels . "Weird Al" Yankovic covered the song for the polka medley "Polka Your Eyes Out" from his 1992 album Off the Deep End . 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". [9] The song was also featured in the 2021 film Free Guy . The song was parodied in the 2005 animated television series Avatar: The Last Airbender ; Season 2, Episode 15, 'The Tale of Sokka' vignette.

In 1990, the song was used in the Season Three episode of the TV series Midnight Caller entitled "Sale Away: Part 2".

Sampling "The Humpty Dance"

"The Humpty Dance" is one of the most sampled songs recorded by a hip hop/rap artist, boasting over 100 usages in other songs. [10] 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 Underground humorously devoted the song "The Humpty Dance Awards" from their album The Body-Hat Syndrome to the many recording artists who sampled the track. [11] Since then, dozens more artists have sampled the Humpty Dance song, from Ice Cube to Public Enemy.

Printed References: [12]

Posted References: [13]

Audio References: [11]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [17] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital Underground</span> American alternative hip hop group

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shock G</span> American rapper (1963–2021)

Gregory Edward Jacobs, known professionally as Shock G and by his alter ego Humpty Hump, was an American rapper and musician who was best known as the lead vocalist of the hip hop group Digital Underground. He was responsible for Digital Underground's "The Humpty Dance", 2Pac's breakthrough single "I Get Around", and co-producer of 2Pac's debut album 2Pacalypse Now.

<i>Please Hammer Dont Hurt Em</i> 1990 studio album by MC Hammer

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<i>Trombipulation</i> 1980 studio album by Parliament

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Get Around (Tupac Shakur song)</span> 1993 single by 2Pac featuring Digital Underground

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<i>Sons of the P</i> 1991 studio album by Digital Underground

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<i>The Body-Hat Syndrome</i> 1993 studio album by Digital Underground

The Body-Hat Syndrome is the third full-length studio album by American hip hop Digital Underground. It was released on October 5, 1993 via Tommy Boy Records. Production was handled by Digital Underground inner production team, the D-Flow Production Squad. The album peaked at number 79 on the Billboard 200 and number 16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.

<i>Sex Packets</i> 1990 studio album by Digital Underground

Sex Packets is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Digital Underground, released on March 20, 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Got 5 on It</span> 1995 single by Luniz featuring Michael Marshall

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<i>This Is an EP Release</i> 1991 EP by Digital Underground

This Is an EP Release is the first extended play by American hip hop group Digital Underground. It was released on January 15, 1991 through TNT Recordings and Tommy Boy Records. Production was handled by Digital Underground themselves. The EP peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It was certified gold on March 18, 1991 by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 500,000 units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC Hammer discography</span>

The discography of American rapper MC Hammer includes the hit records "U Can't Touch This", "Pray" and "2 Legit 2 Quit". Hammer is known for his flashy dance movements, choreography and Hammer pants. His superstar-status and entertaining showmanship made him a household name and hip hop icon. Hammer has sold more than 50 million records worldwide, breaking down numerous doors for rap music and demonstrating that hip-hop had the potential for blockbuster success. A multi-award winner, M.C. Hammer is considered a "forefather/pioneer" and innovator of pop rap, and is the first hip hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bust a Move (song)</span> 1989 single by Young MC

"Bust a Move" is a song by British-American rapper Young MC from his 1989 debut album, Stone Cold Rhymin'. The song is built on a sample of "Found a Child" by the group Ballin' Jack. The drums, produced by a LinnDrum, are sampled from the song "Radio-Activity" by RoyalCash. The breakdown segment contains a combination of beats sampled from the songs "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band, and "Daytime Hustler" by Bette Midler. "Bust a Move" also featured guest vocals by Crystal Blake and bass guitar by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who both appear in the music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doowutchyalike</span> 1989 single by Digital Underground

"Doowutchyalike" is a song performed by American hip hop collective Digital Underground, written and produced by its frontman Shock G. It was released in 1989 through TNT/Tommy Boy Records as the lead single from the group's debut studio album Sex Packets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss You Back</span> 1991 single by Digital Underground

"Kiss You Back" is a song written by Shock G, Money-B, George Clinton Jr. and Philippé Wynne, and performed by American hip hop group Digital Underground. It was released on October 15, 1991 through Tommy Boy Records as the lead single from the group's second full-length studio album Sons of the P. Produced and mixed by D.U. in-house production team credited as The Underground Production Squad, it contains a sample from Funkadelic's song "(Not Just) Knee Deep".

<i>Live from the Styleetron</i> 1991 studio album by Raw Fusion

Live from the Styleetron is the debut studio album by Oakland-based hip hop group Raw Fusion. Digital Underground member Ron Brooks, known as Money-B, produced the album with fellow DU member David Elliot, known as DJ FUZE. Tupac Shakur was one of the many DU affiliates to appear on the album. Live from the Styleetron peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. Raw Fusion promoted the album by opening for DU on a North American tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Same Song</span> 1991 single by Digital Underground

"Same Song" is a song by American rap group Digital Underground—featuring American rapper Tupac Shakur in his recording debut—from the soundtrack for the movie, Nothing But Trouble. The song is included on their EP album, This Is an EP Release, as well as on the Tupac: Resurrection soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here Comes the Hammer</span> 1990 single by MC Hammer

"Here Comes the Hammer" is a song written and performed by American rapper MC Hammer, first released on his third album, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990). It was also released as a single, which reached number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award. At the time of its release, the music video accompanying the release of the single was one of the most expensive ever.

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