Not too long ago the Macarena came up in a recent post and the subject of dance fads brought along the Soulja Boy Dance craze that’s been sweeping the world lately. I didn’t know it was as popular as it is until I saw a ten minute segment on a BBC show about it the other day, which involved a man, who probably is a bit more mature than Soulja Boy’s target audience, doing the dance in a Flashdance type outfit. It was special. Anyway, it got me thinking about all the Hip Hop hits that came out lately that had some sort of dance especially designed for it.

Fear of looking like MC Hammer, or worse, a teeny bopper and consequently losing their hood membership card, made the head-nod and the C-Walk the only approved moves among serious rap artists of the early and mid-nineties. Hip Hop purists, who look back fondly at that time when ‘Hip Hop had something to say’, are less than amused with the new wave of fun, flighty rap songs who encourage all the zany dancing. Especially, Hip Hop from the South of the US has been accused of “killing” the industry with the introduction of Crunk and Snap. Their songs are said to be low in quality and lyrical content, but why can’t there be a serious, deep side as well as a simple, booty shaking side to Hip Hop and everything in between? Such a versatile medium surely can contain the full spectrum of entertainment? I like that many recent artists just want to see their audience dance to their music. It’s part of a grand tradition of songs that set off dance crazes. The Twist, the Jerk, the Mashed Potato were all great songs with great dances and I’m glad that our generation will have some dances to look back on as well to mark the time other than that darn Macarena.

I’m gonna try to list most of the biggest songs that sparked dance crazes from the last three years. Most of these dances are mixed and matched, and combined with the dancer’s own personal styles. Now, I’m sure I’ll miss a lot of the dances around but I’m no dance expert so don’t take it personally if I don’t mention your favorite song or dance. Alright, here they are with either a link to the video or an mp3:

   Huey – Pop, Lock & Drop It (video)

I suspect that Pop, Lock & Drop It from the summer of 2006 like “Laffy Taffy” and “Salt Shaker”, is just another way to have girls shake their stuff, but cleverly disguised as a fun dance move. The dance is not that complicated, but it is hard on the thighs.

   DJ Webstar & Young B – Chicken Noodle Soup

The Chicken Noodle Soup dance, originally from Harlem, inspired this song and it became last year’s summer hit. It sounds a bit like a cross between The Buckwheat Boyz’ “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” and anything by Fatman Scoop, but both the song and the frantic dance are soso catchy.

   Terror Squad ft. Fat Joe & Remy Ma – Lean Back (video)

Released in the summer of 2004 “Lean Back” fast became HUGE, and one of the few moves here that everybody can do, all you gotta do is lean back and rock away with some attitude.

   Jason Foxx & The Hood Presidents – Aunt Jackie

A hit from earlier this year and my absolute FAVORITE song and dance in this list. It has an old skool flow, it’s funky and contagious and it makes me yearn for those days when I was little and we used to have block parties just for us kids in the summer in my neighborhood. Growing up sucks.

   Dem Franchize Boys – Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It

This group from Atlanta popularized The Snap Dance. I’m not sure this song counts as a dance fad song, since the Snap Dance came first, but it fast became so popular when the song first came out in 2005 that the move is now also known as the Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It.

   Lil’ Mama – G-Slide (Tour Bus) (video)

I loved the strong beats of Lil’ Mama’s poppy, high school themed hit “Lipgloss” from this summer, which also had a dance of the same name, but “G-Slide” actually calls on the people to do the dance. A beat is set to the children’s nursery rhyme “The Wheels On The Bus” and in a cute, fashion Lil’ Mama tells us how to do The G-Slide.

   Crime Mob ft. Little Scrappy – Rock Yo Hips (video)

This song has the familiar booty glorifying lyrics, but it has a really cute dance for the ladies and those brave men in touch with their feminine side.

   Unk – Walk It Out

Yet another Atlanta native who came out with a catchy song and dance at the end of the summer of 2006. The basics of the Walk It Out steps are fairly simple, but once people add their personal touches it can become a pretty spectacular dance.

   Cupid – Cupid Shuffle (video)

The Cupid Shuffle came out at the start of this year and actually looks a lot like the Electric Slide when danced with a bunch of people. It’s pretty easy to follow, just let your feet do what the lyrics tell you and you’re there.

   Down aka Kilo – Lean Like A Cholo (video)

Leaning like a cholo looks an awful lot like leaning back and doing the rockaway, except with your elbows out. But far be it for me to criticize a cholo, so lookin’ good and keep on leaning!

   Young Dro – Shoulder Lean (video)

Yet another way to look cool while leaning and swaying.

   3rd FLO aka Heizman Boiz – Do The Heizman (video)

The Heizman uses an American football move and is named after John Heisman, a famous American college football player and coach who also lends his name to a trophy that looks like a little bronze guy doing that move. This dance should be used when the person you’re hitting on has a bad case of halitosis if you go by the lyrics. I couldn’t find out a whole lot more about 3rd Flo, but I did learn that they’ve been signed to J Million Records and are working on their debut album.

   Luch Millions – Bunny Hop

I’m almost scared to talk about Da Bunny Hop, not to be confused with the wedding dance from the fifties by the way. People seem to be very territorial when it comes to the origin of dances. Anyway, I hope I got this right, this dance originated in New Orleans, but other cities including Atlanta have put their own twist on the move as well. Luch Millions’ “Bunny Hop” is the more popular song, but it should be noted that Da Entourage from Louisiana also recorded a song with the same name. Luch Millions’ version uses the Oompa Loompa melody, which sounds weird but it works as a dance song. Though this is a big local hit the man hasn’t been signed yet, but I’m sure that’s only a matter of time.

   Soulja Boy – Crank Dat

And finally the song that started me thinking about this post. Since its release in April this year, it’s been taking over the globe and it has the potential to become as cemented in popular culture as the term Bling, to the point where your great-aunt Esther knows how to ’superman that ho’. Yuch. That’s not gonna be a pretty image, but in the meantime enjoy it. And all you party poopers out there stop your moaning and get dancing. Hip Hop isn’t dead, it’s too busy having fun to care about dying.