Pop, Lock & Drop It Explained

Pop, Lock & Drop It
Cover:HueyPL&D.JPG
Type:single
Artist:Huey
Album:Notebook Paper
B-Side:"Nobody Loves the Hood" (featuring Trey Songz)
Released:September 19, 2006
Recorded:2006
Genre:Crunk
Length:4:21
Label:
Producer:D. Smith, C. Miller [1]

"Pop, Lock & Drop It" is the only single by rapper Huey, released on September 19, 2006, from his debut album Notebook Paper. In early March 2007, "Pop, Lock, & Drop It" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 98, then later peaked at number six, becoming his first and only hit.[2]

The song was a success on the 106 & Park countdown. Although it did not peak at number one, it stayed on the countdown for 51+ days. On March 8, 2007, rapper Bow Wow announced that he would be featured on the remix of the single, along with R&B singer T-Pain. The remix began receiving airplay in May of the same year. Another remix features Romeo.

Although "Pop, Lock & Drop It" is a song about a dance move, it is debated whether it refers to the process of firing a handgun. In physics, the 6th, 7th, and 8th derivatives of position are facetiously named pop, lock, and drop respectively. This video was featured on MTV Jams in mid-February 2007.

Background

Huey's older brother referred him to producer Angela Richardson, who was creating a rap group. Huey's songs "Oh" and "Pop, Lock & Drop It" became local favorites among DJs and promoters. He was featured on a series of mixtapes, one of which, Unsigned Hype, sold out of its run of 8,000 copies and was noticed by producer TJ Chapman, who introduced the rapper to Vice President of A&R at Jive Records, Mickey "MeMpHiTz" Wright, in 2006.[3] "Pop, Lock & Drop It", a heavy club track, was further popularised by its signature squatting dance move.[4]

Critical reception

In 2017, Danny Schwartz of HotNewHipHop named the song one the biggest one-hit wonders of 2006, describing it as "a horny, high-octane crunk slapper that begins with a foreboding moment of musical uncertainty before plowing ahead with Huey's raunchy chants an irresistible call to hit the dance floor".[5]

Commercial performance

"Pop, Lock & Drop It" peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2007, charting for 23 weeks. The track climbed to number two on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, where it stayed for over six months (27 weeks).[6]

Formats and track listing

US CD (promo)[7]
  1. "Pop, Lock & Drop It" (main version) – 4:23
  2. "Pop, Lock & Drop It" (instrumental) – 4:17
US CD remix (promo)[8]
  1. "Pop, Lock & Drop It" (remix) (main version) (featuring Bow Wow and T-Pain) – 4:30
  2. "Pop, Lock & Drop It" (remix) (instrumental) – 4:30
  3. "Pop, Lock & Drop It (remix) (acappella) (featuring Bow Wow and T-Pain) – 4:30
US digital download[9]
  1. "Pop, Lock & Drop It" – 4:23
US digital download (remix)[10]
  1. "Pop, Lock & Drop It" (featuring Bow Wow and T-Pain) – 4:30

Charts and certifications

Year-end charts

Chart (2007)Position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 50
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 34
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] 35
US Rap Songs (Billboard)[15] 12
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[16] 22

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Huey, the Rapper Behind 'Pop, Lock & Drop It,' Killed in St. Louis Shooting . NPR . 26 June 2020 . Limbong . Andrew .
  2. Katie Hasty, "Mims Puts The 'Hot' In The Hot 100 At No. 1", Billboard.com, March 1, 2007.
  3. Web site: Wilson. MacKenzie. Huey Biography. allmusic. December 17, 2010.
  4. Web site: US rapper Huey, known for hit Pop, Lock & Drop It, killed in shooting aged 32. The Guardian. Beaumont-Thomas. Ben. June 26, 2020. June 26, 2020.
  5. Web site: 6 One-Hit Wonders From 2006. HotNewHipHop. Schwartz. Danny. June 25, 2017. June 26, 2020.
  6. Web site: Huey Shot And Killed At 32: Report. XXL. Woods. Aleia. June 26, 2020. June 26, 2020.
  7. Web site: Huey - Pop, Lock & Drop It (CD). discogs. June 23, 2015.
  8. Web site: Huey Featuring Bow Wow and T-Pain - Pop, Lock & Drop It (Remix) (CD). discogs. June 23, 2015.
  9. Web site: Pop, Lock & Drop It - Single by Huey. iTunes (US). Apple. June 23, 2015.
  10. Web site: Pop, Lock & Drop It (Remix Version) - Single by Huey Featuring Bow Wow & T-Pain. iTunes (US). Apple. June 23, 2015.
  11. Web site: Notebook Paper - Huey | Awards. AllMusic. All Media Network. June 23, 2015.
  12. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 2007 . . May 19, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150511184208/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=2088 . May 11, 2015 .
  13. 2007 Year End Charts: Hot 100 Songs. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 23, 2015.
  14. 2007 Year End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 23, 2015.
  15. 2007 Year End Charts: Rap Songs. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 23, 2015.
  16. Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2007. Billboard. December 1, 2019.