My Boo (Ghost Town DJ's song) explained

My Boo
Cover:MyBooGTD.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Ghost Town DJ's
Recorded:1996
Chronology:Ghost Town DJ's

"My Boo" is the only single released by Ghost Town DJ's. It was released on Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label and Columbia. The song, an invitation by a female to a male, blends R&B-style vocals over a bass beat. It was written by Carlton Mahone and Rodney Terry, with lead vocals sung by Virgo Williams. The song peaked at number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on its initial release in 1996. In 2016, the song was re-popularized by the "Running Man Challenge" and re-entered the Hot 100, achieving a new peak of number 27 twenty years after its original release. "My Boo" was also a big hit in New Zealand, where it peaked at number three in October 1996.

Background

Originally, an artist named Akema Johnson-Day was slated to provide lead vocals for the song with Virgo Williams on background vocals, however when a scheduling conflict prevented Akema from taking part in the production, Virgo Williams’ vocals became the lead vocals. Lil Jon was an A&R Director for So So Def at the time. Rodney Terry and Carl Mahone produced it, and it was the second version of the beat currently used in the song.

Music video

The music video features a pool party. The group did not appear in the video, but Jermaine Dupri does.[1]

Chart performance

"My Boo" entered the Billboard charts on the issue dated June 15, 1996 with its number 71 debut on the Hot R&B Airplay chart, with early airplay concentrated at Southern R&B radio stations.[2] Three weeks later, following its commercial release as a vinyl 12-inch single, it entered the Hot R&B Singles and Hot 100 charts at numbers 41 and 65, respectively.[3] [4] On the latter chart, where it was the highest-ranking debut of the week, nearly 85% of the single's chart points were derived from airplay, with its vinyl-only release precluding a larger contribution from sales.[4] Though it was ultimately never released domestically in the more popular cassette and CD configurations,[5] [6] the single managed to peak at numbers 18 and 31 on Hot R&B Singles and the Hot 100, respectively.[7] The song was especially popular at rhythmic radio stations, peaking at number 2 on the Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover chart. Abroad, the song became a major hit in New Zealand, where it rose to number three on the RIANZ Singles Chart and earned a Gold certification for sales in excess of 5,000 copies.

Nearly twenty years after the song's original chart run, a resurgence in its popularity driven by the Running Man Challenge viral meme prompted its re-entry on the charts dated May 21, 2016.[8] [9] On the strength of 35,000 digital download sales and 12.3 million domestic streams, "My Boo" re-entered the R&B chart, which had long since been renamed Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, at number 14, and the Hot 100 at number 29, surpassing the single's initial peaks on both charts.[7] It subsequently peaked at numbers 10 and 27, respectively.

Remixes

In the 2004 song "I Wanna Be Your Lady" from Cam'ron, Nicole Wray, and The Diplomats' second album together on Diplomatic Immunity 2, the song was interpolated. In 2007, the song was interpolated on Pitbull and Lloyd's "Secret Admirer". In 2009, the song was sampled in the So So Def Mix of "H.A.T.E.U." by Mariah Carey. A slowed down witch house remix was released by Balam Acab[10] in 2011. Interpolations of the song are featured in Ciara's 2013 single "Body Party". In 2016, the group released four 20th anniversary mixes of the song.

Cover versions

Running Man Challenge

In 2016, twenty years after its initial release, "My Boo" gained notoriety through the Running Man Challenge, a viral meme in which participants filmed and shared short clips of themselves performing a dance resembling running to the song. The original videos were posted on Vine by high school students Kevin Vincent and Jeremiah Hall in Hillside, New Jersey.[13] Inspired by Vincent and Hall's video, two players from the University of Maryland basketball program, Jared Nickens and Jaylen Brantley,[14] filmed their own versions of the Running Man Challenge, spreading the meme.[15]

The challenge went viral on Vine, and Vincent, Hall, Nickens and Brantley were invited to perform it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[16] Many other athletes from various sports, a number of celebrities and the general public embraced the trend and produced their own takes of the dance.[17] [18]

Track listing

Maxi CD single (US [promo only] & Europe)

  1. "My Boo" (LP Radio Edit) – 4:09
  2. "My Boo" (Quiet Storm Radio Edit) – 4:04
  3. "My Boo" (Hitman's Club Mix) – 7:07
    • Remix by Mike "Hitman" Wilson

12" vinyl (US)

  1. "My Boo" (LP Version) – 5:47
  2. "My Boo" (Just Da Beat Club Mix) – 6:25
  3. "My Boo" (Quiet Storm Mix) – 4:04
    • Remix by Carlton "Carl Mo" Mahone, Jr.*, Jonathan "Lil Jon" Smith
  4. "My Boo" (Hitman's Club Mix) – 7:07
    • Remix by Mike "Hitman" Wilson
  5. "My Boo" (Armand Representing Da East Mix) – 7:23
  6. "My Boo" (A cappella) – 4:27

12" vinyl (Europe)

  1. "My Boo" (LP Radio Edit) – 4:09
  2. "My Boo" (Quiet Storm Radio Edit) – 4:04
    • Remix by Carlton "Carl Mo" Mahone, Jr.*, Jonathan "Lil Jon" Smith
  3. "My Boo" (Hitman's Club Mix) – 7:07
    • Remix by Mike "Hitman" Wilson
  4. "My Boo" (LP Radio Edit) – 4:09
  5. "My Boo" (Quiet Storm Radio Edit) – 4:04
    • Remix by Carlton "Carl Mo" Mahone, Jr.*, Jonathan "Lil Jon" Smith
  6. "My Boo" (Hitman's Club Mix) – 7:07
    • Remix by Mike "Hitman" Wilson

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 10031
US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[19] 13
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)18
US Hot R&B Airplay (Billboard)[20] 8
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[21] 7
US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[22] 16
US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard)[23] 2
Chart (2016)Peak
position
France (SNEP)[24] 157
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[25] 25

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)Position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 88
US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[28] 44
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[29] 60
US Hot R&B Airplay (Billboard)[30] 28
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[31] 22
US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[32] 83
US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard)[33] 8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ballin' Out Podcast: The Ghost Town DJs (and the College Hoopsters Who Brought Them Back to the Hot 100) Talk 'My Boo', 20 Years Later . Weiner . Natalie . . . May 16, 2016 . July 19, 2016.
  2. Sandiford-Waller . Theda . Theda Sandiford-Waller's Rhythm Section . . BPI Communications . June 15, 1996 . May 10, 2016 . 28 . 0006-2510 . 108 . 24.
  3. Hot R&B Singles . . BPI Communications . July 6, 1996 . May 10, 2016 . 22 . 0006-2510 . 108 . 27.
  4. McKenna . Jerry . Hot 100 Singles Spotlight . . BPI Communications . July 6, 1996 . May 10, 2016 . 103 . 0006-2510 . 108 . 27.
  5. Hot R&B Singles . . BPI Communications . December 28, 1996 . May 10, 2016 . 32 . 0006-2510 . 108 . 52.
  6. Hot 100 Singles . . BPI Communications . February 1, 1997 . May 10, 2016 . 78 . 0006-2510 . 109 . 5.
  7. Web site: Ghost Town DJ's' 1996 Hit 'My Boo' Reaches New Hot 100 High Thanks to Viral Dance Video . Mendizabal . Amaya . . . May 11, 2016 . May 13, 2016.
  8. Web site: The Hot 100: The Week of May 21, 2016 . . . May 10, 2016.
  9. Web site: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: The Week of May 21, 2016 . . . May 10, 2016.
  10. Web site: "My Boo (Balam Acab Remix)" - Forkcast Archive - Pitchfork. Pitchfork. 4 August 2011.
  11. Web site: Friends – "My Boo" (Ghost Town DJ's Cover). 2011-09-21. 2016-07-20.
  12. Web site: Flume - My Boo (feat. Vince Staples, Kučka, Ngaiire & Vera Blue) [triple j Like a Version]]. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/miqsQf7ZvCU . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. 2016-12-01.
  13. Web site: The originators of 'The Running Man Challenge' are two awesome high school kids. Sam. Laird. Mashable. 3 May 2016. 1 July 2016.
  14. Web site: Maryland's Jaylen Brantley, Jared Nickens bring Running Man Challenge to 'Ellen DeGeneres Show'. The Washington Post. 1 July 2016.
  15. Web site: How a forgotten '90s dance hit made these Terps Internet famous. The Washington Post. 1 July 2016.
  16. News: Swalec. Andrea. Terps Do 'Running Man Challenge' on 'Ellen' Show. 4 May 2016. NBC4 Washington. 4 May 2016.
  17. News: Steinberg. Dan. How a forgotten '90s dance hit made these Terps Internet famous. Washington Post. 2 May 2016.
  18. Web site: Ducey. Kenny. The Running Man Challenge died too soon. www.si.com. 2 May 2016.
  19. http://www.billboard.com/artist/302803/ghost-town-djs/chart?f=350 "Ghost Town DJ's – Chart history"
  20. http://www.billboard.com/artist/302803/ghost-town-djs/chart?f=364 "Ghost Town DJ's – Chart history"
  21. Web site: Ghost Town DJ's – Awards . . . May 10, 2016.
  22. http://www.billboard.com/artist/302803/ghost-town-djs/chart?f=381 "Ghost Town DJ's – Chart history"
  23. http://www.billboard.com/artist/302803/ghost-town-djs/chart?f=378 "Ghost Town DJ's – Chart history"
  24. Web site: Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 20, 2016). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. May 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160520164228/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-telecharges/?ye=2016&we=20. 2016-05-20. dead.
  25. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. May 16, 2016. May 13, 2016.
  26. Web site: End of Year Charts 1996. Recorded Music NZ. November 19, 2019.
  27. The Year in Music: Hot 100 Singles . . BPI Communications . December 28, 1996 . May 10, 2016 . YE-32 . 0006-2510 . 108 . 52.
  28. The Year in Music: Hot 100 Singles . . BPI Communications . December 28, 1996 . May 10, 2016 . YE-36 . 0006-2510 . 108 . 52.
  29. The Year in Music: R&B . . BPI Communications . December 28, 1996 . May 10, 2016 . YE-40 . 0006-2510 . 108 . 52.
  30. The Year in Music: R&B . . BPI Communications . December 28, 1996 . May 10, 2016 . YE-42 . 0006-2510 . 108 . 52.
  31. The Year in Music: Dance . . BPI Communications . December 28, 1996 . May 10, 2016 . YE-45 . 0006-2510 . 108 . 52.
  32. Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Titles. Airplay Monitor. 4. 53. 30. December 27, 1996. July 8, 2021.
  33. Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles. Airplay Monitor. 4. 53. 32. December 27, 1996. July 8, 2021.
  34. RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Dance Tracks. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 19, 2019.
  35. Web site: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2016. Billboard. January 2, 2020.