It’s time to admit that Juvenile’s “Back That Thang Up” is the greatest song of all time

For years I’ve been ready to die on a hill where Mark Morrison’s polarizing song “Return of the Mack” is the greatest song of all time. It has all the requirements to meet this bill: simplicity, ability to sing for a protracted time, popularity, karaoke, divisiveness, etc. Basically, everyone knows it and loves it or hates it, but regardless of what, they feel something. While my heart is not quite ready to pass the baton to one other song, my head tells me that the real greatest song of all time probably belongs to the New Orleans pop classic Juvenile, “Back That Thang Up”, a song from the classic Juvenile Cash Money release Records “400 Degreez”. The single was released on June 11, 1999, making it 25 years old, which is the perfect time to discuss its place amongst music’s greatest.

(Due to the family-friendly nature of this site, we will likely be using the clean version of the title, “Back That Thang Up,” as opposed to the actual song title, “Back That *CENSORED* Up.

Listen, “Back That Thang Up” has the whole lot you would like to make an awesome song. The song itself, produced by Cash Money Records’ in-house hitmaker Mannie Fresh, is a straight hit. I do not understand how many hip-hop songs start with strings, but this song does, and the effect is great. You can sing to it for a protracted time, you could have to dance to it, people will certainly come to the dance floor and I do not know anyone who doesn’t like this song. I’m sure there are individuals who don’t find it irresistible – music is subjective, of course – but do they really dislike it? Show me a one that doesn’t like “Back That Thang Up” and I’ll show you a one that hates a superb thing. The song even gave us sayings. “Cash Money Records Acquires Recordings from 99 and 2000” is a way of communicating to see if one other person is on the same wavelength. Honestly, people either know when Cash Money Records took over or they do not, and in the event that they don’t, they are not my type of people.

It is also highly utilitarian; you possibly can play this song almost anywhere you would like music to be played. Sure, there is a subset of black people for whom making records isn’t their thing, but at once the song is being played in all sorts of places and events, from clubs to restaurants to sporting events to NPR. What began as a tweet suggesting that Juvenile would perform on NPR’s famous Tiny Desk concert series ended with Juvenile bringing an entire slice of New Orleans to the NPR offices in Washington, D.C., where, of course, he performed “Back That Thang Up” along with his Mannie Fresh side. While we were all excited to see Juvenile here, what we all really wanted to hear was “Back That Thang Up” on the Tiny Desk. The thing is, where there’s music, there’s “Back That Thang Up.”

Entertainment

Let’s discuss its durability for a moment. There are absolutely individuals who listen and love the music who will not be aware of this record. But the thing is, for the last 25 years, literally because it became successful, the record has been a pop music mainstay. You could teach a category on what particularly gave this song such a protracted life. Is this music? Is that a thong? Is it since it’s an ode to the buttocks? Is this the song we all decided would change into a cultural phenomenon? By the way, that’s exactly what happened. All music will outlive its creator, but most music fades from the popular culture zeitgeist so long as the artist lives. Aliens and cockroaches won’t have the option to escape from “Back That Thang Up”. Once upon a time, when all the living have passed away, club DJs, using whatever devices can be found in the future, will still play “Back That Thang Up” together with “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross, “Maze” featuring “Frankie Beverly’ “Before I Let Go” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey. Some songs won’t ever die, but the songs mentioned above will live endlessly. But “Back That Thang Up” is what gets people to take motion the most. It just… resonates. And if it resonates, it’s one of the best.

There is no party without this song. DJs wait for the right moment to play it because it should take the party to the next level. When it appears, everyone moves. This is significant because the mayor of New Orleans announced June 11 as “Hold It (Thang) Up Day.” How many songs you like have a day declared of their honor? (I do not know how common this phenomenon is; the Internet hasn’t been very helpful with this information.) It doesn’t matter, because do you recognize what the song is about? “Pick up this thing.”

Maybe you’re thinking that I’m crazy. Maybe you’re thinking that that a certain sonata is the greatest. You might find it hard to imagine that a song about your butt might be the best, but let’s be honest; is a song dedicated to the human condition, desires and the journey towards love and understanding. “Back That Thang Up” is a song that talks about dancing and twerking as key elements of cultural expression. This is a call to our ancestors. Our ancestors at all times picked up the phone. They also know that Cash Money Records took over the label in the 1999s and 2000s. Sometimes greatness is available in the least expected places, but the history of this tape can’t be denied. “Back That Thang Up” has a case for being the best song of all time.

Once you do that, stop, now what-what-what, throw it prefer it’s hot.

They at all times do it, Wayne, they at all times do it.