The youthful music of today has much to teach us. For example, take the hit song “Low” by rapper Flo-Rida. The full title is “Low” by Flo-Rida (feat. T-Pain). You know, when I was a kid, a guest musician would just play on a track without getting some big deal credit--like Sting singing backup on “Money For Nothing” or something. But nowadays, everything is “feat” this and “feat” that. If the Dire Straits were recording in the present day, it would have been “Money for Nothing” (feat. Sting).
This gives me an excellent idea. From now on, I am demanding credit on projects that I help put together. For example, if my colleague Chad needs my assistance to develop a marketing research report, the title of the presentation will be “Proposed Vertical Expansion Plan for 2008” by Chad (feat. G Ho).
Flo-Rida has many other things to teach as well. For example, apparently you don’t need a real name to become a rapper; you just take a state name and split it in two. I presume his followup single will feat. Connecti-Cut on the mike with Ore-Gon dropping them beats, y0. But none of that Arkan-Sas crap--homie don’t hang with flyovers.
Hey, don’t look so grumpy, Flo-Rida! This is all in fun. Say, have you been working out? Now let’s look at the fine lyrics of your musical creation, “Low”:
She had them Apple Bottom Jeans
Boots with the fur [With the fur]
I like the sound of this last bit. “With the fur” is a pleasing way to indicate that something is going well, or proceeding in a positive fashion. “With the fur,” my friends!
The whole club lookin at her
She hit the floor [She hit the floor]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low
Wait...shawty? What does that mean? Let’s consult the Urban Dictionary:
Shawty: A term orginating in Atlanta that, in the beginning, referred to a short person or child, but the span of the word has grown to include any and all people, especially a girl that is attractive.
But if you’re in Florida, why are you using terms from Atlanta? And if she’s short, doesn’t that mean she’s already low, at least to the ground? This song makes no sense.
Moving on:
Them baggy sweat pants
And the Reeboks with the straps [With the straps]
She turned around and gave that big booty a smack [Ayy]
Wait, which booty? Hers? Or was someone else standing around and she smacked their booty? Is this a song about “shawty” getting locked up for assault?
She hit the floor [She hit the floor]
Next thing you know
Shawty got low low low low low low low low
So she hit the booty and then she hit the floor. That’s a lot of hitting. This is a very violent song. I am not sure I approve of “shawty” as a role model for today’s youth.
In conclusion, we can see that music has become very strange, and some of it isn’t very good, but there’s other parts of it that I like quite a bit. And frankly, isn’t it nicer to focus on the positive aspects than the negative? With the fur!
If everything were written that way, that would be so hilarious. All that surrounds us that needs citation would look so hiphop.
i had to come out of lurkdom to give you ‘big ups’ for this post. With the fur!!!!
Are you sure that G Ho is the image you want to project? Perhaps G All-American guy next door would be better.
My sister, in her younger days, thought feat. was an actual band. Which then led her to assume that they must have been good because, damn, they were all over the place! ha.
And really, aren’t all of those extra lows gratuitous? I would think that one could only get SO low. I would limit it to low, low, low. Anything lower than that can’t possibly be measured with any degree of reliability, especially with all of the booty smacking going on. [Ayy]
I’m embarrassed to admit that my seven-year-old daughter loves this song and I do too.
This is all very intriguing. First, I envy you - ENVY YOU - the G.Ho sobriquet. My “D.Pa” is just not cutting the mustard in the hood. However, you’re going to have to compete with the “Grad Hospital” district of Philadelphia for rights to the name - “G.Ho” is Philadelphia’s new Williamsburg. http://theilladelph.blogspot.com/2006/06/g-ho-repped-by-inquirer-now-officially.html
I now have to review all my Little Feat albums to figure out who was actually playing on them. That Fat Man In The Bathtub has to have a real name in there somewhere. And he may be low, but nobody is going to be smacking that booty anytime soon. especially while he’s wearing those furry boots.
thank you for that searing analysis of a song i have had the misfortune of hearing more than once. i laughed so hard i split my apple bottom jeans.
OK, Grandpa. We get it.
A fascinating and in-depth musical analysis - it would be great if you gave a course at Juilliard entitled “With the Fur”. Hilarious.
As an Atlantan, I count many of today’s pre-eminent lyrical geniuses as neighbors, colleagues, and people to say “I don’t have any cash” to.
atmikha, this is amateur comedy offered freely. If you want professional quality, you’ll have to pay for it.
Actually, a lot of songs today don’t make sense. I don’t listen to them.
Loved the break down--now I finally understand the boots…
If I were a state name rapper, I’d be DJ Maine Man.
And my ladies would be Al-ASS-ka and I-da-HO.
for what it’s worth… i believe shawty hit another’s booty rather than her own, hence the “Ayy” exclamation of surprise, and perhaps dismay, following the [alleged] assault.
Au contraire. “Ayy” is a word which used to be spelled a-l-r-i-g-h-t, “back in the day,” i.e. before 1997.
This is a masterpiece.
i get it..thanks