"My Boo"
Single by Ghost Town DJ's
ReleasedMay 26, 1996 (1996-05-26)
Genre
Length
  • 5:46 (album version)
  • 4:09 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Carlton Mahone
  • Rodney Terry
Producer(s)
  • Mahone
  • Terry
  • Lil Jon (Uncredited)[2]
Music video
"My Boo" on YouTube

"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.[2]

Music video

The music video features a pool party. The group did not appear in the video, but Jermaine Dupri does.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5][6] 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.[6] Though it was ultimately never released domestically in the more popular cassette and CD configurations,[7][8] the single managed to peak at numbers 18 and 31 on Hot R&B Singles and the Hot 100, respectively.[9] The song was especially popular at rhythmic radio stations, peaking at number 2 on the Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover chart.[10] 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.[11][12]

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.[13][14] 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.[9] It subsequently peaked at numbers 10 and 27, respectively.[15][16]

Remixes

In the 2004 song "I Wanna Be Your Lady" from Cam'ron, Nicole Wray, & 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[17] 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

  • Brooklyn-based band Friends released a cover of "My Boo" as the B-side to their single "I'm His Girl", released on October 31, 2011.[18]
  • Australian producer Flume released a cover of "My Boo" featuring American rapper Vince Staples and Australian singers Kučka, Ngaiire, and Vera Blue for Triple J's Like a Version on December 1, 2016. The cover was later released on iTunes on December 16, 2016.[19]

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.[20] Inspired by Vincent and Hall's video, two players from the University of Maryland basketball program, Jared Nickens and Jaylen Brantley,[21] filmed their own versions of the Running Man Challenge, spreading the meme.[22]

The challenge went viral on Vine, and Vincent, Hall, Nickens and Brantley were invited to perform it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[23] 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.[24][25]

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 and certifications

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[12] Gold 5,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Pitchfork Staff (September 27, 2022). "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2022. The track didn't take off until Chicago house legend DJ Mike "Hitman" Wilson put out his remix...
  2. 1 2 "Heard and Unseen: The Oral History of Ghost Town DJ's 'My Boo' - SPIN". 26 May 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  3. ↑ Weiner, Natalie (May 16, 2016). "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". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ Sandiford-Waller, Theda (June 15, 1996). "Theda Sandiford-Waller's Rhythm Section". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 24. BPI Communications. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 27. BPI Communications. July 6, 1996. p. 22. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  6. 1 2 McKenna, Jerry (July 6, 1996). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 27. BPI Communications. p. 103. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. BPI Communications. December 28, 1996. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 5. BPI Communications. February 1, 1997. p. 78. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Mendizabal, Amaya (May 11, 2016). "Ghost Town DJ's' 1996 Hit 'My Boo' Reaches New Hot 100 High Thanks to Viral Dance Video". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Ghost Town DJ's – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Ghost Town DJ's. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Ghost Town DJ's – My Boo". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  12. 1 2 "New Zealand single certifications – Ghost Town DJ's – My Boo". Recorded Music NZ.
  13. ↑ "The Hot 100: The Week of May 21, 2016". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: The Week of May 21, 2016". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Ghost Town DJ's Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Ghost Town DJ's Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  17. ↑ ""My Boo (Balam Acab Remix)" - Forkcast Archive - Pitchfork". Pitchfork. 4 August 2011.
  18. ↑ "Friends – "My Boo" (Ghost Town DJ's Cover)". 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  19. ↑ "Flume - My Boo (feat. Vince Staples, Kučka, Ngaiire & Vera Blue) [triple j Like a Version]". YouTube. 2016-12-01. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  20. ↑ Laird, Sam (3 May 2016). "The originators of 'The Running Man Challenge' are two awesome high school kids". Mashable. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "Maryland's Jaylen Brantley, Jared Nickens bring Running Man Challenge to 'Ellen DeGeneres Show'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  22. ↑ "How a forgotten '90s dance hit made these Terps Internet famous". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  23. ↑ Swalec, Andrea (4 May 2016). "Terps Do 'Running Man Challenge' on 'Ellen' Show". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  24. ↑ Steinberg, Dan. "How a forgotten '90s dance hit made these Terps Internet famous". Washington Post. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  25. ↑ Ducey, Kenny. "The Running Man Challenge died too soon". www.si.com. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9787." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Ghost Town DJ's – Chart history" Billboard Radio Songs for Ghost Town DJ's. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Ghost Town DJ's – Chart history" Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for Ghost Town DJ's. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Ghost Town DJ's – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Ghost Town DJ's. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Ghost Town DJ's – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Ghost Town DJ's – My Boo". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 20, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 2016-05-20. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  33. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  34. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  35. ↑ "The Year in Music: Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. BPI Communications. December 28, 1996. p. YE-32. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  36. ↑ "The Year in Music: Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. BPI Communications. December 28, 1996. p. YE-36. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  37. ↑ "The Year in Music: R&B". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. BPI Communications. December 28, 1996. p. YE-40. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  38. ↑ "The Year in Music: R&B". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. BPI Communications. December 28, 1996. p. YE-42. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs Of 1996" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 30. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs Of 1996" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 32. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  41. ↑ "The Year in Music: Dance". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. BPI Communications. December 28, 1996. p. YE-45. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  42. ↑ "RPM '97 Year End Top 50 Dance Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
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