Editor’s be aware: The next article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the writer’s personal. Learn extra opinions on theGrio.
For years I’ve been keen to die on the hill that Mark Morrison’s polarizing track, “Return of the Mack,” is the best track of all time. It has all the necessities to suit the invoice: simplicity, sing-a-long-ability, reputation, karaoke-ness, divisiveness, and so forth. Basically, everyone is aware of it and loves it or hates it, however it doesn’t matter what, they really feel one thing. Whereas my coronary heart isn’t solely able to move the baton to a different track, my head tells me that the true biggest track of all time most likely belongs to Juvenile’s New Orleans bounce music traditional, “Again That Thang Up,” a track from Juvenile’s traditional Money Cash Data launch, “400 Degreez.” The one was launched on June 11, 1999, making it 25 years outdated, which is the proper time to debate the place it suits amongst music’s biggest songs.
(For the sake of the family-friendly nature of this web site, we shall be utilizing the clear model of the title which is “Again That Thang Up,” versus the track’s precise title, “Again That *CENSORED* Up.”)
Hear, each marker you want for an awesome track exists with “Again That Thang Up.” Produced by Mannie Contemporary, Money Cash Data’ in-house hit-maker, the track itself is a straight bop. I don’t know what number of hip-hop songs begin with strings, however this track does, and the impact is magnificent. You may sing-a-long to it, it’s important to dance to it, it’s assured to get folks on the dance ground, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like this track. I’m certain there are individuals who don’t like it — music is subjective, after all — however outright dislike? Present me the one who dislikes “Again That Thang Up” and I’ll present you an individual who hates good issues. The track even gave us sayings. “Money Cash Data taking on for the ’99 and the 2000” is a manner of speaking to see if one other individual is in your similar wavelength. Frankly, folks both know when Money Cash Data took over or they don’t and in the event that they don’t, they’re not my type of folks.
It is usually extremely utilitarian; you may play this track virtually wherever music is to be performed. Certain, there’s a demographic of Black folks for whom the document isn’t actually their factor, however as of proper now, the track has been taking part in at an array of venues and actions, from golf equipment to cookouts to sporting occasions to NPR. What began out as a tweet suggesting Juvenile do NPR’s famed Tiny Desk live performance sequence ended up with Juvenile bringing a complete slice of New Orleans to Washington, D.C.’s NPR workplaces the place he carried out, after all, “Again That Thang Up,” with Mannie Contemporary by his aspect. Whereas we have been all excited to see Juvenile in that house, we actually all wished to listen to “Again That Thang Up” on the Tiny Desk. The purpose is, the place there’s music, there’s “Again That Thang Up.”
Leisure
Let’s discuss its longevity for a second. There are completely individuals who take heed to and love music who’re unfamiliar with the document. However right here’s the factor, for the previous 25 years, actually because it turned a success single, the document has been a mainstay in pop music. You could possibly train courses on what, particularly, has given this track such a protracted life. Is it the music? Is it the strings? Is it as a result of it’s an ode to the derriere? Is it a track we simply all determined we have been going to make a cultural phenomenon? That’s precisely what occurred, by the way in which. All music will outlive its creator, however most music fades from the pop cultural zeitgeist whereas the artist is alive. The aliens and cockroaches shall be unable to flee from “Again That Thang Up.” Lengthy, gone the time when all who’re alive now have handed, membership DJs, utilizing no matter equipment exists sooner or later will nonetheless play “Again That Thang Up” together with Luther Vandross’ “By no means Too A lot,” Maze that includes Frankie Beverly’s “Earlier than I Let Go,” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Need for Christmas Is You.” Some songs won’t ever die, however the aforementioned songs will dwell eternally. “Again That Thang Up,” although, is the one which will get the folks going essentially the most. It simply…resonates. And if that thang resonates, it’s one of many greats.
There is no such thing as a social gathering with out this track. DJs wait till the correct time to play it as a result of it’s going to take the social gathering to the subsequent stage. When it comes on, everyone strikes. It’s so important that the mayor of the town of New Orleans proclaimed June 11, “Again That (Thang) Up” Day. What number of songs that you simply love have a day proclaimed of their honor? (I don’t know how widespread that is; the web was not very useful with this data.) It issues not as a result of have you learnt what track does? “Again That Thang Up.”
Perhaps you assume I’m loopy. Perhaps you assume some sonata is the best. Perhaps you discover it laborious to consider a track devoted to the booty could possibly be the best however let’s be actual; it’s a track devoted to the human situation and want and journey for love and understanding. “Again That Thang Up” is a track that speaks to bounce and twerking as central to cultural expression. It’s a callback to our ancestors. Our ancestors at all times decide up the telephone. They, too, know that Money Cash Data took over for the ’99 and the 2000. Typically greatness reveals up in locations you least count on however the story of the tape can’t be denied. “Again That Thang Up” has a case for the best track of all time.
After you again it up then cease, now wha-wha-wha-what, drop it prefer it’s scorching.
They at all times do, Wayne, They at all times do.
Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Expensive Tradition” on theGrio Black Podcast Community. He writes very Black issues, drinks very brown liquors, and is fairly fly for a lightweight man. His greatest accomplishment so far coincides along with his Blackest accomplishment so far in that he obtained a telephone name from Oprah Winfrey after she learn one in every of his items (greatest) however he didn’t reply the telephone as a result of the caller ID stated “Unknown” (Blackest).
