Da bomb party song: “Whoomp! (There It Is)”

Tag Team’s one-hit wonder made zillions (just not for its creators)
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0315_90s_tagteam_oneuseonlyAs Tag Team, Cecil Glenn, aka DC the Brain Supreme, and Steve “Rolln” Gibson may be one-hit wonders, but oh, what a hit. The thumping bass, gleeful spirit, and endless chants of the title phrase have made 1993’s “Whoomp! (There It Is)” one of the most enduring party songs of the past 25 years. Inspired by an expression used by the dancers at the Magic City strip club, best friends Glenn and Gibson recorded the song with a loan from Glenn’s parents. It became a smash at Magic City (where Glenn deejayed) and clubs throughout Atlanta. A record deal followed, and “Whoomp!” earned the number two spot on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 chart and went quadruple platinum. Thanks to a flawed contract, the duo earn only a fraction of the zillions generated by their hit—ranked sixth on Rolling Stone’s “20 Biggest Songs of the Summer: The 1990s” list. After money woes for both and a prison stint for Gibson (busted with 600 pounds of weed), there’s been a “Whoomp!” resurgence. It’s popped up in movies (“Elf”), TV shows (“Scrubs”), and ads for i­Phones and diapers (“Poop! (There It Is)”). The song now powers an Android campaign.

Back to the 90s

This article originally appeared in our March 2015 issue.

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