Shoop by Salt ‘n Pepa Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Flirtatious Anthem of the ’90s
Lyrics
Ooh, how you doin’, baby?
No, not you
You, the bow-legged one, yeah
What’s your name?
Damn, that sounds sexy uh
Here I go, here I go, here I go again (again?)
Girls, what’s my weakness? (Men!)
Ok then, chillin’, chillin’
Mindin’ my business (word)
Yo, Salt, I looked around, and I couldn’t believe this
I swear, I stared, my niece my witness
The brother had it goin’ on with somethin’ kinda, uh
Wicked, wicked (ooh) had to kick it
I’m not shy so I asked for the digits
A ho? No, that don’t make me
See what I want slip slide to it swifty
Felt it in my hips so I dipped back to my bag of tricks
Then I flipped for a tip, make me wanna do tricks for him
Lick him like a lollipop should be licked
Came to my senses and I chilled for a bit
Don’t know how you do the voodoo that you do
So well it’s a spell, hell, makes me wanna shoop shoop shoop
Shoop shoop ba-doops shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop
Ba-doop shoop ba-doop shoop
Ba-doop shoop ba-doop, ba-doop, ba-doop
Umm, you’re packed and you’re stacked ‘specially in the back
Brother, wanna thank your mother for a butt like that (thanks, Mom)
Can I get some fries with that shake-shake boobie?
If looks could kill you would be an uzi
You’re a shotgun, bang! What’s up with that thang?
I wanna know how does it hang?
Straight up, wait up, hold up, Mr. Lover
Like Prince said you’re a sexy mutha well-a
I like ’em real wild, b-boy style by the mile
Smooth black skin with a smile
Bright as the sun, I wanna have some fun
Come and give me some of that yum-yum
Chocolate chip, honey dip, can I get a scoop?
Baby, take a ride in my coupe, you make me wanna
Shoop shoop ba-doop (Baby, hey)
Ba-doop, ba-doop, ba-doop, ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop ba-doop
(Don’t you know I wanna shoop, baby)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop
Ba-doop shoop, ba-doop, ba-doop
Ba-doop shoop, ba-doop, shoop
Ba-doop shoop, ba-doop, ba-doop, ba-doop
Well let me bring you back to the subject
Pep’s on the set
Make you get hot, make you work up a sweat
When you skip-to-my-lou, my darling
Not falling in love but I’m falling for your (super sperm)
When I get ya betcha bottom dollar you were best under pressure
(Yo, Sandy, I wanna like, taste you)
Getcha getcha lips wet ’cause it’s time to have Pep
On your mark, get set, go, let me go, let me shoop
To the next man in the three-piece suit
I spend all my dough, ray me cutie
Shoop shoop a-doobie like Scoobie Doobie Doo
I love you in your big jeans, you give me nice dreams
You make me wanna scream, ooh ooh ooh
I like what ya do, when you do
What ya do, you make me wanna shoop
Shoop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop
Ba-doop shoop ba-doop shoop
Ba-doop shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
(Oh, my goodness, girl, look at him
He’s the cutest brother in here
And he’s comin’ this way! Ooh!)
S and the P wanna kick with me, cool (uh-huh)
But I’m wicked, G, (yeah) hit skins but never quickly (that’s right)
I hit the skins for the hell of it, just for the yell I get
Mmm mmm mmm, for the smell of it (smell it)
They want my bod, here’s the hot rod (hot rod)
Twelve inches to a yard (damn) and have ya soundin’ like a retard (yeah)
Big ‘Twan Love-Her, six-two, wanna hit you
So what you wanna do? What you wanna do? Mmmm, I wanna shoop
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop (Oh you make me wanna)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop (hey yeah I wanna shoop baby)
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop (Oh you make me wanna)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop (hey yeah I wanna shoop baby)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop (oh, you make me wanna)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop (hey yeah, I wanna shoop you baby)
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
When Salt ‘n Pepa released ‘Shoop’ in 1993, the airwaves weren’t just hit with a catchy beat and an infectious chorus. They were introduced to an audacious anthem of sexual liberation and unabashed female desire. Two decades on, the song still resonates with those vibing to its unabashed celebration of lustful encounters and female agency within those moments.
Deconstructing the lyrics of ‘Shoop’ reveals layers of emancipated dialogue, clever wordplays, and an evocative joy in expressing sexual desire from a powerful female perspective, all while retaining the jocular and spirited mood that has made it a perennial favorite.
Liberated Lyrical Lust: A Gaze Reversed
‘Shoop’ flips the script on the male-centric view of desire, allowing women to take the reins with confidence. Salt ‘n Pepa’s verses are loaded with references to sexual attraction and the excitement that comes from spotting someone who sparks that primal curiosity. The bold approach in asking for a man’s digits is emblematic of the ’90s broader cultural shift towards women’s sexual autonomy.
The song’s chorus, an addictive sequence of ‘Shoop ba-doops,’ is not just a catchy hook—it’s a playful verbal embodiment of physical and flirtatious teasing. It bridges the verses in a way that keeps the listeners bouncing between lyrical wit and the euphoric chorus.
The Art of Flirtation in Rhythmic Form
The interplay between the song’s beat and the harmonious delivery of lines like ‘Umm, you’re packed and you’re stacked ‘specially in the back’ or ‘Can I get some fries with that shake-shake boobie?’ highlights the playful nature of the lyrics. Salt ‘n Pepa are at their most delightful when their wordplay is fun and their flirtations resonate with a certain ’90s cultural cheekiness.
The song doesn’t just engage in surface-level admiration or shallow flattery; it’s a full-on celebration of attraction that includes visual appeal, character intrigue, and the dance of courtship. Each line serves to construct a narrative of mutual desire and the excitement that comes with it.
The Sonic Spell of Sexual Confidence
‘Don’t know how you do the voodoo that you do’—the lyrics rhetorically elevate the object of attraction to a nearly supernatural status. The language used by Salt ‘n Pepa isn’t just about praising the physical; it’s about the intoxicating effect someone’s presence can have, making them appear almost magical.
This sense of enchantment reflects an era increasingly captivated by depictions of strong, confident women who were unapologetic about their desires. ‘Shoop’ is emblematic of this cultural moment, simultaneously embodying the zeitgeist while pushing its boundaries.
Enduring Euphemisms in Memorable Lines
Salt ‘n Pepa’s ‘Shoop’ is rife with memorable lines that embed themselves into the fabric of the culture. “Can I get a scoop? Baby, take a ride in my coupe, you make me wanna shoop”—these lines are playful and evocative, utilizing food and automobile metaphors to express lascivious intentions in a lighthearted manner.
These metaphors aren’t mere wordplay; they’ve become familiar references in the pop culture lexicon, representing a form of coyness that preserves an air of innocence while nudging and winking towards the mature audience that understands the innuendos.
Unwrapping ‘Shoop’s’ Hidden Meaning
Beyond the exuberant celebration of attraction, ‘Shoop’ may be a harbinger of shifting dynamics in romantic music rhetoric. It presents a woman in control of her own narrative, choosing when and how to express her sexuality. The song’s repeated requests to ‘shoop’ are an artful disguise for a call to physical intimacy, respectfully wrapped in metaphor.
The track lays out a blueprint for how women can claim space in a genre that has historically objectified them. Salt ‘n Pepa navigate the tightrope between proclamation and playfulness, crafting an anthem that doesn’t just stick—it empowers, teases, and redefines.
