“Tootsee Roll” by 69 Boyz 

“Tootsee Roll” is classified under a niche genre known as Miami bass which was especially popular around the mid-1990s. The most-enduring act associated with this category is the 2 Live Crew. But for the most part Miami bass groups, such as 69 Boyz, were one-hit wonders. And the nature of their hits tend to be pretty monotonous, i.e. being what we may more specifically refer to these days as booty-shaking songs.

Well actually, this is the earlier 1990s we’re talking about, which may not have been the puritan era of American entertainment, but such pieces still had more class than they have in more recent times. 

So concerning the title, well first of all many readers will recognize it as a reference to the Tootsie Roll, a popular candy in America and maybe in some other parts of the world also. But the lyrics are not about sweets. Instead, what they are mostly dedicated to is propagating a dance by the same name, i.e. Tootsee Roll, which the 69 Boyz more or less originated themselves.

And to note, as presented, said dance isn’t particularly sexual even though, as inferred at certain points throughout, what’s being relayed is specifically aimed at females. Also, in the first verse and then all the way at the end of the song, it is revealed that the ‘rolling’ being referred to is actually a movement that is made with one’s bu-tocks, and readers who are familiar with these Miami bass artists and the like already know how they get down anyway.

Takeaway

In reality, most of the lyrics of this song are dedicated to introducing and encouraging a new dance. But the way the associated moves are explained isn’t in a manner that makes it sound like the “Tootsee Roll” is really an actual dance move. 

Instead, reading in between the lines indicates that what 69 Boyz are most interested in getting women to vigorously gyrate their derrieres. But to reiterate, they do not make such connotations in a specifically-sexual context, rather more the point that once the ladies in the house get to ‘rolling’, dipping’, ‘whooping’ and what have you that they continue to do so at an energetic pace. 

So yes, what the vocalists are in fact advocating, most simply put in more-modern language, is the act of twerking.

69 Boyz

69 Boyz is a couple of homeys from Florida in Van Bryant (aka Thrill Da Playa) and Barry Wright (Fast).  

When was “Tootsee Roll” released?

“Tootsee Roll” officially hit the airwaves on 27 May 1994. It holds the distinction of being 69 Boyz’s only major hit. 

However, some of the 69 Boyz’ tracks that came immediately after also appeared on a few Billboard charts, primarily, it would seem, as a residual effect off of the success of this piece. 

As for “Tootsee Roll” itself, it topped Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs listing. In addition to that, it broke the top 10 of the Hot 100 itself.

On the other side of the coin, this song also reportedly made AOL’s “the worst songs of all time” list circa 2013.

Credits

This track was produced by another crew closely associated with the 69 Boyz known as Quad City DJ’s. This group themselves were akin to one-hit wonders via their own debut track, 1996’s “C’Mon N’ Ride It (The Train)”.