Getty Images/Theo Wargo
There’s no question that 2014 was the year of the booty. From Chris Brown’s Instagram to Kim Kardashian’s Paper spread, there’s no doubt our collective attention has been drawn to one body part in particular. Though the derrière mania may have hit a fever pitch this year, we’d argue that Meghan Trainor’s claim of “bringing booty back” may be slightly misguided. Here’s a rough timeline of songs praising big behinds:
Queen – “Fat Bottomed Girls” (1978)
Perhaps the original ode to the big butt, Queen asserted way back in the day that “fat bottomed girls, you make the rockin’ world go ’round.”
LL Cool J – “Big Ole Butt” (1989)
We can’t help but love LL, especially as he confesses he’s leaving his girl for Tina, because she has a big ole butt. That’s a good enough reason, right?
Sir Mix-A-Lot – “Baby Got Back” (1992)
Without a doubt the most iconic song about any body part ever written, this is the song Nicki sampled for her rump anthem and the reason we’ll forever tell any Becky we meet to “look. at. that. butt.”
Soundmaster T – “2 Much Booty (In Da Pants)” (1994)
This song may be a bit silly, but it’s always a crowd pleaser. A song about having too much booty (is there such a thing?) that not even pants can contain it.
Sisqo – “Thong Song” (1999)
This is Sisqo’s biggest hit in the U.S., and it received four Grammy nominations. All thanks to that thong, th-thong thong thong.
Mystikal – “Shake Ya Ass” (2000)
This song is such a catchy keister shaker that not even a young Nicholas Hoult could resist singing it.
Destiny’s Child – “Bootylicious” (2001)
The only song on this list officially endorsed by the Oxford English Dictionary, this Destiny’s Child song is an eternal anthem for GNOs around the world. Props, too, for giving us the phrase “I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly.” We weren’t.
Pitbull feat. Lil Jon – “Culo” (2004)
The song’s title itself is Spanish for “ass.” Need we say more?
Bubba Sparxxx feat. Ying Yang Twins – “Ms. New Booty” (2005)
This song would be the “Baby Got Back” of its time, if “Baby Got Back” weren’t so classic. Bubba Sparxxx’s biggest hit is iconic in its own right though, and we still get really excited whenever we hear it.
Eminem – “Ass Like That” (2005)
Eminem can make a song about behinds like not many other people can. This one is tied with “Shake That” for Slim’s best booty song, and they’re both pretty unstoppable rump shakers.
The Black Eyed Peas – “My Humps” (2005)
Though Fergie is singing about all of her lovely lady lumps here, it’s all that ass inside her jeans that makes us scream, makes us scream.
Soulja Boy – “Donk” (2008)
It’s hard to fight the twerk when this song comes on, as much as we hate to admit it. This may just be our favorite Soulja Boy song.
Big Sean feat. Nicki Minaj – “Dance (A$$)” (2011)
Nicki Minaj’s backside could possibly be more famous than any of her songs. Then again, a great many of her songs discuss her backside. It’s like a chicken/egg situation, but this collab with Big Sean is still on most of our Spotify playlists because it’s just too good.
Jennifer Lopez feat. Iggy Azalea – “Booty” (2014)
Jennifer Lopez’s rear end has been her most famous asset since she rose to fame, yet she somehow waited a very long time before she made a song about it. We’re not sure why it took so long, but it was worth the wait. Two of the best butts in the bizz came together for an unforgettable video.
Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda” (2014)
What happens when you take the most famous butt of the 21st century and mix it with the most iconic song ever written about butts? This. This is what happens, and we’re so thankful it did.
