1993 single by Salt-n-Pepa
"Shoop" is the lead single released from American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa's fourth studio album, Very Necessary (1993). The song was produced by group members Sandra "Pepa" Denton and Cheryl "Salt" James with Mark Sparks. It features an uncredited verse by rapper Otwane "Big Twan Lov-Her" Roberts (not to be confused with hardcore rapper "Big Twan"). Released in September 1993 by Next Plateau, the song became one of the group's more successful singles, reaching number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Hot Rap Singles chart at number one (their second single to do so). Two months after its release, "Shoop" was certified gold by the RIAA; it went on to sell 1.2 million copies.[1][2] Its accompanying music video was directed by Scott Kalvert. The success of both this single and the follow-up single "Whatta Man" propelled Very Necessary to sell over 5 million copies in the US, becoming the group's best-selling album.
This song uses a sample of The Sweet Inspirations version of The Ikettes's "I'm Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)", and the line "the voodoo that you do so well" was quoted from Cole Porter's 1929 song "You Do Something to Me".[3]
Background and composition
Pepa stated: "The concept for 'Shoop' started with me chillin' in Queens, riding around in the car and I'm telling the story of how 'I saw a brother, I had to kick it to, I'm not shy so I asked for the digits and that does not make me a hoe.' This story became the song and the inspiration for the first verse." She also commented: "I had to jump through hoops for 'Shoop' to be the first single off the Very Necessary album. The label gave me a lot of push back since Hurby [Luv Bug] didn't produce or write the song. Ultimately, it was an undeniable hit that took Salt-N-Pepa to the next level, and solidified our worth to hip-hop. Such a dope feeling."[4]
Salt stated: "The objective was to turn the tables on men - make them the objects. When writing my verses, I was thinking of tongue in cheek ways to objectify men. When you really like a song, it's easy to record. Fun fact: I had my daughter Corin in my arms while recording 'Shoop.'"[5]
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard viewed the song as a "funky, funky midtempo jam", noting that it "teases and breezes over sexy, shuffling beats."[6] John Martinucci from the Gavin Report stated, "Over the years they have delivered some cool tracks and "Shoop" is no exception. Laid-back and all, the trio takes control as they scope themselves out a guy and make the moves on him. Refreshing change, `ey, guys?"[7] In his review of Very Necessary, Dennis Hunt from Los Angeles Times wrote, "By far, the best song is the loping "Shoop", which bristles with a swagger missing on the other tracks."[8] Push from Melody Maker praised "Shoop" as "snakey, funky, sexy fun".[9] Pan-European magazine Music & Media felt it has "a spicey poppy rap style we had almost forgotten."[10] Alan Jones from Music Week rated the song four out of five and named it Pick of the Week, declaring it as "a perfect showcase for the rappers, who feed off each other well, and with great humour."[11] Wendi Cermak from The Network Forty noted that here, "a funky low groove rolls along under smooth rap."[12]
Toure from The New York Times called it "a sexy little tribute to the male bodies that drive these rappers crazy", "pulsing with a funky bass line".[13] A reviewer from People magazine wrote that "Shoop" "is a grinding, bluesy come-on that overflows with good-natured lewdness."[14] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue stated the song has "a wonderful beat vs rap relationship going on here".[15] James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update deemed it a "Ikettes 'I'm Blue' based (that's Tina you can hear) funkily rolling sexy lurcher".[16] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits also gave it four out of five, describing it as a "stomping rap thing" and "another dance classic". He found that the chorus "simultaneously manages to go 'shoop shoop shoop' and rip off the 'whoah whoah whoah' bit from the Stereo MC's' 'Connected'."[17] Charles Aaron from Spin commented, "Flipping the sexist script, the queens of hip hop display their own well-toned talents. While lounging at the beach, they appreciate a plethora of spandex-bottomed fellas. Joyous, equal-opportunity physicality. The butt equivalent of Queen Latifah's "Ladies First"."[18]
Music video
The song's music video was directed by Scott Kalvert.[19] It was filmed at Coney Island and begins with Salt 'N' Pepa driving up in a Mercedes convertible at the beach and later flirting with some men. They also sing on an illuminated set as they dance with dancers which included all costume jewelry by Ziggy Attias, Ziggy Originals, NYC.[20]
Salt recalled: "When shooting 'Shoop' I was a bit self conscious. It was hard being in a bathing suit and my booty kept falling out of my shorts when we were dancing on stage."[21]
Impact and legacy
The Village Voice listed "Shoop" number 62 on its list of the Top Singles of the 1990s in 1999.[22] Insider ranked it among the Best Songs from the '90s in 2019, stating that "this catchy song helped make Salt-N-Pepa bonafide stars and marked the beginnings of their artistic freedom."[23] Billboard listed it number 239 on their list of the 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time in October 2023,[24] writing, "We can all decide for ourselves what the word "Shoop" means here ("It's a whole vibe", Pepa demurred in an interview), but we do know the rap duo flipped the script by lyrically lusting over male bodies instead of the typical female objectification of hip-hop."
