Dab (dance)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Do_the_Dab.jpg/220px-Do_the_Dab.jpg)
The dab is a dance move in which the dancer simultaneously drops the head while raising an arm and the elbow in a gesture that has been noted to resemble sneezing.[1] As a Sports Illustrated article about the phenomenon described the dab, "The dance is pretty simple; one leans in to their elbow like they’re sneezing."
Rich the Kid is featured in a YouTube video tutorial on dabbing. As of November 29, 2016, the video has been viewed more than 2 million times.[2] Jason Derulo taught James Corden how to dab during a November 4, 2015 edition of "Carpool Karaoke" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.[3]
Origins
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/High_school_soccer_player_dab_%2827660674672%29.jpg/220px-High_school_soccer_player_dab_%2827660674672%29.jpg)
The dab has its origins in the Atlanta hip-hop scene, but there was initially disagreement about who originated the dance.[4] Artists initially mentioned as possible originators include Migos (as in "Look at My Dab"), Skippa Da Flippa, Peewee Longway, Jose Guapo and Rich The Kid.[5] The controversy was cleared up when fellow QC labelmate OG Maco called out Migos for saying they were the creators when it was actually Skippa da Flippa. Though Migos later confirmed Skippa as the originator of the dance, they were unhappy with the way Maco handled the situation.[6]
American rapper Bow Wow attempted to explain the origin of the dab dance, saying it derived from the cannabis dabbers community started long before the dance move in 2012. He was met with opposition from other rappers who immediately took to Twitter to insult and disprove his claims.[7]
NFL quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers is known for performing this dance move when he scores a touchdown.[8]
Popularity
In 2015, the dab rose to national prominence in the U.S. As XXL magazine reported in August 2015, "What started as a regional down South adlib is quickly becoming a masterful maneuver in clubs and on street corners. It’s called dabbin’."[9]
The dab gained popularity in U.S. sports following an eight-second celebratory dab by Cam Newton, football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League, during a game against the Tennessee Titans on November 15, 2015.[10][11] According to a Sports Illustrated account of the incident, "[w]hen two Titans players confronted [Newton] about the celebration, he continued to dance in their faces, even as he backed away."[12]
After his famous dab against the Titans, Newton explained at a press conference why he had dabbed. He credited a 16-year old for instructing him to "dab on them folks":
I'm a firm believer that if you don't like me to do it then don't let me in ... I just like doing it, man. It's not to be boastful, and from the crowd's response they like seeing it. ... Tell me what to do "Dab on them folks," so I tried "Dab on them folks," in that tone too. "Dab on them folks." He's only like 16, but he's got an Adam's apple out of this world.[13]
It was later confirmed that the 16-year old was Newton's younger brother Caylin.[14]
On June 9, 2016, Cam Newton announced that he would no longer perform the celebration. However, he would dab once again on November 13, 2016 after a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs, nearly a year after his initial dab against the Titans.[15]
See also
References
- ^ Fumadoh, Ziwe (November 20, 2015). "Your guide to dabbing, a 'new' dance craze that already peaked". Daily Dot. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ "How To DAB (Dance) with Rich The Kid". Youtube. HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 4, 2016. Please note that the video might contain inappropriate material.
- ^ "Jason Derulo Carpool Karaoke". Youtube. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Fumadoh, Ziwe (November 20, 2015). "Your guide to dabbing, a 'new' dance craze that already peaked". Daily Dot. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
There's a great deal of controversy surrounding the pioneers of the dabbing dance, with the credit going to various members of Quality Control label (including Migos, Skippa Da Flippa, and Peewee Longway). Migos has gotten the bulk of credit for the trend since releasing the song ' Dab' on Sept. 3, 2015.
- ^ http://www.bet.com/news/music/2015/12/21/deconstructing-the-dab.html
- ^ http://www.bet.com/news/music/2015/08/06/migos-og-maco-beef.html
- ^ Robertson, Iyana (December 8, 2015). "Bow Wow Attempts To Explain The Origin Of "The Dab," Gets Clowned By Migos". Vibe. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ Ducey, Kenny. "A history of Cam Newton and the 'Dab'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Madden, Sidney (August 5, 2015). "Atlanta's Dabbin' Dance Craze Is Taking Over Scial Media". XXL Magazine. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ "2015 Week 10 Schedule". NFL.com. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ^ Peters, Micah (November 15, 2015). "Titans linebacker takes offense to Cam Newton's dancing, Newton keeps dancing in his face". USA Today. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ Ducey, Kenny (November 16, 2015). "'Dab on Them Folks': A Brief History of the Dab Dance in Sports". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ Dator, James (November 16, 2015). "Cam Newton danced like that because a 16-year-old told him to". SBNation. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ^ Sandritter, Mark (February 7, 2016). "Cam Newton is the NFL's king of the Dab". SBNation. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ^ http://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2016/11/13/cam-newton-bowls-over-chiefs-for-td-resurrects-the-dab/
External links
- Diaz, Angel (August 6, 2015). "Og Maco and Migos Got Into It On Twitter Over the Dabbin' Dance". Complex. Retrieved January 4, 2016.