Diddy really?

Diddy "Jack U (Felix Da Housecat Mix)"

"Jack your body to the bass / Jack it all over the place / Don't let no one get in your way / Tonight's your night / Today's your day / I'll jack you / I'll jack you / I'll jack you / I'll jack you."

If you don't know specifically what it means to "jack your body," it may seem Diddy's foray into house music finds the sexless-up-to-this-point mogul switching all kinds of teams. It's almost disappointing to report that men will not be getting the full-release treatment from the Did (disappointing, not because he's hot, but because that'd be, y'know, funny). On "Jack U," a track that bounced around DJs' sets and mixes for over a year before being issued last month on Germany's International DeeJay Gigolos, Diddy is instead telling (and perhaps showing, depending on how much you like the track) you that he'll make you move old-school style, like they used to in Chicago in the mid-'80s at places like the Music Box and the Warehouse. "They" being mostly gays and "moving" meaning "jacking," a dance that crossed simulated stand-fucking with acting electrocuted. Maybe Diddy's getting in touch with his homo side, after all (the resemblance to Amanda Lepore only tends to support the theory).

But really, I doubt he even pays that much attention to what he's saying -- the often-useless Felix da Housecat at least knows his old-school house and it's possible that he directed this whole affair (he's certainly more aware than dim Diddy, who stumbles over the names of dance subgenres at the start of "Jack U" before declaring, "I just know good music, man. I just wanna hear some shit that's good music"). A master wordsmith Diddy is not, and even if he were, it's doubtful that he could even come up with the nonsense lyrics of "Jack U." Instead, he's essentially remaking Jungle Brothers' "I'll House You" from 1988. "I'll House You" is one of the earliest examples of the (commercially) successful merging of rap and house music, a style that would come to be called hip-house, and then, just as quickly, would come to be laughed at.

Hip-house is the red-headed stepchild of house music, a subgenre that drummed up very little respect while thriving (its popularity peaked in '91 when Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch hit No. 1 with "Good Vibrations," and that says a lot) and gets even less respect now. And that's with good reason, really. Hip-house marked one of, if not the, earliest examples of rapping taking a back seat to its musical backing. Hip-house vocalists didn't need to be proficient or clever because the main idea was to get people to move, and of course, the track's rhythms were much more propulsive than any voice. The hip-house rapper, then, was mostly an ornament -- at best, he (and in rare cases, she) was a hype-man; at worst, a relic of novelty.

And that's exactly why Diddy's "Jack U" works so well -- it only makes sense that such a deficient rapper (I mean, does he really even have what you'd call fans? If you're a fan of Diddy, please speak up -- I have many questions for you) should choose such an undemanding genre. And really, what is he if not a hype man? "Jack U" might be the least pretentious thing he's ever done because by doing it, he's essentially saying, "Look at me: I have nothing to say and I can't even say it well. So, chuckle at me -- I'll even get a little camp. And most importantly: move!"

If I sound anti-hip-house, I'm not doing my taste justice. Truth be told: I love the stuff. Its charm is in its stupidity and there's always room for stupidity. This record is among the most prized in my collection:

I mean, god, look at them. They took this shit so seriously. For further proof, check out the essay in the album's liner notes:

 

God, did they know how right they were with that last line?

The funny thing is that although the DJ International Crew were attempting to draw the divide between hip-house and "rap house," it's not really clear what constituted what. Certainly, the track this essay credits with starting the genre, Fast Eddie's "Yo Yo Get Funky", provides little help: "Hip-house is a new style that I created / All around the world they're devastated / By the hip, which is short for hip-hop / And by the house, which is rising to the top." Uh, thanks, Eddie. Further in-song definitions would prove just as unspecific, either spelling things out via influences ("Hip-hop house, hip-hop jazz, with a little pizazz," says Queen Latifah in 1989's "Come Into My House," perhaps the finest hip-house record ever as it was delivered by someone who could actually rap) or defining via exclusion ("It's not hip-hop or hop-hip, it's hip-house," says Fast Eddie in a song that followed "Yo Yo Get Funky," "Hip House").

Maybe there is no real difference between rap house and hip-house, and really, who cares? Certainly not Diddy, who can't be bothered to pay attention to "definitions an' shit." Maybe what the DJ International Crew were really going for was a brand, a minor distinction that they could call their own. Diddy's spiritually (or soulessly, whichever) with them right there, too.

Even if he has no idea of its history, Diddy's bold for taking up such a maligned genre in such a broad way (is it any wonder that the version above is relegated to the B-side of the 12", while DJ Hell's more electro-fied -- thus cooler -- rub is on the A?). He is as willfully unhip as his mohawk in his picture above. Current mainstream rap barely flirts with hip-house (though Rah Digga's too-slow-for-house "Party & Bullshit 2003" came close -- she gets my undying respect for referencing not one, but two Chicago classics -- Farley "Jackmaster" Funk's "Beat That Bitch With a Bat" and Cajmere's "Percolater"). Gone are the days when almost all mainstream hip-hop was jingling, if not dancey. What passes as "club" music in hip-hop is barely worth dancing to (as most hilariously illustrated in last year's would-be-banger "Lean Back" by Terror Squad -- not even the song's rapper, Fat Joe, wanted to dance to it!). But then, Scott Storch is no Todd Terry, and really, Diddy is no Fast Eddie. But goddamn, moving from Bad Boy to just plain bad is about the most natural thing Diddy's ever done musically. Welcome to hip-house, Diddy. Welcome home.

Comments

[Butta]

It's official, Diddy is the devil. Hip-house was fun music that made you want to move. Diddy's song makes me want to slit my wrists. Ugghh! I. Hate. Him. Now.

I cosign that Latifah's "Come Into My House" is one of the best hip-house songs. Other favorites of mine include "Stomp" by K-Yze, "Let it Roll" by Doug Lazy, and, of course, "I'll House You" by the JB's. Thanks for taking me back to my college days.

[Bill]

Great post.

One of my favorite Hip-House tracks was KC Flightt's "Planet E."

I almost miss the days where it was almost required that you have one house song on a hip-hop record. Even Big Daddy Kane and ISIS (from X-Clan) had a house record on their album... and of course, they had the word "House" in them so if you hate it, you could easily tell when to hit the fast forward button on your tape deck.

[nOva]

Didn't he also have a track with Kelis in the same vein?? I'm just wondering. Either way, he's a damn fool.

[Fresh]

Diddy? Help!

Nah, I'm going to attempt to check it out though. ATTEMPT. haha

[Bill]

Yeah, that track with Kelis was HILARIOUS.

"Let's get up, let's get ill. Your dreams have now been fulfilled."

I remember seeing the video of him performing this track live. It was HILARIOUS.

[rod]

was this the "girl, i'll house you!" track?
heehee

[ReggieH]

I loved Hip House -- and my partner and I still have that album! The thought of Diddy remaking 'I'll House You' tho....frightening.

[SugarDeluxe]

"Come Into My House" -- those were the daaays! Yo! MTV Raps...and cassette singles. My favorite hip-house song was by some gal named Precious called "Let's Get it Started" (BigBeat) -- the rap was a bit corny, but the baseline was killer. I'm still on the hunt for that track.

[Pop Muse]

why is diddy screaming like that, doesn't he know gays don't yell like that on house tracks, we let our Diva's scream, honey! someone needs to slap his face hard for destroying "I'll house U."

[bctaylor28]

this takes me back to my first club experiences...when i was at the club knowing damn well i had no business being there...too young... thanks for allowing me to remember my youth and run around the house like a queen on House Music...

[spike]

gonna go have to burn my ears now

[la bre]

can u please post a gif of lisa doing her hump dance, she is the best dancer ever!
thx

[Franz]

"Let it Roll" by Doug Lazy? ... OMG! I'm back at Tracks in DC on a Wednesday nite jackin my body and gettin my life!

... but only on a Wednesday nite, 'cuz you could jack and still be respectable on a Wednesday -- provided you were dancing by yourself.

(*now don't front ... y'all old heads know what I mean!*)

And truth be told, who wouldn't prefer dancing alone to jackin' w/Diddy?

YUCK!

[Royalty Free Beats For One Dollar]

Royalty Free Beats For One Dollar

At

http://upbeat.tk

All of our one dollar beats are sample free and royalty free, these beats can be used for Rap, Hip Hop, R&B, advertising, motion production, sports, games, software, ringtones, and more. All we ask is two things, one if you use these beats for commercial purposes that you give "upbeat.tk" written credit for our production and two not to resell or give away beats without vocals if used for musical purposes. Links to download beats will be sent by e mail after purchase, each beat will be sent as a WAVE Audio File and a MP3 File. When purchased you will have non-exclusive rights to the beat or beats you buy for life. If you have any questions feel free to email us at upbeattk@gmail.com thank you and enjoy.

[Vhtvgnnp]

UHSVcm

[tramadol veterinary]

I want to say - thank you for this!

[ultram tramadol hci tablet]

If you have to do it, you might as well do it right.

[Marge]

6GHARJ Kudos to you! I hadn't thought of that!

[poster pole]

This was so beautiful. What happened on the bus made me tear up reading it. It's wonderful that you still think about and honor your grandmother. Happy Dia de los Muertos and thank you for sharing this story.

[sign frame]

That was beautiful and made me use up at least 4 tissues. Your Grandma would be so proud of you, obviously the seeds she planted have flourished.