Bonita Applebum

A Tribe Called Quest

About Bonita Applebum

"Bonita Applebum" is the second single from A Tribe Called Quest's debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. It is believed to be based on an actual young woman from the group's high school. Ali Shaheed Muhammad has said that the original version of the song was much more provocative. Once the group obtained a record deal, Q-Tip decided to tone down the chorus. The song contains samples of "Daylight" by RAMP, "Memory Band" by Rotary Connection, and "Fool Yourself" by Little Feat.  


Year:
1990
3:49
318 
#3

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

Bonita Applebum, hey hon, hey hon
Bonita Applebum, go 'head with yourself
Bonita Applebum, hey hon, hey hon
Bonita Applebum, you gotta put me on

I said Bonita Applebum, hey hun, hey hun
Bonita Applebum, go 'head with yourself
Bonita Applebum, hey hun, hey hun
Bonita, nita, nita, nita, nita, come on

Bonita Applebum, remember way back woo
When you used to play your knickers and your pigtail do
I used to be all on it like a fly
Back in the days, Bonita was a hit

I flirted and I flirted 'til there was no end
But she kicked the diabolical and said we was friends
Honey, you was funny, but I'm tired of that
It's three years later, I got a new rap

Got a little older, a tidbit wiser
I gained twenty pounds, six inches higher
Speakin' of high, I saw you smoke the hootie mack
Your ex-boyfriend claims he gets the booty back

But I'm here to testify, it'll be a hard try
Slappin' my knees, lettin' out sighs
Wanna keep you slammin' like a hip hop song
Bonita Applebum, gotta put me on

Bonita Applebum, hey hon, hey hon
Bonita Applebum, go 'head with yourself
Bonita Applebum, hey hon, hey hon
Bonita Applebum, you gotta put me on

I said Bonita Applebum, hey hun, hey hun
Bonita Applebum, go 'head with yourself
Bonita Applebum, hey hun, hey hun
Bonita, nita, nita, nita, nita, come on

I'll never shed a tear, but then again I won't steer
You wrong, I'll steer you strong, for affection steer ya here
I'll take you to a place that's farther than the you know
what do you know, if we go to El Segundo

Your presence should be close, so like on "Buddy", I'll toast
To the ever clever you, to say the least, you're the most
Honey, you're my honey, a yo dip, you're my dip
Treasure and forever, velvet pleasure with Tip

As we glide and move, cushy like a pillow that's soft and smooth
Ricky D said, we got to show and prove
Do it to the music that's the raw butt groove
Intimidate the boy

Cupid, that's his name, pickin' on us suckas
It's his flippin game, but Tip won't fall for that
Instead, I'll get the Natives and we rush to the latest Lamstons store
Get a six pack of hats for

Bonita Applebum, hey hon, hey hon
Bonita Applebum, go 'head with yourself
Bonita Applebum, hey hon, hey hon
Bonita Applebum, you gotta put me on

I said Bonita Applebum, hey hun, hey hun
Bonita Applebum, go 'head with yourself
Bonita Applebum, hey hun, hey hun
Bonita, nita, nita, nita, nita, come on

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of MC/producer Q-Tip, MC Phife Dawg aka Phife Diggy (Malik Taylor), and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 1991. Along with De La Soul, the group was a central part of the Native Tongues Posse, and enjoyed the most commercial success out of all the groups to emerge from that collective. Many of their songs, such as "Bonita Applebum", "Can I Kick It?", "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo", "Scenario", "Check the Rhime", "Jazz (We've Got)", "Award Tour" and "Electric Relaxation" are regarded as classics by the hip hop community. more »

1 fan

Written by: Charles Stepney, Edwin Birdsong, Kamaal Fareed, Roy Ayers, Walter Booker, William Allen, Ali Muhammad

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, GOPAM ENTERPRISES INC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Album Debut
"Bonita Applebum" is a song by American hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest from their debut album "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" in 1990.
Single Release
"Bonita Applebum" was the group's second single, following their debut single "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo."
Song Origin
The song was reportedly about an actual girl the group knew while growing up in Queens, New York.
Lyrics
The song is an ode to a girl named Bonita Applebum, featuring clever wordplay and double entendre from Q-Tip.
Music Video
The music video for "Bonita Applebum" is noted for its cinematic feel. It was one of the first videos by the band to receive significant airplay.
Remix
A well-known remix of "Bonita Applebum" includes a sample from "Memory Band" by Rotary Connection. The remixed version was included in the re-issue of the band's debut album.
Impact on Other Artists
The song has been sampled and reworked by countless other artists, including Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z.
Beauty Standard Commentary
"Bonita Applebum" is seen as a commentary on black beauty standards. The song is appreciated for its lyrics expressing admiration for a woman's natural beauty.
Song Popularity
"Bonita Applebum" reached #56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it was ranked #477 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.
Song Samples
The song itself incorporates several samples from other songs, including "Daylight" by RAMP, "Memory Band" by Rotary Connection, and "Soul Vibrations" by Kool & the Gang.
Phife Dawg’s Contributions
Although Q-Tip is the primary vocalist on this track, Phife Dawg, another member of the group, contributed significantly to the track's creation and it marked the beginning of his music career.
Additional Lyrics
There is an extended version of the song with additional verses, which is available on some versions of the debut album.
High School Song
The song is said to have been written while the members of the group were still in high school.
Message Decoding
Music and cultural critics suggest the song subtly explores subjects like puberty, sexual attraction, and maturity.
Grammy Hall of Fame
In 2018, "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm," the album "Bonita Applebum" is on, was selected for inclusion in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

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