Rosa Parks

OutKast

About Rosa Parks

"Rosa Parks" is a song by the hip hop group Outkast. It was released as the first single from their album Aquemini (1998), and was that album's most successful single. The song's title comes from the Civil Rights Movement activist Rosa Parks.


Year:
1998
4:07
846 

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Ah ha, hush that fuss
Everybody move to the back of the bus
Do you want to bump and slump with us
We the type of people make the club get crunk

Ah ha, hush that fuss
Everybody move to the back of the bus
Do you want to bump and slump with us
We the type of people make the club get crunk

Many a day has passed, the night has gone by
But still I find the time to put that bump off in your eye
Total chaos, for these players, thought we was absent
We takin' another route to represent the Dungeon Family
Like Great Day, me and my nigga decide to take the back way
We stabbing every city then we headed to that bat cave
A-T-L, Georgia, what we do for ya
Bull doggin' hoes like them Georgetown Hoyas
Boy you sounding silly, thank my Brougham ain't sittin' pretty
Doing doughnuts round you suckas like then circles around titties
Damn we the committee gone burn it down
But us gone bust you in the mouth with the chorus now

Ah ha, hush that fuss
Everybody move to the back of the bus
Do you want to bump and slump with us
We the type of people make the club get crunk

Ah ha, hush that fuss
Everybody move to the back of the bus
Do you want to bump and slump with us
We the type of people make the club get crunk

I met a gypsy and she hipped me to some life game
To stimulate then activate the left and right brain
Said baby boy you only funky as your last cut
You focus on the past your ass'll be a has what
that's one to live by or either that one to die to
I try to just throw it at you determine your own adventure
Andre, got to her station here's my destination
She got off the bus, the conversation lingered in my head for hours
Took a shower kinda sour cause my favorite group ain't coming with it
But I'm with ya you cause you probably going through it anyway
But anyhow when in doubt went on out and bought it
Cause I thought it would be jamming but examine all the flawsky-wawsky
Awfully, it's sad and it's costly, but that's all she wrote
And I hope I never have to float in that boat
Up shit creek it's weak is the last quote
That I want to hear when I'm going down when all's said and done
And we got a new joe in town
When the record player get to skipping and slowing down
All yawl can say is them niggas earned that crown but until then

Ah ha, hush that fuss
Everybody move to the back of the bus
Do you want to bump and slump with us
We the type of people make the club get crunk

Ah ha, hush that fuss
Everybody move to the back of the bus
Do you want to bump and slump with us
We the type of people make the club get crunk

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OutKast

Outkast was an American hip hop duo formed in 1992 in East Point, Georgia, composed of Atlanta-based rappers André "André 3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. more »

4 fans

Written by: Andre Benjamin, Antwan Patton

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Title Significance
The song "Rosa Parks" is named after a civil rights activist who was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. Although the song's lyrics do not directly relate to Rosa Parks or the civil rights movement, Andre 3000 confirmed in interviews that the title is a metaphor for OutKast’s position in the music industry.
Commercial Success
Released in 1998 as the first single from their album "Aquemini,” "Rosa Parks" peaked at number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It helped establish OutKast's reputation as mainstream hip-hop artists.
Lawsuit Controversy
In 1999, Rosa Parks sued OutKast and their record label, claiming the song's title misled listeners to believe she had approved it or contributed to it. The lawsuit was settled in 2005, although the terms were not disclosed. As a part of the settlement, the record label agreed to work with Rosa Parks to produce educational programs that explain her role in the civil rights movement.
Music Style
The song fused traditional Southern blues and hip-hop, introducing an acoustic guitar loop backed by a harmonica during the chorus. It reflected OutKast’s ambition to challenge convention with their unique and eclectic sound.
Grammy Nomination
"Rosa Parks" was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 1999 Grammy Awards. Although it did not win, the nomination further solidified OutKast's position in the music industry.
Music Video
The music video, directed by Gregory Dark, featured OutKast leading a crowd of young people through a rural landscape towards a city. This served as a metaphor for their emergence from the South onto the national music scene.
Mixed Critical Reception
While "Rosa Parks" was commercially successful, critical reception was mixed. Some praised OutKast's innovative musical style, while others felt the title was disrespectful to Rosa Parks and the civil rights movement.
Cultural Impact
"Rosa Parks" earned the rank of number 55 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop songs of all time in 2016, cementing its place in music history.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by several artists in different genres, demonstrating its wide appeal. Examples include a bluegrass cover by artist Keller Williams.
Influence on Other Artists
The unique blend of hip-hop and southern blues in "Rosa Parks" has influenced numerous other artists, including Kid Rock, who sampled the song's harmonica riff in his 2008 hit "All Summer Long".

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    Rosa Parks

    16.8M
    108.8K     4,068

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1999

    Billboard #55


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