Laffy Taffy (song)
| "Laffy Taffy" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Laffy Taffy" is a song by the Atlanta based hip-hop group D4L, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2006. The song's success on the charts was largely due to its enormous sales. The song had a record 175,272 downloads during week after Christmas to soar to number 1 on the Hot 100 after first peaking at number 2 four weeks earlier. During the week after Christmas, U.S. digital download sales saw an enormous increase with 15 different titles shattering the previous weekly download benchmark set by Kanye West with his fall 2005 hit single "Gold Digger".
Lyrical Meaning
The term "Laffy Taffy" refers to the backside of a woman, as various other sexual innuendoes are distributed throughout the song. Some believe that it is when a girl shakes her butt, then stops shaking, the part of her butt that continues to jiggle is called Laffy Taffy.
Another possibility is that the "Laffy Taffy" they are referring to is the labia minora of the female genitalia, which in some females resembles stretched out taffy. See also 50 Cent's "Candy Shop." It is slang term used mainly by men who frequent strip clubs in which women perform in the nude. The true definition is often hidden from females because the development of the "Laffy Taffy" condition may be embarrassing for a female, as this suggests excessive sexual intercourse.
The confusion in the meaning of the phrase is due to the true meaning not being acceptable in mainstream society. This is similar to the phrase "Skeet" which was popularised by Lil Jon. Most did not know the true meaning of skeet, yet they still liked the song and sang along oblivious to what they were singing. For these reasons, it is often convenient to refer to Laffy Taffy as the buttocks of a woman, even though that definition bears little relation to what the candy Laffy Taffy looks like.
Criticism
The song has been criticized for its simplistic production and lyrics. It has been said that the rhythm section of the song is based on a Casio keyboard melody.
Laffy Taffy's simplicity was demonstrated when the song was being discussed on KTTB-FM, a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based hip-hop and R&B radio station on the The Tone E. Fly Morning Show. During the discussion, one of the station's interns yelled in the background, "Hey, that song is so easy, my clique could've come up with it!"
Tone E. Fly replied, "Then maybe when should do a little freestyle remix right now! Let's call it "Twerk Some". The intern, now in the DJ booth, responded, "No, it has to be about a body part." Yet another intern yelled "Boobs! Do a song about boobs!"
Fly, quick on the mic, said, "What's a southern word for boobs?" The first intern, after thinking for a moment, blurted out, "Tig ol' bitties!" (sic) The DJ then proceded to loop the song's introduction hook, and after the chorus consisting of the entire cast and crew repeatedly yelling "Tig ol' bitties!", Tone E. Fly and the interns rapped several verses of freestyle on the air, even referencing the song's original subject, the female human behind, on several occasions.
It has also been criticized for encouraging sexual arousal.
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Billboard Hot 100 | #1 (1 week) |
| 2006 | Billboard Pop 100 | #3 |
| 2005 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | #15 |
| 2006 | Hot Digital Songs | #1 (2 weeks) |
| 2006 | Hot Digital Tracks (Explicit Album Version) |
#1 (2 Weeks) |
| 2006 | Hot Rap Tracks | #6 |