Posse On Broadway
Encyclopedia
Posse on Broadway is a Hip Hop
song first recorded by Sir Mix-a-Lot
on his 1988 debut album Swass
.
The Broadway in the song is not New York City
's famed thoroughfare, but the Seattle street of the same name in the Capitol Hill
district (Sir Mix-a-Lot is a Seattle native).
The geography of the song is quite specific, going north up Rainier Valley
on Rainier Avenue S., then east to "23rd and Jackson," a major intersection in Seattle's traditionally black Central District
or "CD," then cruising east to Martin Luther King Jr.
Way S. where "the set looks kinda dead" so "we need a new street," then by "23rd and Union" (still in the CD, but northeast), and then to Broadway. "The college" is Seattle Central Community College
near the south end of the Broadway commercial strip, from which they drive to Taco Bell
at the north end, which "was closed" (a local joke, as that particular restaurant has a never-lit and wholly inaccurate "Open 24 Hours" sign built into the wall) so they "go back the other way" to Dick's Drive-In
, a local fast food
institution and, according to the song, "the place where the cool hang out."
There are two versions out there by Sir Mix-a-Lot: the "Radio Edit", which was played on air and the "Godzilla Remix Edit", which featured Godzilla's
signature "roar
" and a sample of the guitar riff from David Bowie
's "Fame
". The lyrics are slightly different between the two, most notably Mix-a-Lot references the "Gatorback" tires on his limo, instead of the "50-Series" in the radio edit and refers to the vehicle as "the Bistro" in the Godzilla version.
sampled the instrumental for a song known as "Poppin' On Myspace
".
Rapper Nelly
covered the song as "Natural Bridge and King's Highway," set it in St. Louis with his crew, the St. Lunatics
.
Insane Clown Posse
recorded a cover of "Posse on Broadway" for the Take a Bite Outta Rhyme
rock/rap covers compilation. ICP's version modifies the lyrics in the band's gory style and to represent the geography of their native Detroit. A slightly different version of their cover (adding a spoken intro and changing the hook, renaming it "Posse On Vernor") was released on their rare track compilation Forgotten Freshness Volume 3
.
The Portland, Oregon
Christian rap group Acts 29 covered the song as "Posse on Burnside".
Houston's South Park Mexican
covered the song, applying it to the Broadway in the Southeast, Harris County
.
Bay Area rapper E-40
recorded a remake titled "Big Ballin' With My Homies'" on his 1999 album Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire
.
DJ and producer Diplo included a version of "Posse on Broadway" on his 2008 Santigold mixtape collaboration, "Top Ranking
".
The song was remade by Dipset, titled "145th and Broadway (dipsetblockbitch)" with references to Harlem.
Sir Mix-a-Lot, himself sampled the instrumental for the track Man U Luv Ta Hate on his 1996 album Return of the Bumpasaurus
.
In 2009 Sir Mix-a-Lot released a Posse on Broadway remake titled "Posse on Broadway (Thunder Mix)" on an album titled Playlist: The Very Best Of Sir Mix-a-Lot.[3]
In 2009 Rapper Anonymous AKA Tha Loco sampled the instrumental and featured Sir Mix-A-Lot in the song 'Rollin Rainier' on the Mean Streets album. Sir Mix-A-Lot repeats the Rollin' Rainier phrase said in Posse On Broadway adding streets like Yesler to the mix.
GLC sampled a line from Posse On Broadway for his song "Clockin' Lotsa Dollaz" ft. Bun B.
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
song first recorded by Sir Mix-a-Lot
Sir Mix-a-Lot
Anthony Ray , better known by his stage name Sir Mix-a-Lot, is an emcee and producer based in Seattle, Washington. The founder of the Nastymix record label, he debuted in 1988 with Swass...
on his 1988 debut album Swass
Swass
Swass is the debut album by Sir Mix-a-Lot. It was released in 1988 on NastyMix and re-released on CD by Def American Recordings. The album featured the singles "Posse on Broadway", "Gold", "Iron Man" and "Rippn'"....
.
The Broadway in the song is not New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's famed thoroughfare, but the Seattle street of the same name in the Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington
Capitol Hill is the most densely populated residential district in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the center of the city's gay and counterculture communities, and is one of the city's most prominent nightlife and entertainment districts....
district (Sir Mix-a-Lot is a Seattle native).
The geography of the song is quite specific, going north up Rainier Valley
Rainier Valley, Seattle, Washington
The Rainier Valley neighborhood in Seattle, is located east of Beacon Hill; west of Mount Baker, Seward Park, and Leschi; south of the Central District and First Hill; and north of the city line...
on Rainier Avenue S., then east to "23rd and Jackson," a major intersection in Seattle's traditionally black Central District
Central District, Seattle, Washington
The Central District is a mostly residential district in Seattle located east of Cherry Hill, west of Madrona and Leschi, south of Capitol Hill, and north of Rainier Valley...
or "CD," then cruising east to Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
Way S. where "the set looks kinda dead" so "we need a new street," then by "23rd and Union" (still in the CD, but northeast), and then to Broadway. "The college" is Seattle Central Community College
Seattle Central Community College
Seattle Central Community College is a community college located in Seattle, Washington, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. It is one of the three colleges which make up the Seattle Community College District...
near the south end of the Broadway commercial strip, from which they drive to Taco Bell
Taco Bell
Taco Bell is an American chain of fast-food restaurants based in Irvine, California. A subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., which serves American-adapted Mexican food. Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, other specialty items, and a variety of "Value Menu" items...
at the north end, which "was closed" (a local joke, as that particular restaurant has a never-lit and wholly inaccurate "Open 24 Hours" sign built into the wall) so they "go back the other way" to Dick's Drive-In
Dick's Drive-In
Dick's Drive-In, or simply Dick's, is a fast-food restaurant chain located in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1954, Dick's is Seattle’s oldest, continuously operating fast-food restaurant. Dick's has, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal, attained status as a Seattle...
, a local fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
institution and, according to the song, "the place where the cool hang out."
There are two versions out there by Sir Mix-a-Lot: the "Radio Edit", which was played on air and the "Godzilla Remix Edit", which featured Godzilla's
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
signature "roar
Godzilla roar
The Godzilla roar is the trademarked sound the film monster Godzilla makes in most of his movies. What typifies the roar is that it sounds very mechanical and does not resemble an animal’s sound as such....
" and a sample of the guitar riff from David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's "Fame
Fame (David Bowie song)
"Fame" is a song recorded by David Bowie, initially released in 1975. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of September 20, 1975.-Song development:...
". The lyrics are slightly different between the two, most notably Mix-a-Lot references the "Gatorback" tires on his limo, instead of the "50-Series" in the radio edit and refers to the vehicle as "the Bistro" in the Godzilla version.
Charts
| Chart (1988/1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
70 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 44 |
Other versions
Soulja Boy Tell 'EmSoulja Boy Tell 'Em
DeAndre Cortez Way , better known by his stage name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, or simply Soulja Boy, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, entrepreneur, and internet personality....
sampled the instrumental for a song known as "Poppin' On Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
".
Rapper Nelly
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
covered the song as "Natural Bridge and King's Highway," set it in St. Louis with his crew, the St. Lunatics
St. Lunatics
The St. Lunatics are a hip hop group from St. Louis, Missouri formed in 1995. The group consists of Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan and City Spud. Former member Slo'Down left the group after a dispute.- Career :...
.
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
recorded a cover of "Posse on Broadway" for the Take a Bite Outta Rhyme
Take a Bite Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute to Rap
Take a Bite Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute to Rap is a rap rock compilation album that includes covers of well known hip hop songs by popular rock musicians. The album was released by Republic on October 24, 2000. The album consists of such popular names as Dynamite Hack, Staind and Fun Lovin'...
rock/rap covers compilation. ICP's version modifies the lyrics in the band's gory style and to represent the geography of their native Detroit. A slightly different version of their cover (adding a spoken intro and changing the hook, renaming it "Posse On Vernor") was released on their rare track compilation Forgotten Freshness Volume 3
Forgotten Freshness Volume 3
-Chart positions:...
.
The Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
Christian rap group Acts 29 covered the song as "Posse on Burnside".
Houston's South Park Mexican
South Park Mexican
Carlos Coy , better known by his stage name South Park Mexican, is an American rapper, founder of Dope House Records, and convicted felon...
covered the song, applying it to the Broadway in the Southeast, Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
.
Bay Area rapper E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
recorded a remake titled "Big Ballin' With My Homies'" on his 1999 album Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire
Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire
Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire is the fifth studio album by American rapper E-40, released November 9, 1999 on Jive and Sick Wid It Records. The album features production by Ant Banks, Bosko, Battlecat, Clint "Payback" Sands, Rick Rock and Studio Ton. It peaked at number 2...
.
DJ and producer Diplo included a version of "Posse on Broadway" on his 2008 Santigold mixtape collaboration, "Top Ranking
Top Ranking
Top Ranking: A Diplo Dub is a mixtape by American artist Santigold and Philadelphia-based DJ Diplo, released on July 15, 2008.-General information:...
".
The song was remade by Dipset, titled "145th and Broadway (dipsetblockbitch)" with references to Harlem.
Sir Mix-a-Lot, himself sampled the instrumental for the track Man U Luv Ta Hate on his 1996 album Return of the Bumpasaurus
Return of the Bumpasaurus
Return of the Bumpasaurus is the fifth album by emcee Sir Mix-a-Lot. The album was released in 1996 on American Recordings, which was less successful than his previous album, Chief Boot Knocka...
.
In 2009 Sir Mix-a-Lot released a Posse on Broadway remake titled "Posse on Broadway (Thunder Mix)" on an album titled Playlist: The Very Best Of Sir Mix-a-Lot.[3]
In 2009 Rapper Anonymous AKA Tha Loco sampled the instrumental and featured Sir Mix-A-Lot in the song 'Rollin Rainier' on the Mean Streets album. Sir Mix-A-Lot repeats the Rollin' Rainier phrase said in Posse On Broadway adding streets like Yesler to the mix.
GLC sampled a line from Posse On Broadway for his song "Clockin' Lotsa Dollaz" ft. Bun B.
External links
- Map of the song on Google Maps
- Map of the song's events on local.live.com
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DRVGF6/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p340_t1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0B41FH1Z1EFP1M5WFE3J&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846