Shoop (song)


"Shoop" is the lead single released from Salt-N-Pepa's fourth studio album, Very Necessary. It was produced by Mark Sparks and group member Salt. The song features an uncredited verse by rapper Big Twan. Released late in 1993, the song became one of the group's most successful singles, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Hot Rap Singles chart at number one. Two months after its release, "Shoop" was certified gold by the RIAA; it went on to sell 1,200,000 copies. The success of both this single and the follow-up single, "Whatta Man" propelled Very Necessary to sell over five million copies in the US, becoming the group's best-selling album.
This song uses a sample of the a cover version of Ike Turner's "I'm Blue " from The Sweet Inspirations. And the line "the voodoo that you do so well" was quoted from Cole Porter's 1929 song "You Do Something to Me".

Critical reception

from Billboard called the song a "funky, funky midtempo jam". He wrote that it "teases and breezes over sexy, shuffling beats." Insider said that "this catchy song helped make Salt-N-Pepa bonafide stars and marked the beginnings of their artistic freedom." Music & Media commented the track has "a spicey poppy rap style we had almost forgotten." The Network Forty noted that "a funky low groove rolls along under smooth Rap." New York Times said "it's a sexy little tribute to the male bodies that drive these rappers crazy". They also added that it is "pulsing with a funky bass line". People wrote that "Shoop" "is a grinding, bluesy come-on that overflows with good-natured lewdness." Pop Rescue said it has "got a wonderful beat vs rap relationship going on here". Smash Hits gave the song 4 out of 5, describing it as a "stomping rap thing" and "another dance classic". They commented further that the chorus "simultaneously manages to go "shoop shoop shoop" and rip off the "whoah whoah whoah" bit from the Stereo MC's' Connected."

Music video

The music video of the song was filmed at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City.

Impact and legacy

The Village Voice listed "Shoop" number 62 in their list of "Top Singles Of The 90's" in 1999.

Track listings and formats

;Maxi single
  1. Shoop -
  2. Shoop -
  3. Shoop -
  4. Let's Talk About AIDS
  5. Shoop -
  6. Shoop -
  7. Emphatically No
  8. I've Got AIDS -

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications