Booti Call – BLACKstreet | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (34) & R&B (#14); 1994
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Between 1987 and 1993 a hot combination of R&B and hip-hop called “new jack swing,” ruled urban radio playlists. Its architect was Teddy Riley, who produced Keith Sweat’s breakthrough album and debut single.
I Want Her held down the #1 R&B slot for three weeks and crossed over to the pop Top 5, sparking a run of 11 straight Top 10 R&B hits for Keith. In 1988 Riley’s funk-influenced group, Guy, became new jack swing’s main proponent, placing seven singles in the R&B Top 5.
Along the way the ever-creative Riley also worked on records by artists such as Bobby Brown, Heavy D & The Boyz, and Michael Jackson. By 1993, Guy was already history, and Riley was itching to get back into performing. Toward that end he formed BLACKstreet and reached #17 with Baby Be Mine.
Booti Call, the follow-up single, built on classic 1983 funk riffs from George Clinton (Atomic Dog) and Zapp (Heartbreaker), and rode them to #14.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Markell Riley
- Teddy Riley
- Erick Sermon
Lyrics Written by:
- George Clinton
- Antwone Dickey
- Leon F. Sylvers III
- Markell Riley
- Teddy Riley
- Erick Sermon
- Garry Shider
- David Spradley
- Larry Troutman
- Roger Troutman
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).