Humpin’ Around – Bobby Brown | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#3) & R&B (#1 for 2 weeks); 1992

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Tabloid media coverage of Bobby Brown‘s ongoing personal problems has overshadowed his groundbreaking achievements in the introducing New Jack Swing to middle America.

Born in Boston’s tough Roxbury section, Bobby hooked up with schoolmates Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins early on. Though still in elementary school, the three practiced their singing, and later shared vocal chores as part of New Edition.

With Bobby out front, NE charmed the girls for three years, then, in 1986, he struck out for a solo stab at more adult oriented music. That year Bobby’s ballad, Girlfriend, landed him atop the R&B chart, and 18 months later the explosive one-two punch of Don’t Be Cruel and My Prerogative made him the hottest star new on the planet.

Bobby seemed unstoppable until a three year chart slump sidelined him. Humpin’ Around – featuring rapper Stylz – turned things around, and Bobby once again reigned at the top.

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:

  • L.A. Reid
  • Babyface
  • Daryl Simmons

Lyrics Written by:

  • Antonio Reid
  • Kenneth Edmonds
  • Daryl Simmons
  • Bobby Brown
  • Thomas Keyes
  • Jan C. “Stylz” Styles

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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).