Rump Shaker – Wreckx-N-Effect | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

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

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Teddy Riley, the acknowledged “King of New Jack Swing,” moved from Harlem’s projects into the exciting world of new urban music in the 1980’s.

So it was natural that brother “Miggady-Mark” Markell should follow in Teddy’s footsteps. In 1989 Markell, half brother Brandon Mitchell, and Aquil Davidson formed Wreckx-N-Effect.

The group was stunned when Mitchell was shot and killed, yet, Riley and Davidson carried on. In 1992, they released Rump Shaker – a beat-heavy single which sampled N2Deep’s Back To The Hotel.

The accompanying video generated its own heat by featuring women enthusiastically following Riley’s lyrical instructions. Only 1992’s biggest single of the year, I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston, kept Rump Shaker from reaching #1.

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:

  • David Wynn
  • Teddy Riley
  • Ty Fyffe
  • Aqil Davidson
  • Markell Riley

Lyrics Written by:

  • Aqil Davidson
  • Teddy Riley
  • Pharrell Williams
  • David Wynn
  • Anton Hollins
  • Darren Callis

Check Out all the Song Meanings of the 90s
Top 100 Songs Of The 1990s

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).