"You're a jerk", "Teach me how to jerk" phrases that make me look back like 
years later as I think back on my teen-aged youth. But they meant something at the time, for me jerkin represents a moment in the ever changing hip hop landscape. We were going from tall tees and baggy jeans to bright colors and skinny jeans. We were "nerds" and "geeked up" and tried to flex by doing the reject and catdaddy for all to see.
But what did it all really mean to hip hop as a whole? Did it mean anything? Somehow I was reminded of this short-lived trend and found myself watching old jerkin' videos and listening to jerkin' music. High energy and kinetic to accompany the nature of the dance, with minimalist beats and spacey and often obnoxious sounds accompanying it. It shared many qualities with other hip hop of the time but I do feel it was distinct enough to look at it on it's own.
Some examples to remind you of what once was.
YG - She a Model (I think he's the only rapper from this period to have a career?)
College Boyys - Footwork
Cold Flamez - Miss Me Kiss Me Lick Me
Indigo Vanity - Rock Your World
Jinc Ent - Bad Chick Alert
The Rej3ctz - Cat Daddy
I want to be clear, none of these songs are particularly good imo. They're obnoxious and repetitive, but it was dance music and it was fun at the time. Yet, when listening to these songs and being reminded of the trend I feel as if it deserves a bit more acknowledgement. It really was a moment. Perhaps it's understated because the late 00s were a pretty transitional period for hip hop, there was a very wide variety of hip hop coming out at that time. It's easy to forget about jerkin', I often do and I was a self-proclaimed "jerk" at the time. But it did have an impact, at the very least with regards to fashion at the time.
But hey, I'm just an aging millennial looking back with nostalgia, what are your thoughts?
years later as I think back on my teen-aged youth. But they meant something at the time, for me jerkin represents a moment in the ever changing hip hop landscape. We were going from tall tees and baggy jeans to bright colors and skinny jeans. We were "nerds" and "geeked up" and tried to flex by doing the reject and catdaddy for all to see.But what did it all really mean to hip hop as a whole? Did it mean anything? Somehow I was reminded of this short-lived trend and found myself watching old jerkin' videos and listening to jerkin' music. High energy and kinetic to accompany the nature of the dance, with minimalist beats and spacey and often obnoxious sounds accompanying it. It shared many qualities with other hip hop of the time but I do feel it was distinct enough to look at it on it's own.
Some examples to remind you of what once was.
YG - She a Model (I think he's the only rapper from this period to have a career?)
College Boyys - Footwork
Cold Flamez - Miss Me Kiss Me Lick Me
Indigo Vanity - Rock Your World
Jinc Ent - Bad Chick Alert
The Rej3ctz - Cat Daddy
I want to be clear, none of these songs are particularly good imo. They're obnoxious and repetitive, but it was dance music and it was fun at the time. Yet, when listening to these songs and being reminded of the trend I feel as if it deserves a bit more acknowledgement. It really was a moment. Perhaps it's understated because the late 00s were a pretty transitional period for hip hop, there was a very wide variety of hip hop coming out at that time. It's easy to forget about jerkin', I often do and I was a self-proclaimed "jerk" at the time. But it did have an impact, at the very least with regards to fashion at the time.
But hey, I'm just an aging millennial looking back with nostalgia, what are your thoughts?
