Dances often capture the zeitgeist, becoming cultural phenomena as quickly as they fade away. Few dances in recent memory have exploded into the mainstream consciousness quite like the Dab Dab Dance. From its underground origins in the trap music scene to its peak, where millions worldwide watched eagerly for a glimpse of Cam Newton dabbing during the Super Bowl, the dab’s journey was nothing short of spectacular and fleeting.
However, as quickly as it rose, the dab dab dance seemingly vanished, declared “dead” by one of its originators, Quavo of Migos. To commemorate its short but impactful lifespan, let’s delve into the story of the dab, exploring its birth, rapid ascent, peak popularity, and eventual decline.
The Genesis of the Dab Dance: Summer 2014
The exact origins of the dab dab dance are shrouded in the typical ambiguity of viral trends. While it likely emerged organically from the Atlanta youth culture, the Quality Control collective played a pivotal role in popularizing the move. Artists like Migos, Rich the Kid, and notably Skippa da Flippa are widely credited with being early adopters and proponents of the dance, helping to seed its initial spread within the hip-hop community.
The Dab Dance Takes Off: Spring 2015
By the spring of 2015, the dab dab dance was beginning to break out of its regional confines. Attendees at a Rae Sremmurd show during SXSW noticed performers on stage incorporating a distinctive move: heads dropped low while one arm shot upwards with each beat. Confusion mingled with intrigue as half the audience mirrored the motion, while the other half, much like a writer from DJBooth attending the show, were left trying to decipher this emerging trend. Soon after, even artists like Earl Sweatshirt were seen experimenting with the move on stage, blurring the lines between earnest adoption and playful parody. It was becoming increasingly clear – a new dance phenomenon was brewing within hip-hop.
Dab Mania Reaches its Zenith: Winter 2015
Winter of 2015 marked the undeniable peak of the dab dab dance. Social media platforms like Snapchat and Vine acted as accelerants, propelling the dance into the hands (and bodies) of teenagers across the nation. Crucially, its adoption by mainstream athletes, from LeBron James to Cam Newton, catapulted the dab into everyday American culture. The NFL, with its massive viewership, proved to be the perfect launching pad. Once Cam Newton began dabbing on the football field, the dab was no longer just a hip-hop dance move; it was a national sensation.
Mainstream media outlets, often peripheral to hip-hop culture, scrambled to cover the phenomenon. The dab permeated every corner of American life. It became ubiquitous in the backgrounds of live news broadcasts, and even politicians, in a bid for relatability, attempted awkward dabs on talk shows like Ellen. What started as a localized dance within Atlanta’s trap music scene had morphed into the 2015 equivalent of the Macarena or the Electric Slide, a universally recognized, if not always understood, dance craze.
Among the countless dabs executed during this period, one stood out: a young man who flawlessly dabbed during a Christian ministry pledge drive. This moment epitomized the dance’s pervasive reach, a truly iconic dab captured for posterity.
The Demise of the Dab Dab Dance: June 20, 2016
Just as quickly as it ascended, the dab dab dance began its descent. In June 2016, TMZ caught up with Migos outside LAX airport, where Quavo officially declared what had been increasingly apparent: the dab was retiring, joining the ranks of fleeting trends like “bling” and the Nae Nae. While its disappearance wouldn’t be instantaneous – athletes like JR Smith were still dabbing in celebratory moments, and artists like Desiigner continued to incorporate a spastic version of the move into their performances – the official word was out. The dab dab dance was no longer the cultural phenomenon it once was.
The dab’s reign lasted approximately two years – longer than a fruit fly’s life, but shorter than a hamster’s. Like many trends, it may eventually circle back into nostalgic popularity, perhaps in another five years or so. It was, undeniably, a memorable cultural ride while it lasted. And as the cycle of internet trends continues, the world has already moved on, eagerly anticipating the next viral dance craze to take center stage.
