Bump N' Grind

Album: 12 Play (1993)
Charted: 8 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In the early to mid '90s, many R&B songs had titles that referred specifically to sex. Some of these were obvious, such as Color Me Badd's "I Wanna Sex You Up" and R. Kelly's previous single "Sex Me," but others found new and exciting ways to describe the nasty. Some of these songs popularized the catch phrases they came from, including Candyman's "Knockin' Boots" and Silk's "Freak Me," but this song took the phrase "Bump N' Grind" to a new level. While the phrase certainly indicates sex, it could also refer to dancing or many other activities. It even became a popular on air saying for ESPN anchor Stuart Scott.
  • British house duo Waze & Odyssey produced a bootleg of the track, which was originally just for their DJ sets. Their reworking took on a life of its own after it was uploaded to YouTube and the remix was officially released on October 19, 2014 reaching #3 on the UK singles chart.
  • Waze & Odyssey's version samples Nightcrawlers' mid '90s hit "Push the Feeling On."

Comments: 1

  • Gonzo from UkOriginated the term "Bump & Grind"? Uuuh. Nope. David Lee Roth includes a song by the same title on his 1986 album "Eat 'em and Smile", and the phrase itself was popular many years before that. I've read the phrase in books dating back to the early 1950's which implied the usage of the phrase "Bump & Grind" being commonplace amongst Jazz & Blues musicians in the 1920s & '30s, so crediting R.Kelly with the origin of the phrase is incorrect (and really rather stupid).
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.