The fight between Whoomp and Whoot?

July 6, 2005 12:58 AM

In the nineties there were two songs: "Whoomp! There It Is" by Tag Team and "Whoot! There It Is" by 95 South. The musical hooks in both songs were too similar to be coincidence. Does anybody know why nobody sued? Who knows the story behind this?
posted by Jenesta to media & arts (8 comments total)

I believe it started as a club chant by the DJ over the music; 95 South was first to market, but Tag Team followed and ended up making more money by making the song more commercially successful by via a pop crossover.
posted by kuperman at 5:01 AM on July 6, 2005

A quick google search brought up an interview with the producer of "Whoot! There It Is" here. The songs were developed separately, but the idea "came from the streets". According to that interview both groups appeared on Arsenio together, so I guess there wasn't too much animosity.
posted by TommyH at 5:12 AM on July 6, 2005

In Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music (flash, select "Breakbeats" then "Miami South") he mentions this. Audio samples are included for anyone curious about what they each sound like.
posted by armage at 6:07 AM on July 6, 2005

What kuperman said. It was a new bit of club slang and two groups tried to capitalize on it. The hooks are similar because the phrase sort of dictates it. (I believe that "The roof is on fire" is a similar sort of thing.)

It's similar to the idea that the 'Aiiiiir-baaaaallll' that is chanted at basketball games all sounds alike.
posted by unixrat at 6:37 AM on July 6, 2005

I seem to remember a EP that was issued that even had 95 South guest-starring on the more popular Tag Team single.
posted by WCityMike at 7:08 AM on July 6, 2005

armage's link should actually be

http://www.di.fm/edmguide/music.swf

(great link btw)
posted by rkent at 11:14 AM on July 6, 2005

Bless all of your souls! I knew I could count on you all! :)

TommyH:
My google searches turned up the interview, but I think I didn't read it closely enough. That'll teach me.

armage:
That link is AWESOME. Thank you!
posted by Jenesta at 3:28 PM on July 6, 2005

Also, towards the end of Run DMC's "Peter Piper," there's a little scratching action and then someone shouts "there it is!" Not sure if that's related at all.
posted by rxrfrx at 3:46 PM on July 21, 2005