Bump n' Grind (R. Kelly song)

"Bump n' Grind" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer-songwriter R. Kelly. It was released on January 28, 1994 by Jive Records, as the second single from his debut solo studio album, 12 Play (1993). The track became a number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 (temporarily interrupting the six-week run of Ace of Base's "The Sign"), and it also spent twelve weeks at number one on the US Hot R&B Songs chart as Kelly's third number-one R&B hit, becoming the longest-running number-one of 1994 in the US, and the longest-running R&B single at that time. The song also reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, following the massive success of his previous single, "She's Got That Vibe" (which was actually a re-release).

"Bump n' Grind"
Single by R. Kelly
from the album 12 Play
B-side	"Definition of a Hotti"
Released	January 28, 1994 (1994-01-28)
Recorded	1993
Genre	R&B
Length	4:14
Label	Jive
Songwriter(s)	Robert Kelly
Producer(s)	R. Kelly
R. Kelly singles chronology
"Sex Me" (1993) "Bump n' Grind" (1994) "Your Body's Callin'" (1994)
Music video
"Bump n' Grind" on YouTube

Kelly released three versions of "Bump n' Grind": the original album version and two remixes. The original LP version was made available for airplay on urban and Top 40 pop radio stations alike at first, but eventually the "Old School" remix was issued shortly and gained massive airplay on urban, adult R&B/soul and rhythmic radio stations. Kelly also released the "Bump n' Grind (How I Feel It Extended Mix)", which was used in the original video for the song. This version received major play on urban radio as well. Some stations still played the original version until Kelly's music largely vanished from playlists leading up to and following his conviction.

Critical reception

Martin Johnson from Chicago Reader wrote, "On the album’s second single, 'Bump n’ Grind', which caught everyone but Kelly off guard by becoming one of the biggest R&B hits of all time, he sings mostly about lust; his idea of subtlety is anguished longing, and he cradles his earthy melismata in soft, billowy backgrounds. It's as if he sought to combine the tormented craving of Marvin Gaye’s 'Let’s Get It On' with the sultry cool of Sade’s 'Nothing Can Come Between Us'."^[1] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton felt that it's "a rather slower track but certain to be boosted by his imminent arrival on these shores for a series of concerts in career boosting move that echoes the rise of Bobby Brown here in 1989."^[2] Ralph Tee from Music Week's RM Dance Update said, "Less instant than 'Sex Me' but now a firm favourite from the album, R Kelly and associates beef up this raunchy ballad with extra bass drum and snare kick for a superb slow jam. Kelly also gives himself an opportunity to stretch out vocally on the tune, showcasing some impressive technique atop the infectious background harmonies. Already large in R&B circles and from an album that sounds better with every spin."^[3] Another editor, James Hamilton, described it as a "moaning 'I don't see nothin' wrong' 65bpm groin grinder".^[4] John Mulvey from NME commented, "My mind's telling me no/But my body's telling me yes, claims R Kelly, rather passionately, before sloping into a syrupy and bogus justification of his lurrrve."^[5]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Bump n' Grind" did not feature the famous intro. It was filmed like a live concert performance and was directed by Kim Watson.^[6]

Live performances

Kelly always performed the intro of the song at almost all events he performed in; he usually performed the "Bump N' Grind (Remix)" instead of the original at concert, despite the original single's huge success. Kelly performed the remix versions of the song on various shows in 1994, on The Arsenio Hall Show, Billboard Music Award and Soul Train.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1994–1995) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[7] 82 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 35 Europe (European Dance Radio)[9] 19 Ireland (IRMA)[10] 26 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[11] 10 Netherlands (Dutch Single Tip)[12] 10 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 49 Scotland (OCC)[14] 33 UK Singles (OCC)[15] 8 UK Club Chart (Music Week)[16] 62 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 1 US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[18] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[19] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[20] 24 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[21] 1 Chart (2013) Peak position UK Singles (OCC) 92

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position US Billboard Hot 100[22] 11 US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[23] 1 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[24] 55

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[25]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[26]	Platinum	1,200,000[27]
United States (RIAA)[26] Mastertone	Gold	500,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	January 28, 1994	12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Jive	[26]
United Kingdom	February 14, 1994	12-inch vinyl CD		[28]
United Kingdom (re-release)	January 9, 1995	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl cassette		[29]

Legacy

Uses in popular culture

• The song is used in numerous films such as Without a Paddle, American Reunion, Project X, The Wackness and Grimsby.
• The song is in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV on the radio station The Vibe 98.8.
• The song has been used in the British comedy series Gavin & Stacey, ABC Series Super Fun Night and the American adult animated sitcom American Dad!.
• Artists like Bruno Mars, B. Smyth, Bobby V, Adrian Marcel and Chris Brown have covered this song live.
• In 2013 a video went viral on social media showing an old man singing this song in his backyard.

Later samples

• "I'll Take Her" (Ill Al Scratch featuring Brian McKnight)
• "Body Bumpin' (Yippie-Yi-Yo) Remix" (Public Announcement)
• "Rodeo" (Juvenile) (samples: "Bump n' Grind (Old School Remix)")
• "Karate Chop Remix" (Future featuring Lil Wayne)
• "Songs on 12 Play" (Chris Brown featuring Trey Songz)

"Bump & Grind 2014"

"Bump & Grind 2014"
Single by Waze & Odyssey vs. R. Kelly
Released	October 19, 2014 (2014-10-19)
Recorded	2012
Genre	House
Length	3:00
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	R. Kelly
Producer(s)	Serge Santiágo Firas Waez
R. Kelly singles chronology
"It's Your World" (2014) "Bump & Grind 2014" (2014) "Ignition (Viceroy Remix)" (2014)

British house duo Waze & Odyssey produced a bootleg of the track in 2012, sampling "Push the Feeling On" by Nightcrawlers. The remix was officially released on October 19, 2014, peaking at #3 on the UK Singles Chart, and would be R. Kelly's last UK Top 40 hit prior to his criminal convictions.

Background

"Bump & Grind 2014" was produced by the duo Serge Santiágo and Firas Waez, also known as Waze & Odyssey. The record started as an underground hit in 2012, more DJs were playing the song at clubs as time went on. But it was not until 2014 it got a major release from their label RCA and started getting airplay. At the time it was an underground favorite among famous British DJs like Skream, DJ EZ, Duke Dumont, Rudimental were playing it at clubs.^[30]

We made it to play in a DJ set one night. We played it out and it went wild. Then a few DJs asked for a copy and they started playing it out and we were getting all these wild reports back. About a year ago someone approached us about releasing it and so we decided to put it out there for those who maybe hadn't heard it. It's been an underground favourite for a while now.

Music video

The music video was released two months before the actual official release of the song. The video features Hok from the American hip hop group Quest Crew as the main person.

Formats and track listings

• Digital download^[31]

1. "Bump & Grind 2014" – 3:00

• Digital remixes EP^[32]

1. "Bump & Grind 2014" (Extended Mix) – 7:23
2. "Bump & Grind 2014" (Special Request VIP) – 8:34
3. "Bump & Grind 2014" (Le Youth Remix) – 4:01

Charts

Chart (2014–2015)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[33]	39
Australia Dance (ARIA)[34]	8
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[35]	24
Ireland (IRMA)[36]	65
Scotland (OCC)[37]	3
UK Singles (OCC)[38]	3
UK Dance (OCC)[39]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[40]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1994
• List of number-one R&B singles of 1994 (U.S.)