Louisiana Jiggin(g) - YouTube Dance Videos, Information, & Comments

TweeVo, Dec 26, 2015
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WARNING -  The lyrics for this song includes a short line in which the four letter "f" word is chanted two times. This song doesn't include any other curse words and it also doesn't include the pejorative referent that is commonly known as "the n word".  

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Revision - Sept. 29, 2023

This pancocojams post showcases four videos of Louisiana Jjiggin(g) and presents some information about that contemporary social music and dance form. This post also presents some comments from the discussion threads of these YouTube videos. 

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/tweeday-tag-me-in-popular-20152016-jigg.html for a closely related pancocojams post entitled "Tweeday -"Tag Me In" (A Popular 2015/2016 Jigg Song With Lyrics & Explanations About What Those Words Mean)".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/mississippis-mohead-swagg-dance-part-i.html  for Part I of a closely related pancocojams series on Mississippi's Mohead Swagg dance.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/09/mississippis-mohead-swagg-dance-part-ii.html for Part II of a closely related pancocojams series on Mississippi's Mohead Swagg dance.

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DEFINITIONS FOR "JIGGIN(G)

Definition from Pancocojams Editor (Azizi Powell, 2023)
"Jigg" is a Hip Hop style of social dancing that originated among African Americans in Louisiana around 2002. The spelling of the word "jigg" differentiates it from the much older jig dance forms that are always spelled with one "g".

The contemporary word "jigg" and "jiggin(g)" are nouns that refer to the dance and/or the music that is used for that dance. The word "Jigg" and "jiggin(g) are also verbs that means to do that type of dance. The word "jigger" refers to people who "jigg". 

Jiggin(g) consists of dancers shaking their arms, bending their knees, wiggling their body and doing footwork and/or other movements to the rhythm of a Jigg record, Jiggin(g)  performances are usually freestyle. Jiggers often battle other dancers so that onlookers can judge who is the best jigger. 

Almost all of the YouTube videos about jiggin(g) and its related forms (including Mississippi Mohead Swagg) show teenagers or young adult African American males doing these dances indoors or outdoors. Females and non-Black people are rarely shown in these jiggin(g). videos although some comments in YouTube discussion threads about this dance document that anyone who wants to can jigg (or at least) try to jigg. 

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Definition from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jigging
"Jigging

A style of dancing originating in Louisiana where the dancer vigorously shakes there arms and wiggles there knees at the same time. It is a weird combination of legs movements, arms movements, jumps and head movements. Easily One Of The Most Creative Dances Seen. TOO BAD NOT MANY PEOPLE OUT OF LOUISIANA KNOWS. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SHARE JIGGING TO THE WORLD.

Dancer #1: Let's Start Jigging.

Dancer #2: CUT UP!!!!!!!!!

by DK Drew March 23, 2016"
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Other slang definitions of "jigging" that are found on urbandictionary.com don't pertain to music or dancing.

"Cut up" is a Louisiana African American Vernacular English term that probably derives from the phrase "cutting loose". "Cut up" is used to describe someone cutting loose on the dance floor, or is used as an exhortation to dance [or continue to dance] very well.

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ARTICLE EXCERPTS ABOUT JIGGIN(G)
Excerpt #1
From https://donneyrose.info/writings/f/this-ones-for-the-jiggalatorsjig-origins This One's For The Jiggalators... Jig Origins, June 8, 2021 [no author credited]
..."the Baton Rouge rapper known as "The Original Jiggalator", is often credited with releasing the earliest known "jig" record back in 2002 on Baton Rouge indie label, Money & Power Records. His song, "Jiggalate", was ubiquitous in Baton Rouge clubs and on area hip hop stations as an ode to the euphoria that came from partying while "rollin' on them jiggas." "Jiggas", or ecstasy as it's more commonly known, had become the street drug of choice for usage and distribution in Baton Rouge. Classified as a stimulant, the impact of ecstasy is said to enhance the user's sense of pleasure and self-confidence, and because it is also considered a hallucinogen, users often express feelings of peacefulness, acceptance, and empathy while taking it.

One primary effect of ecstasy as a stimulant is the way it impacts the dancing and overall movement of users. According to a report by the University of Michigan Medicine, the stimulant effect can help a person dance for long periods of time without ever getting tired. On "Jiggalators" Sam I Am begins the chorus with the line you can find me in the club <i>jiggalatin'...jiggalatin', a nod to "jiggas" being a prerequisite to cuttin' loose in the party</i>. On the second verse, he references the sensation of his "jaws lockin'" and "breath stankin'" as a  result of a night of jiggin' hard. This reference is not one of creative hyperbole as muscle tension, clenched jaws and dehydration are scientifically researched signs of excessive ecstasy use. At its most dangerous, a high dosage of ecstasy can fatally elevate a user's body temperature as the dehydration it causes can lead to kidney and/or heart failure.

SAM I AM "JIGGALATE ON YOUTUBE

But as poisonous as the promotion of popping jiggas was in Baton Rouge rap music, at its essence, it could be assumed that artists like Sam I Am were experimenting and advocating for some level of escape via their usage. Drugs had long been commonplace in hip hop culture, and in the 2000s the evolution of rappers-as-users became much more prevalent in the music as many of its creators were the offspring of addicts that succumbed to the devastation of the crack era. Jiggas or "Molly" or "ex" or ecstasy users were not viewed as pitiful or grotesque as crack cocaine users. Pill poppers dismissed a drug that would create an epidemic for those who regularly consumed it, as something recreational they engaged in to be able to go hard all night either on the dance floor or in the bedroom.

Sam I Am's "Jiggalate" made it fashionable for Baton Rouge rappers to make uninhibited music and boast about their ability to "pop one, pop two" and still survive to jig another day. But every listener influenced by the music did not last long enough to dance to every record the genre produced"...
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The dates for jiggin in Baton Rouge, Louisiana agree with the dates given in this comment (found at Discussion Thread #4, :1 below) posted by @k3eperthedon, 2017
"We definitely started the JIG TRADITION IN BATON ROUGE, LA IN 2002-2003, this is just a newer version. New Orleans has the New Orleans skip that is SIMILAR but Jigging originated in BR!" 
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This essay begins with information about Baton Rouge's earlier contributions to rap.

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Excerpt #2
From  https://1079ishot.com/baton-rouge-police-officer-jigging-high-school-students-video/ "Police Officer Goes Viral After Jigging With Baton Rouge High School Students"

DJ Digital, Published: September 22, 2022
"Baton Rouge is known as the home of jigging—"a style of dancing originating in Louisiana where the dancer vigorously shakes their arms and wiggles their knees at the same time."

[…]

Urban Dictionary goes on to describe it as "a weird combination of leg movements, arms movements, jumps, and head movements." Actually, the whole definitely is pretty hilarious.

[…]

Jigging is a style of dance that goes best with "jig music"—also an artform that exists almost exclusively out of Baton Rouge and throughout Louisiana.

A few jig classics that you're probably familiar with include (but are not limited to):

Lil Boosie ft. Foxx & Webbie - Wipe Me Down [release date 2006]

Mouse & Level - I Bet U Won't [release date 2016]

Foxx - Jigga Train [release date 2011]

HD4President - Touch Down 2 Cause Hell [release date 2015]

BBE AJ ft. Lil Boosie - Doing My Dance (Remix)”… [release date 2020]
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I added the release dates for those Jigg records. 

WARNING - Many jigg songs and YouTube comments about those songs and that dance form include profanity and a four letter form of what is commonly known as "the n word". Jigg  songs (raps) focus on dancing. From what I've noticed, those records rarely include violent or sexually explicit content.

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT JIGGIN(G)
These discussion threads are presented in no particular order. The comments are given in chronological order with the earliest comments in that discussion thread given first except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

DISCUSSION THREAD #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLcksaXDiWQ

[This is the discussion thread for the video that is embedded in this pancocojams post.
Some of these comments quote lyrics from that song.] 

2016

1. @jamesflowers1822
"good job y'all can jigg"

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2. @20luvdunbar09
"good for exercising...I'm all outta breath over this way😰😰"

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3. @Kingdanzz
"Lol we was so tired making this dance so I know everyone else is tired but I'm glad y'all enjoy it"

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4. @nataliebanks1038
"if you want jigg clap 2 times if you ready jigg clap 2 times now get you 1 get you 2 say bow bow right leg left leg right leg left leg break your back."

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5. @kayg3920
"We listended to this today at school"

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6. @faithcroskey4348
"Like dat jigging song 😍❤️"

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7. @enolatackno521
"I'm a girl and i know how to jigg and I'm 9 years old and every day I do this dance"

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8. @trevorisnorman4934
"jiggin to it right now"

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9. @kaliiiyah384
"we be turnt in the 318 idk what yall talking bout Shreveport lit 🔥🔥"

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10. @debrianbutler6452
"I can jigggg right leg left leg"

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11. @alexanderrobert9353
"Jigg of 2016❤"

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12. @IamSheRaAlise
"play this at my party , nobody knew what was going on but surely wanted to tag in lol"

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13. @zaniyalanaute6269
"+Zaniya Lanaute I love your song tag me n"

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14. @zaniyalanaute6269
"+Zaniya Lanaute I be practice and and and listen to all day"

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15. @dekiahyoungblood4480
"awesome tagg me in 😊😊😊😊😀😀😄😄😄"

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16.@ciarajohnson4743
"this sh-t* is good and I'm always jiggin to song but this one mostly 😀😀😀👍👍👍👍💜💚💛💙❤"

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17. @gb3banks826
"Shreveport lit up 🔥"

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18. @kenzkenzilee._6539
"GB3Banks you already know 🔥🔥🔥😭"

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19. @melaniemyles7
"I shake my bootie off to jigg"

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2017

20. @dionsmoot5649
"I love tag me in it is awsome it's on fire💥💥💥💥💥💥💣💣💣💣"

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21. @triniteeglover2390
"We be turnin up in New Orleans with this cause tbh its really lit"

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22. @L3t1t8e
"I'm assuming that this is bounce music"

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23. @jamieflanagan4110
"Missy G nah fam this jigging music"

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24. @yungxtsunamiyt8996
"Missy G nah.this alil more safe"

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25. @lanaciawashingtongeaux_nae7988
"Jigg in school fr fr 😍😍👯👯💃🏾"

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26. @damondavis1465
"break your back back do   it for the Snapchat"

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27. @dionsmoot5649
"I love tag me in it is awsome it's on fire💥💥💥💥💥💥💣💣💣💣"

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28. @russellmusictv4403
"This is that new hokey pokey"

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29. @Milly2
"i wana learn how to jigg"

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30. @malachisimson4590
"Caimille. it easy"

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31. @nikethamathews1732
"Caimille. its kinda complicated"

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32. @RRZoe, 2018
"Caimille. Come to lousiana you gon learn"

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33. @lasoniajohnson5054, 2018
"Plus its a different between learning n just knowinf"

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2019

35.@chabrinaparker5894
"We reppin Louisiana y oi u know"

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36. @LidtJay2001
"Y’all killed that 🔥🔥"

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37. @kohgelo3653
"School had an event with this song best believe me and my friend jigged hard than a mf"

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2020

38. @KottonmouthChannel
"They took our sh-t* and renamed it the futsal shuffle"
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*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

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2022

39. @tanky_boii
"It still be lit till this day🔥"

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2023

40. @redstarz_
"Aint no way my principal played this at a ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DANCE 🥶💀"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: SU Homecoming Jiggfest ft Danrue, Tweeday & GeezyAllStar

Couch Potateaux, Dec 10, 2016
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Southern University is a historically Black university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread:

2017

1. @udoxiamyers4650
"This is the first time I'm seeing this dance so I'm mad confused..."

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2. @jusfadez5920
"Someone call the paramedics they are having seizures on stage!!"

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3. @caciatodoroki9334, 2018
"Jus Fadezz jiggin is part of the culture down here in BR, Louisiana.. you won’t understand if u not from here"

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4. @jamaal964
"Hi I'm new here...what style of dance is this?"

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5. @CouchPotateaux
"Handsome J it's called Jiggin. it's a Louisiana dance that started in Baton Rouge. big culture down here. Lol"

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6. @shariffwashington1107
"Not to knock it but we been Beating our feet.  Guess it depends on where you from."

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7. @shariffwashington1107
"The Beat Your Feet Kings was doing this 10years ago. How they gon call this new this some D.C. stuff. Don't believe me look it up they were on Americas Best Dance Crew. Plenty of videos of them and other D.C. Folks doing this"
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"Beat ya feet" is a very similar footwork dance that is done in the DMV (Washington D.C., and part of Maryland and Virginia.  This dance is performed to Washington D.C.'s Go Go music 

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2018

8. @caciatodoroki9334
"Andrew Smith this is called jigging and people have been doing it for years lol it’s a Baton Rouge/ southern Louisiana thing. If you not from here you won’t understand"

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2021

9. @nsidenerd7thankful559
"This is not new look at old classic moves of the jig they been doing since the 20s and 30s and on and on our culture runs deep in dance it just comes back around"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Jigg session after school (Ttime - fall off)

li’ Show, Jun 11, 2016

Josh , Lawrence , kp , biscuit going dumb

Glen oaks high after school

He did the moonwalk 😂
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WARNING- Some profanity can be faintly heard in the record that is played for this dancing. 

Glen Oaks is a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

"Going dumb" is an African American Vernacular English term (mostly from Louisiana?) that means that the person is doing something crazy. Although this term may have started out as an insult, it appears to me that it is used as a compliment in YouTube summaries/discussions of jiggin where I've come across it (such as this video's summary)
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Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread:

2016

1. @Brent2nyce
"it's a dance but their just jumping up and down and looking stuipd I like it tho"

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Reply
2. @willcollins9011, 2020
"if youve done this before its not just jumping and its hella fun"

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Reply
3. @dorianfrancis2948, 2022
"Tell us you can’t do it without telling us you can’t do it"

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Baton Rouge jigging @2016 dances @shescreamwoodie

Le Woodie, Aug 1, 2016
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Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread:

2017

1. @k3eperthedon
"We definitely started the JIG TRADITION IN BATON ROUGE, LA IN 2002-2003, this is just a newer version. New Orleans has the New Orleans skip that is SIMILAR but Jigging originated in BR!

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Reply
2. @laslimm5656
"LoyalDes T the 90s and the early 80s"
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3. @dugge191174
"what's the name of the song"

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4. @MsBKalltheway
"Devin Taylor down bad- so whopped"

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