Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - "The Alphabet" (A Stroll Song That Is Based On The African American Gospel Song "Since I Laid My Burdens Down")

UpCloseAndLovely, May 1, 2012

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: FAMU's Beta Alpha Chapter Singing After Graduation in Spring 2012
-snip-
The stroll song that is the focus of this post begins at 1:22 in this video until the end of the video. My unofficial transcript of these lyrics is found below.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a 2012 YouTube video of Beta Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. performing a gradution stroll that consists of the letters for the Greek alphabet. That stroll song has the same tune and some of the same  lyrics of the African American Gospel song "Glory Glory Hallelujah" ("Since I Laid My Burdens Down"). 

My unofficial transcript of that song is included in this post along with some performance notes. Additions and corrections are welcome.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to members of the Beta Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. who are featured in these video. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube. 
-snip-
Songs, chants, steps, hops, strolls, calls, and/or gestures that are associated with a historically Black Greek letter organization should never be performed by anyone who isn't a member of that specific sorority or fraternity.  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/03/glory-glory-hallelujah-since-i-laid-my.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Glory Glory Hallelujah Since I Laid My Burdens Down" (with historical information, a YouTube video, & three lyric examples)". 

The tune that is used for this Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. stroll song is the same as the tune that is usually used for "Since I Laid My Burdens Down". Also, the lyrics "since I laid my pledges down" is an adapted version of the lyrics "since I laid my burdens down".

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INFORMATION ABOUT ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Kappa_Alpha
"Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (ΑΚΑ) is the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority.[4] The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at the historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of sixteen students led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. Forming a sorority broke barriers for African-American women in areas where they had little power or authority due to a lack of opportunities for minorities and women in the early 20th century.[5] Alpha Kappa Alpha was incorporated on January 29, 1913.

The sorority is one of the nation's largest Greek-letter organizations, having more than 300,000 members in 1,024 chapters in the United States and several other countries.^[3][6] Women may join through undergraduate chapters at a college or university, or they may also join through a graduate chapter after acquiring an undergraduate or advanced college degree.^[7] "...

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES ABOUT THIS ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC. (AKA) SONG

[Additions and corrections are welcome.]

This song is part of a YouTube video of members of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) 's Beta Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. singing after that university's Spring 2012 graduation ceremony. The sorority members who just graduated wear customized kente cloth stoles that have the official colors of that sorority: salmon pink and apple green.(and other forms of pink and green). 

The portion of this video focuses on the stroll song introduced as "The Alphabet". The alphabet that is referred to in that song is the Greek alphabet that every person who pledges (joins) a Greek letter organization must learn. 

This AkA song has a call & response pattern. 

This video shows members of this chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. performing a stroll that consist of multiple songs. The sorors stand in a vertical line and stand still or "stroll" forward in a circlular manner while singing thesee songs.

Historically Black Greek letter organization (BGLO) strolls are usually performed to recorded music (usually Hip Hop/Rap or R&B). However, in this video, the only music is the women's voices, their synchronized bass sounding foot stomps, and their individual hand claps. The only other movement that is made while the women move around their self made circle is a "lean back" motion that they make on the word "down". 

The bass sounding foot stomps and individual hand claps that the women performed as well as the call & response structure of this "Alphabet" stroll song remind me somewhat of the performance activities of foot stomping cheers*, but not those cheers' words. 

I wasn't able to understand some of the "calls" that the lead singer said. As such, this is only a partial transcript.

In this video each song has its own distinct movements. The movements for "The Alphabet" song are given in parenthesis in my unofficial transcript of the lyrics.
-snip-

* Foot stomping cheers were recreational activities that were performed by girls around age six-12 years old (around late 1970s to around 2008). The foot stomping performance activity was very similar to steppin that was done by (mostly) African American girls and pre-teen girls from around the late 1970s to around 2008. "Introduce Yourself", "Shabooya Roll Call", and "L.O.V.E." are some examples of  foot stomping cheers.  Note that I've never observed or read about foot stomping cheers being done as strolls such as the one performed in this video.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/11/an-overview-of-foot-stomping-cheers.htmlfor an overview of foot stomping cheers for information about foot stomping cheers. 

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UNOFFICIAL  TRANSCRIPT OF THIS ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC SONG

Additions and corrections are welcome.

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nwKCm-Tbfw&feature=emb_logo [beginning at 1:22 in this video] 

[Sorors stroll in a counterclockwise circular formation while singing, doing bass sound foot stomps, and individual hand claps. There is no record or live musical instrumentation.]

{Leader/Call - I say my sorors

Group/Response) - Yes

Caller/leader - Let’s do this 

Group- Yes

Leader - the Alphabet
[The sorors perform three bass sounding foot stomps followed by one clap. For the "clap", their hands going up and then down near the ground.

This beat routine continues throughout the entire song without stopping. The vertical line of sorors strolls forward each time they do this complete beat routine. In between the Greek alphabet that the group sings, the caller says some interjections that are sometimes indecipherable to me.  However, I added those words that I believe I heard.]  

Group - Alpha Beta

Gamma Zeta

Delta Epsilon

Zeta Eta Theta

Leader -Iota Kappa

Group- Iota Kappa

Lambda Mu

Caller- Sing it loud

Group -Nu Xi omicron

Leader- Sing it now

Group -Rho Sigma

Upsilon

Phi Chi Psi

Omega

Since we laid our pledges down [On the word "down", the sorors lean slightly back before continuing the stroll beat routine.]

I feel better

Oh so much better

Leader - Since what?

Group - Since we laid our pledges down

I feel better

Oh so much better

Caller- You did what?

Since we laid our pledges down.

Leader - Twenty pearls, y’all.

Group  -Twenty pearls

What special pearls

Leader - Since we did what?

Group - Since we crossed the burning sand.

Leader-  Twenty pearls

What special pearls

Leader - Since we did what?

Group - Since we crossed the burning sand.

Leader -  [Says something about the alphabet]

Group - Beta

Alpha [sorors do the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority signature call "skee wee"]

Alpha Kappa Alpha [Sorors do an elongated form of the "skee" beginning of AKA’s signature call]

 Beta

 Alpha [Sorors do the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority signature call "skee wee"]

 Alpha Kappa Alpha [Sorors do an elongated form of the skee beginning of AKA’s signature call]

Beta Alpha skee wee

Beta Alpha skee wee

Beta Alpha skee wee

Beta Alpha skee wee

Since we laid our pledges down.

Woo! [Sorors arop srolling, but remain standing in their straight vertical line. Sorors wave their hands in the air smiling.]
-snip-
Other members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. probably replace the Greek letters of their chapter with the "Beta Alpha skee wee etc." that is used in FAMU's version of this song.

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EXPLANATIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS IN THIS SONG

"crossed the burning sands"
From https://everythingwhat.com/what-does-crossing-the-burning-sands-mean
"The term “crossing the burning sands” describes pledging a Greek-letter organization and crossing over from being a pledge to becoming a full member."

**
pledge - A person who is going through the process of joining a Greek letter organization. That process is called "pledging".  "Hazing" used to be a large part of pledging, but hazing is prohibited now. 

"since we laid our pledges down" - since our pledge period ended and we became full members of that Greek letter organization. 

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sorors
"Sorors" (from the word "sorority" means "sisters". "Sorors" is a term that is used by historically Black Greek letter sororities to refer to members of that sorority as well as members of other historically Black Greek letter sororities. People who aren't members of a historically Black Greek letter organization shouldn't use the referent "soror" to address a member or members of those organizations. 

**
"twenty pearls"
From https://aka1908.com/about/quick-facts#:~:text=%E2%80%9CTwenty%20Pearls%E2%80%9D%3A%20Refers%20to,Flower%3A%20Pink%20Tea%20Rose
"Twenty Pearls - a term that refers to the Founders and Incorporators of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. "

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Members Of Historically Black Greek Letter Fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi Performing Strolls That Include Their Signature Shoulder Shimmy

Cornelius H, Feb 26, 2012

The Kappas at the Friday Bar-B-Q

2-24-12

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. strolls that include their signature shoulder shimmy. 

This post showcases five videos of historically Black Greek letter fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi 's performing strolls that include their signature shoulder shimmy.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/10/comments-from-youtube-discussion.html for Part II of this series. Part II presents a brief article excerpt about Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

That post also includes selected comments from the discussion threads of several YouTube videos of members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. performing strolls with their signature shoulder shimmy. 

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to their videogaphers. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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WARNING:
The lyrics for many but not all Hip-Hop/R&B records-including those that are used for historically Black Greek letter fraternity and sorority strolls- contain profanity, and/or a form of the n-word. and may also include lyrics that are sexually explicit.

Pancocojams is a family friendly blog that usually doesn't post songs that include such lyrics. However, those videos with these songs are included because I'm focusing on the subject of historically Black fraternity and sorority strolls for historical and cultural purposes and it's impossible to fully document strolls without including these types of videos. 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi: 2015 NSU SpartanFest

Stroll Off

Quarail Hale. Apr14, 2015

Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc strolls in the Norfolk State University 2015 SpartanFest Stroll Off. EZ MOB NUPES **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3: - Shimmy Tutorial- Shimmyrific

 

C’Yo - Create Your Own Nov 25, 2010
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This video replaces one that is no longer available [as of April 28, 2023 if not earlier.]

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Stroll | Shot by : @MutazzMedia

Mutazz Media, Jan 5, 2017

Rowan University Shot & Edited by Nazz-Navid

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5: Southern University Greeks | Nupes Recap | Pretty Wednesday Strolling on the Yard | Fall 21

Mfcool Productions, August 18, 2021

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This concludes Part I of this two part series.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Step Afrika! - #MASKITUP Video (with information About Covid-19 Prevention, And Information About Step Afrika!, Stepping, & Go Go Music)

Step Afrika!, Nov. 24, 2020

We have a shared responsibility to keep our community safe. Wear a mask or face covering to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.  If you need a test visit coronavirus.dc.gov. Wearing a mask is one of the ways we can protect ourselves and each other. For over 25 years, Step Afrika! has stepped on stages around the world and now we're stepping on our virtual stage and in our community, with a powerful, relevant message: #MASKITUP . Visit www.stepafrika.org for more information about the #MaskItUp campaign.

#MaskItUp combines the African American art form of stepping and Go-Go, the official music of Washington, DC to amplify this critical public health message. HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! Watch & share this video!

Filmed in our hometown of Washington, DC the video features our favorite landmarks including Chuck Brown Memorial Park in NE, the Atlas Performing Arts Center in NE, the Big Chair in SE, the Wharf in SW and the legendary home of the #DontMuteDC movement the Metro PCS Store on Florida and 7th Street NW!

Special thanks to Dr. Yolandra Hancock for her counsel and partnership for this campaign.  Visit askdryola.com for first-hand information about COVID-19 and ways to keep your family safe.

Filmed and Edited by Ajah Smith. Lyrics written by Jeeda Barrington. Choreography by Jakari Sherman and Jeeda Barrington.

Featuring the Artists of Step Afrika! : Emerald Holman, Conrad R. Kelly II, Misha Michel, Ronnique Murray, Dustin Praylow, Ajah Smith, Valencia Springer, Jordan Spry, Nicolas Stewart, Pelham Warner, Jr., Robert Warnsley, and Jeeda Barrington.

Percussion by Kofi Agyei, Jeeda Barrington, Conrad Kelly, Ajah Smith and Valencia Springer. Costumes by Mfoniso Akpan and Jordan Spry. Sound Engineering by Gustavo Trejo, Sole DidIt and Jeeda Barrington. Produced by C. Brian Williams and Mfoniso Akpan.

Special thanks to Highway 160 Proof (an African-American owned and produced hand sanitizer based in Houston, TX) and Joe’s Movement Emporium (for providing a safe space in which to rehearse and create during these challenging times).

For more information about Step Afrika! visit: www.stepafrika.org.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision: December 17, 2020

This pancocojams post showcase a video of Step Afrika's performance of "MASKIT UP".

This performance combines spoken word about Covid-19 prevention with performances of African American originated stepping and Washington D.C's Go Go music.

Information about Covid-19 prevention is included in this post along with information about Step Afrika!, stepping, and Go Go music.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are associated with Step Afrika! and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. 

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INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 PREVENTION
From https://www.google.com/search?q=covid-19+prevention&oq=&aqs=chrome.0.69i59i450l8.115978798j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
"The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Learn how COVID-19 spreads and practice these actions to help prevent the spread of this illness.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, everyone should:

-Clean your hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

-Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

-Put distance between yourself and other people (at least 6 feet).

-Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others.

-Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

-Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily.

-CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings and when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

-Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others."

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INFORMATION ABOUT STEP AFRIKA!
From https://www.stepafrika.org/about/
"Founded in 1994 by C. Brian Williams, Step Afrika! is the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping. Under Mr. Williams’ leadership, stepping has evolved into one of America’s cultural exports, touring more than 60 countries across the globe, and the Company now ranks as one of the top ten African-American dance companies in the United States.

Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding.

Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, focusing on teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. The Company reaches tens of thousands of Americans each year through a 50-city tour of colleges and theaters and performs globally as Washington, DC’s one and only Cultural Ambassador. 

Step Afrika! has earned Mayor’s Arts Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education, Innovation in the Arts, Excellence in an Artistic Discipline and headlined President Barack Obama’s Black History Month Reception at The White House. The Company is featured prominently at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History & Culture with the world’s first stepping interactive exhibit."

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INFORMATION ABOUT STEPPIN(G)
A general definition of steppin (g) 
Steppin (Stepping) is a syncopated, choreographed group performance art that occurs at competitive "step shows" and other competitive and non-competitive venues. The performance art of steppin originated among historically Black (African American) university based Greek lettered fraternities & sororities. Steppin includes chanting, singing with no musical instruments while performing percussive body movements such as stomping, (individual) hand clapping, and "pattin juba (rhythmically slapping and patting your arms, legs, and chest). - written by Azizi Powell

**
Here's another definition of stepping:
From http://www.amazon.com/Soulstepping-African-American-Step-Shows/dp/025207534X
"Stepping is a complex performance that melds folk traditions with popular culture and involves synchronized percussive movement, singing, speaking, chanting, and drama."

**
Here's yet another definition of stepping:
From https://www.valdosta.edu/student/student-life/documents/glossary-of-greek-terms.pdf
"Stepping- a form of percussive dance in which the participant's entire body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps. Though stepping may be performed by an individual, it is generally performed by groups of three or more, often in arrangements that resemble military formations"
-snip-
Also, read this definition from that same pdf for the performance movement art form of "strolling" which also originated with historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities:
"Strolling – NPHC Organizational members move together in a line expressing pride for their organization. In this line, members may express their pride through use of their organization‟s call, sign or historical information, ritual/custom dances, etc. All of this is done through movements that are unique to a particular organization.
Please Do: Enjoy watching, as each organization has a unique way and style of strolling. Please Don’t: Emulate the stroll or cut in between members of the line. That is considered a sign of disrespect"
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/when-did-historically-black-greek.html for the 2015 pancocojams post entitled "When Did Historically Black Greek Letter Fraternity & Sorority Stepping Begin?".

Also, click the African American fraternity and sorority stepping and strolling tag that is found below for more pancocojams posts that include information and videos on this subject.  

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INFORMATION ABOUT WASHINGTON D.C.'S GO GO MUSIC
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go-go
"Go-go is a popular music subgenre associated with funk originating in the Washington, D.C., area during the mid-60s to late-70s which remains popular in the Washington metropolitan area as a uniquely regional music style. It became the official music of the city in 2020.[1] Some early bands credited with having developed the style are the Young Senators, funk band Black Heat, and singer-guitarist Chuck Brown.[2] Go-go is primarily a dance hall music with an emphasis on live audience call and response.

Origins

Although Chuck Brown is known as "the Godfather of Go-Go", go-go is a musical movement that cannot be traced back to one single person, as there were so many bands that flourished during the beginning of this era that they collectively created the sound that is recognized as go-go of today. 

[...]

In the mid-1960s, "go-go" was the word for a music club in the local African-American community, as in the common phrase at the time going to a go-go popularized by a million-selling hit of the same name by the Miracles. Dancers could expect to hear the latest top 40 hits, as many as twenty at a time, performed by local funk and soul bands, including Chuck Brown. In 1965, the Young Senators (later known as "the Emperors of Go-Go") were formed; there soon began a fierce competition with Chuck Brown and Black Heat on the local club circuit. They later became known for their hit "Jungle."[8][9][10]"...
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/chuck-brown-washington-dcs-go-go-music.html for the 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Chuck Brown & Washington, D.C's Go Go Music". That post presents information about Chuck Brown and Go Go music as well as several Go Go music videos.

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Archiving Some Comments From The 2007 YouTube Video Of A Virginia High School Stomp & Shake Cheerleading Squad

woowooworkit, Feb 3, 2007

SASSY does a new cheer!

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post archives a number of comments from the discussion thread of a 2007 YouTube video of the Sassy cheerleaders performing the cheer "Roll All Over".

The content of this post is presented for historical, linguistic, and socio-cultural purposes. 
All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
 
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I decided to archive these selected comments from this embedded YouTube video because I noticed that some YouTube videos that had been embedded in this pancocojams post that compiled text (word only) examples of stomp and shake cheerleading cheers: https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/06/examples-of-stomp-shake-cheerleading_29.html were no longer available. Since those videos are no longer available on YouTube, their discussion threads are also lost forever unless those comments are quoted elsewhere.  

I consider some YouTube comments to be worthy of archiving, study, and sharing because of their historical, linguistic, and other socio-cultural content. The selected comments in the  discussion thread for this embedded video include some examples of African American vernacular English (such as "thick") and also include some comments about stomp and shake cheerleading and how high school stomp and shake squads' routines can come from various sources such as historically Black Greek letter organizations and a Spike Lee's School Daze movie.   

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VIDEO DESCRIPTION OFPART OF THIS ROUTINE
"Sassy" is the name of the cheerleading squad from Prince Edward County High School in Farmville, Virginia, USA. 

In several other pancocojams posts including this one http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/stomp-shake-cheerleading-who-cheers.html, I wrote that members of the Sassy cheerleader squad learned cheers (including their performance routines) from cheer camps that were hosted by Virginia State University's Woo Woo cheerleaders. I got this information various comments that were found in discussion threads of various Sassy YouTube videos.

In this 2007 video the cheerleading squad is all female and predominately African American (There is one White cheerleader).

The squad performs this stomp and shake cheer in the middle of the gymnasium floor during what a commenter guessed was a pep rally (comment #11). I believe this comment refers to a basketball pep rally.  

This video's visual quality at this time is poor and, as is the case with many stomp and shake cheers, the words that are chanted are mostly indistinguishable. However, a member of that squad posted the words to that cheer (given as comment #17 below).

Particular attention in these comments is given to the routine that is done beginning at .26 to around .35 of this video. This movement, referred to as a "log roll" in these comments, occurs when all of the cheerleaders lay in a vertical line on their stomachs in a push up position. The first person rolls toward the other girls and continues to roll to the end of the line. As she approaches each girl, they quickly push their body off of the floor so that she can pass underneath them. This simultaneous leaping, rolling movement creates a ripple effect.* 

This "roll over" or "log roll" routine has been performed as part of the steppin routines of at least one historically Black Greek letter fraternity. My adult daughter and I recall seeing this floor ripple movement performed by members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. However, I can't identify any video with that movement. Furthermore, we remember seeing that floor ripple routine performed during a dance show in the mid 2000s in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania fby a Hip/Hop/acrobatic group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the group. 

Spike Lee's movie School Daze features a similar floor ripple ("log roll'). Here's  a Wikipedia summary of that movie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_Daze
"School Daze is a 1988 American musical comedy-drama film, written and directed by Spike Lee, and starring Larry Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tisha Campbell-Martin. Based in part on Spike Lee's experiences as a Morehouse student in the Atlanta University Center during the 1970s, it is a story about undergraduates in a fraternity and sorority clashing with some of their classmates at a historically black college during homecoming weekend."

Here's a link to the YouTube video of that floor ripple that is performed by the fictitious Black fraternity Gamma Phi Gamma (GPhiG):  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5xp1GrQV2k&ab_channel=imwithstupidx2.


Here are two comments from that video's discussion thread.
"Mehrunissah93, 2013
"So many real fraternities aren't this creative. This is my favorite scene of the whole movie."
-snip-
Note that the movie School Daze also featured some real fraternities and sororities such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (APhiA) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) I think that GPhiG's name and floor ripple ("log roll") routine is largely based on APhiA Fraternity.

Read the comments below that refer to the Sassy stomp and shake cheerleaders performing this "fraternity" routine.
-snip-
*Please help improve this description by re-wording it in the comment section of this post below. Thanks.).   

Some of these comments also present opinions about Virginia State University's WooWoo cheerleading squad. (Notice that the publisher of this video includes the name "Woo Woo" in their name.)  

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

These comments are presented in relative chronological order with the oldest published comment given first, except for replies.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only. I added the "Reply" citation even though in the early years of YouTube commenting, "Reply" wasn't noted.

1. MiQuelW, 2007
"That was so VSU. No disrespect to my Woo Woo's, because again, they taught me what I know. But they should REALLY leave the step shows to the Greeks & Step Teams. Like the whole clapping under an upstomp thing... I mean, that's the only reason people don't take them seriously as a squad.

But the girls did what they did beautifully. I loved the execution, but I hated the cheer."

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REPLY
2. blkmaverick03, 2007
"That is their thing though and personally it works for them. Seeing as to how long the woo woos have been around there is no telling if these stepshow tricks came from them or greeks."
-snip-
"Greeks"= historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities

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REPLY
3. KORTNI HERNANDEZ, 2011
"@grammerpolise
every team "borrows" a move or two from someone else. Don't get mad because they did it WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
-snip-
"grammerpolise" might be a previous name that was used by MiQuelW or by some other commentor. I added this comment and the next one as replies to MiQuelW's comment because the subject matter is the same.

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REPLY
4. Mrs. Roc Royal Babee, 2011
"@grammerpolise actually the stole it from strikers allstars who stole it from school days who stole it from traditional stepping."
-snip-
I believe that it's possible that this movement could have originated with the army or from another military basic training routine or from a circus/acrobatic group.  

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Rod Cooper, 2018
"they actually got this from real BGLO fraternities.."

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5. JDavis032, 2007

"wat does Woo Woo mean? is it an acronym? or just a little nick name? im from New Orleans, and just so happen to come across this, so dont bash me, lol!"

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REPLY
6. Azizi Powell, 2020
"JDavis032, you asked this question 13 years ago and haven't received a reply. Here are my guesses:

The "Woo Woo" for Virginia State University (VSU)'s cheerleading squad came from the exclamation "woo woo".

Generally speaking, in the United States, along with "wolf whistles", sometimes males make the "woo woo" sound when they see an attractive young female. (Note that this type of attention is often not welcome.)

One theory is that the name "Woo Woo" is said to have been given to Virginia State University's cheerleading squad because that's the sound that men made when they saw the attractive cheerleaders.

Another theory is that some people from the crowd shouted shouted "Woo woo!" when they became hyped after watching those cheerleaders perform.

Both of these theories could be true.

Perhaps as support for the second theory, when the Virginia State University cheerleaders ended their performance of "Work it" in a 2008 YouTube video of that cheer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blDqcHBu-Cs&feature=emb_logo  an excited man in the crowd can be heard spontaneously shouting "Woo Woo!"

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REPLY
7. Azizi Powell, 2020
"Also, here's a link to a 2012 YouTube video compilation of Virginia State University's Woo Woo cheerleaders:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DZ1I-w2cAA&ab_channel=TrojanNation1882

Throughout one of those cheers (whose words I can't decipher), they say the exclamation "Woo!". The first time I heard it in that cheer was around .21 in that video. So the name "woo woo" may have started out as an exclamation of excitement and approval. In this context, "woo" is a synonym for the word "wow!"

****
8. GoTrojans, 2007
"Little Woo Woo's..."
-snip-
The commentor called the Sassy cheerleader squad "little WooWoos" because that squad appears to purposely model themselves after and perform cheers that originated from Virginia State University's Woo Woo cheerleaders.

**
REPLY
9. naiya k, 2018
"GoTrojans woo woos fell off now unfortunately"
-snip-
This comment suggests that naiya believes that Virginia State University's Woo Woos haven't retained or improved the quality of their cheerleading performances. 

**
10. Akilah Brown, 2009
"GREAT JOB Ladies!!!!! I love the school daze log roll hot. I think that they need to have a competition not based on all the technical stuff. WE (Black people) have been doing cheers like this for years and never get any credit. Good job ladies from PHS in chicago."

**
11. johnathondwight, 2009
"i think that was at a pep rally"

**
12. selectedandelected, 2010
"OK that was cute (the lil fraternity move) but Seriously... check the motions of the ladies!! Their arm motions... Not good! What has cheerleading gone to these days!!! Who can drop it like its hot?? SAD!!"
-snip-
"The lil fraternity move" is the aforementioned "log roll".  

**
13. Raylisha Godbolt, 2010
"@MsGymnast77 you and TheLipcious are both rude these cheerleaders are not fat they are thick. Two totally different things."

**
14. howizzle, 2012
"Thire loud, obiously proud, but this is NOT real chherleaidng sorry."

**
REPLY
15. Tashana Wade, 2012
"Well in my opinion , this style of cheering is unique and original.  It might not be the "traditional style of cheering" , but who cares?  It's nice to shake somethings up and this by far is one the best cheer squads I've seen.  My squad also does this type of cheer and I'm not being cocky but ANY cheerleader could careless what you think about our style of cheer and what we do. I give this a HUGE thumbs up, GOOD JOB!"

**
16. Karen Midgett, 2014
"I know it has been a while since this came out but I was looking through the cheers and dances and found this.  I am an elementary coach and I am always looking for something that is different.  I love this and thought it would be good for my girls to learn it if it is okay by the owner of the cheer.  Could anyone please help me out and let me know the cheer and words?"

**
REPLY
17. starquality90, 2014
"Hi @Karen Midgett , I was a cheerleader on this squad (I'm actually in the video). The words are" Let's get physical, get down get funky get mean, watch those mighty Eagles, roll right over you team.... It's time to get physical it's time to get mean, watch those mighty Eagles roll right over your team". We had a lot of fun doing these cheers! Good luck with your cheer squad!!"

****
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Visitor comments are welcome. 

A 2018 United States Army Drill Routine That Includes Steppin' (video & comments)

TNT Vlogs, July 1, 2018
-snip-
Statistics as of Nov. 20, 2020 at 10:34 M ET
total # of views -1, 479,250
total # of likes-16K

total # of dislikes-2.5K
total # of comments -2,671 

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of an army cadence routine that includes a brief portion of hand clapping, body patting, and foot stomping movements that are the same as or are very similar to historically Black Greek letter organization (BGLO) steppin.   

This post also includes comments that are critical or are supportive of this routine.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

Thanks all those who honorably serve in the United States armed services. 

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD
Brief definitions and/or explanatory comments about terms that are found in some of these comments may be given after those comments.

Because pancocojams is a family friendly blog, words that are considered profanity is given with amended spelling that is indicated with an asterisk.   

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqwDfjdd6SU&ab_channel=TNTVlogs

2018

1. ScorpioSOB
"It's AIT.....Nothing disgraceful about it.

The purpose of drill is to enable a commander or non-commissioned officer to move his unit from one place to another in an orderly manner; to aid in disciplinary training by instilling habits of precision and response to the leader’s orders;and to provide for the development of all soldiers in the practice of commanding troops."
-snip-
Read another quote about AIT after comment #16 below. 

**
2. armybeef68
"O-Days are the equivalent of a company picnic, there is no formations or range days, we're required to be there, that's why we called it mandatory fun days."

**

3. William 
"I spent 20 years in the Army and practically every bit of that time was spent in combat arms.  I honestly don't see what everyone is complaining about. These Soldiers are having fun, believe me when I tell you, there will be plenty of times when these Soldiers will be absolutely miserable, there will plenty of PT, plenty of all day ranges, guard duty, NTC or JRTC, command layouts and those f-ing change of command ceremonies that alway happen when it is 200 degrees outside.  As I see it this is meant to build morale, teamwork and yes have fun...we will do that on occasion. Believe me no one is making YouTube videos about burning crap in a 55 gallon oil drum on the top of some mountain in Afghanistan. Also every unit has an Organizational Day(O-Day) where we play games all day long and do activities just like this. For those of you who served can you really say that spent your entire time in the military and didn't have some sort of fun in your unit? Are you honestly going to say you didn't play on a flag football team or softball,  you did nothing but train the entire time?"
-snip-
This is the way this comment is written in that discussion thread.

**
REPLY
4. Dillon Ciokiewicz
"Thank you! This was my company in AIT and before that PSG, then later DS showed up, our company morale was a dumpster fire. I had the privilege to call her my PSG before the DSs came rolling in. She almost single handedly turned that company around from a SSG position."

**
REPLY
5. Brock Webb
"William Chandler no I have never done activities like this during an organization day, absolute disgrace doing this in uniform."

**
REPLY
6. William
"Brock Webb I respect your opinion, until a year ago I wore the uniform for 22 years, I spent 18 of those 22 in either armored or infantry, I did four deployments and I don’t see anything disgraceful about this at all.  I seriously doubt anyone would have found the spur ride disgraceful, where soldiers wore pink Kevlars and leaders smashed eggs on the head of the chaplain or where another soldier was told to carry around playgirl magazines in his rucksack and present them to any spur holder who asked, no that was called tradition. This isn’t disgraceful it’s just not your style and that’s cool but again let these joes have their fun if you were in then you know they will have some shi—y* days it’s inevitable."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

** 
REPLY
7. Adam Clancy, 2019
"William Chandler As a Marine we would never do any of that crap you just mentioned. Unless we’re deployed for waaay too long. Haha. Maybe in a fraternity but for a fighting force to do it? Lol. As far as this video goes - glad they’re having fun but in no way is this the best Cadence caller. That just makes it more embarrassing for you guys when we are expecting something exceptional."

**
REPLY
8. FSUA GAMING, 2019
"Nothing wrong with a moral booster. Just like when deployed, having fun and making videos of all branches are okay. But when its time to rock its time to roll. Nothing wrong with a little bit of fun here and there."

**
REPLY
9. Sweden 88, 2019
"The time they learned how to do this D&C, they could’ve spent training. Does no one remember Iraq???? Non combat arms were absolutely destroyed when ambushed or forced to fight."

**
REPLY
10. Kelly Bezz, 2019
"William Thanks for your service soldier!  Really appreciate it. God Bless you."

****
2019

11. rap RD
"They were freestyling that looked so good as an art"

**
12. Justin Pastirik
"What in the stomp the yard is going on here"
-snip-
-snip-
13. This was one of a number of comments in that discussion thread which refer to the American movie entitled Stomp The Yard. 

Here's information about that movie from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stomp_the_Yard
"Stomp the Yard is a 2007 American dance drama film produced by Rainforest Films and released through Sony Pictures' Screen Gems division on January 12, 2007. Directed by Sylvain White, Stomp the Yard centers on DJ Williams, a college student at a fictional historically Black university who pledges to join a fictional Greek-letter fraternity. The film's central conflict involves DJ's fraternity competing in various stepping competitions against a rival fraternity from the same school... The film was originally titled Steppin', but to avoid confusion over the 2006 film Step Up, the title was changed."...
-snip-
Two additional comments in this compilation that mention Stomp The Yard  are given at #21 and #22. 

**
REPLY
14. Lavern Revels, 2020
"A big hot mess. Im old school Army."

**
REPLY
15. Rage Beast, 2020
"It’s just freestyling"

**
REPLY
16. Rage Beast, 2020
"Jerk Of All Trades it is but it’s just freestyle of regular marching... and it’s just ait where you learn your job and have fun"
-snip-
Here's information about AIT from https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-life-cycle/new-to-the-military/getting-settled/life-after-basic-combat-training/#:~:text=Advanced%20individual%20training%20is%20where,expert%20in%20that%20career%20field.
"Following your Army basic combat training, you’ll take one of two paths, advanced individual training or Officer Candidate School to advance in your military career.

Advanced individual training

Advanced individual training is where you will learn the skills needed to perform a specific Army job, such as artillery or engineering. At your AIT school, you’ll receive hands-on training and field instruction to make you an expert in that career field. There are 17 career fields and the schools are designed to help you gain discipline and a work ethic that will benefit you for the rest of your career.

Where you train and for how long will depend on your job, called a Military Occupation Specialty or MOS"

**
REPLY
17. Matthew Tratz, 2020
"@Rage Beast fun?! I don't remember AIT being fun. What universe are you from?"

**
REPLY
18. Kevin Moore, 2020
"Sounds like your basic D&C competition between AIT companies. We had the same thing back in the day. The winner moved on to compete against the rest of the AIT battalion winners. Our Drills didn't take part in the actual competition, that was given to the highest ranking recruit that could remember the entire drill."
-snip-
At 4:27 in this embedded video the female drill sergeant salutes the male Sergeant Major and says "That concludes the informal portion of our drilling ceremony competition."

**
REPLY
19. Taemien, 2020
"Signal Corps drill and ceremony competition. This isn't nearly as crazy as the one I saw in 2007."

 **
20. Jordan Clark
"that was my drill sergeant in AIT, she was awesome, tried to teach instead of yell. everyone in ALPHA 369 respected her. Great drill sergeant."

****
2020

21. Des2BFit
"What is this stomp the yard Army lol sooo this what we doing now !!?? Lol"

**
REPLY
22. bubbasdragon
"This stomp the yard comment got funnier and funnier as the video went on.  Lmfao"

**
23. LittleWing714
"Don’t know if I like it either way / I get it some of you saying that every soldier at some point during his/her service had fun doing something but I loved D&C when I was in and I feel this takes away from it - turned it into a pep squad for high school football or something - just my opinion

US ARMY - Ft Knox, Ft. Sam, Huster Hue Kaserne-Pirmasens Germany, Ft Lewis 90-93"

**
24. Whit Whitaker

"HOOAH.

MUCH RESPECT.."

**
25. Natalie Lasky
"This looks fun and school yardish; however, looking at this as a Marine Corps veteran, they are very undisaplined with their movements. Even the drill sgt was very fluid with movements that would have got you to spend time in the pit in the Marines. Still was a good performance, even though it was very sloppy."

**
26. Jess A
"Talk about proper weapons handling…🧐"

**
27. Owen Whitman
"When the H*LL did they find time in the training schedule for this?  ...and what did they leave out to practice for it?"
-snip-
This comment was written this way in that discussion thread.

**
28. James Purvin
"Cringe"

**
29. AAAskeet
"Army or cheer squad? WT-* my money paying for?"
-snip-
*This abbreviation is fully given in that comment.

**
30. Robert Clark
"Is the drill Sergeant a member of DST?  Outstanding job!!!!"
-snip-
“DST”= Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a historically Black Greek letter sorority.

The "outstanding job" may be facetious. Note that historically Black Greek letter sororities and fraternities pride themselves in having their own distinctive styles of steppin. Also, unlike this routine, in the nine main historically Black Greek letter organizations, males and females don't step together. Furthermore,  I believe that the style of steppin that is performed in this routine is more like that is done by sororities. 

Read comment #41 and comment #74 that also mention historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities or their presentations.

** 
31. Nicole Watson
"Creative portion of drill and ceremony??? When did this happen?"

**
32. labvampire
"I wish it was like this back in the 80's...she is fantastic"

**
33. Lillacemy Cat 
"I can tell you the tosses were as hard as they looked with the rifle. Color guard does it/learns it but the rifles we have aren’t real but kinda look similar in some aspects. They vary in weights to so they are different. But doing that thumb flip must have been a challange because I’m still really learning it"

**
34. 70’sStreetRacer Gal
"HOOAH!!!   GO ARMY!  ❤️🇺🇸❤️👍🏻❤️"

**
35. Keith Wat
"Bullsh-t*! I would have smoked every last one of em.  This ain’t no step show or half time show."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

**
36. ittybittymexican1117
"The best time in a young Soldiers career. Thank you to all of the Drill Instructor s past present and future"

**
37. lesley james
"Well this video should be viral for absolutely everything...

Blacks and white all working together while talking vocals from a amazing black woman. 

What a better way to describe all humans working together xx"

**
38. Daniel Farrell
"That A-company is a unit that not only will they stand strong in the face of the enemy but they will march into the deepest darkest pits of hell just to bring one of their own home. That platoon Sargent has made them a true band of brothers and sisters, willing to die for each other if called into battle tomorrow. You can see that in the way they respect their Sargent and each other."

**
39. Gene Whitman
"Good job, soldiers!"

**
40. brucejoshua21
"This isn’t cadence..."

**
41. Dee Mccann
"They step like a black, African American sorority or fraternity. Kappa Alpha Psi for instance just saying"
-snip-
Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. is a historically Black Greek letter fraternity. Comparing this style of steppin with Kappa Alpha Psi may be a indirect putdown. The Kappas have informally been known as a fraternity for "pretty boys", a sometimes complimentary and sometimes not so complimentary descriptor and the commentor might be implying that members of that fraternity step (perform steppin) like girls. The "just sayin" words that end that comment suggest that the commentor meant some "shade" (putdown).  

**
42. Lisa Boyle
"I love this. A strong woman in control to show power. Amen."

**
43. Tara P
"The beauty of this is maintaining routine even while enjoying yourself. If you can translate ritual and discipline over into your free time in a manner that is enjoyable, it teaches the brain to more deeply imprint the material. This is why teachers who make their lessons into games and songs with children see more success with. The kids retaining what they are taught. The same philosophy works for all ages. Is there a time for strict instruction? Yes. It is the hard edged instruction that teaches and reinforces the importance of the lesson. It is exercises like this that relaxes the mind and allows for the lessons to be imprinted deeper than just crisis and become a part of everyday life."

**
44. J W
"Nobody can march like the Marines.  Why do you think their basic is so long?"

**
45. TEAM FUBAR ATV
"I served in the 82nd Airborne division United States Army. I don't agree with this improvised D&C. I get it, there having fun and all that jazz but this is a training cycle. Discipline and training should be at the forefront of this. Not this beetle Bailey meets Major Payne bulsh-t*. as much flak as I give my buddies that are in the Marine corps or if served in the Marine corps. This really saddens me. This is not the army that I served in. Then again, I was in the infantry and we didn't have time for these games. Our lives were actually on the line when we deployed."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

**
REPLY
46. Herman Greenfield
"@TEAM FUBAR ATV all work and no play, makes for a dull boy, AND DEAD SOLDIERS,

  Everyone has to have DOWN TIME. In my time we would go to bars, get drunk, get in fights, and worst. Sooo take your righteous indignation, and stick it were the sun don't shine!🇺🇸"

**
REPLY
47. Kevin Moore
"@TEAM FUBAR ATV these D&C competitions take place near the END of the training cycle when these new boots know they are moving on to their first duty station or are being recycled to take the training over again. When i was in, you had one week to ten days after you completed AIT before you went to your next training school or your first duty station."

**
48. Pinstripe Jim
"this isn't why, it's because she doesn't call cadence correctly when they are in full uniform and spends more time with this than teach Soldiers. Read the other comments"

**
49. mtrycity
"Misleading title

No cadence was ever called"

**
50. Heather W
"Ma'am, you are so completely a badass, I'm sure it wasn't easy to teach them that routine!!!"

**
51. Vanha Suden
"I worked at a Military School for at risk youth, 16-18 years old, and our drill team would have dusted them in free style"

**
52. Equaliser
"Not very Army, more like a dance troupe, bit girlie, only in the US army.!!!!!"

**
53. Gwen Jokoh
"Heyyyyy Love it good to see they can have some fun to Thank Yall 👏👏👏👏❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤"

**
54. Drew Wright
"When did the Army turn in to SoulTrain?"
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train
"Soul Train is an American music-dance television program which aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 27, 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, dance/pop, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists also appeared. The series was created by Don Cornelius, who also served as its first host and executive producer."...

**
REPLY
55. Ray West 
"When they got their own special T shirts for each brake dance group. That is certainly not military decorum, but more of a rap session.  With all the yelling, and screaming it sounds more like a mob.  Welcome to the new Doggie Do Do Army !"

**
56. Zac White
"God bless my beloved UNITED STATES ARMY!!!!and every badass drill sargeant just like her!!!!❤️"

**
57. Walker Bürmeister
"Embarrassing for our armed forces."

**
58. meals123
"Nothing wrong with this. I think the military has gotten soft in some aspects but this isn’t it. Creativity and a little fun can go a long way when things get tough. Morale and unity."

**
59. Princess Lisa Marie
"My high school marching band was trained the exact same way. This reminded me so much of those days. Our fronts could do the gun twirls just like that, we were sharp with our movements and moved on the field with such precision."

**
60. Slide Jones
"You can always tell who was on the JROTC drill team before enlisting 💯"

**
REPLY
61. Ray West
"She must have been a Majorette  in the school band, and the Army out of political correctness has allowed her to run wild. They started years ago by throwing the book out the window a page at a time, and this is what they end up with,  A floor show out of da hood.  God help us !  When did the Army turn into a High School Rally ?"

**
62. Bryan Saltsman
"Who the hell salutes with half parade rest that is disgusting I guess that’s why it’s the army and not marines"

**
63. Ricky Virgo
"Some say Marines to this day are still wondering wth is going on here lol"

**
64. Yea4102
"Boy oh boy how times have changed since I was in...lol"

**
65. Elijah Collins
"Bruh what is the army becoming"

**
66. Forrest Reeter
"Female DI was unheard of 55 years ago when I was Army  basic. There may have been female DI in women’s army corp."

**
67. thunderdiesel1
"I'm old skoo army, this looks like motivation to me. Motivation =discipline. Discipline =success in any generation"

**
68. Mike Chris Scorpio. 
"I Work On Fort Gordon And I've Seen This Drill Sargent Marching Soldiers On Base And They ALWAYS LOOK CLEAN And In PERFECT RHYTHM With Her CADENCE📯🎶🎺"

**
69. Tom Bourne
"Lord did i LOVE doing drill. If i could go back to Basic Training i would do it in a heart beat!!!!!"

**
70. west hoboken 
"Aint no use in looking down,aint no discharge on the ground.Ft.Dix,NJ song in 1961 when I pulled basic."

**
71. Remegio
"Wow, I was there in 94 and it didn’t look anything like this."

**
72. Daniel Oliver
"Must be the new army - That never happened in the 90"s

C co 369...1994"

**
73. spicy_tiger_roll
"Yassss!! You better lead that crew, mama!!!"

** 
74. Mare Knight
"Why do I feel like I just watch a probate?"
-snip-
A "probate" is presentation for the general public where the newest members of a historically Black Greek letter sorority or fraternity present their organization’s history and step or stroll.

 **
75. Xray ATMC
"This is a morale and esprit de corps .  Gives the kids a break from the mental stress of class room environment and enforces teamwork and D & C.

“This We’ll Defend”

**
76. Noah m
"Outstanding. Command,Control, and Communication. Mission accomplished!"

**
77. RODNEY ARMY VETERAN TRUTH TV
"Only in a unit with females.  Ft Sill Ok Field Artillery 2000"

**
78. Brook’Lynn D
"i wish i could give it more likes."

**
79. Charles Merritt
"I was Army 1962 1965 a little different but everything changes with time moral booster, a little fun goes a long way."

**
80. John C
"Ahh ghetto"

**
81. a girl is no one
"I'm sad to see the division between branches. Arguing about petty sh-t* as this. Having a little creativity that is clearly allowed is not a sin. In the scheme of things, this doesn't matter."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

**
82. Ray West
"Is that a new position invented by the Army, or just violation of the drill manual. I've never seen a salute given while at parade rest"

**
83. minot60
"Looks like a dedicated talented NCO brought her platoon together with discipline and pride for some awesome drill and ceremony."

**
84. Secure Administrator
"Black people adding hot sauce wherever they go."
-snip-
A photograph of a young Black woman accompanied this comment.

**
85. Isaiah Smith

"It’s good to loosen up and have a little fun some times!  No issues with it at all! Love the motivation"

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

Lists Of Records That Are Commonly Used For Historically Black Fraternity & Sorority Strolls (information, videos, and comments)

Corey Jones, Feb 15, 2018

Strolling is one of the many great things about being in an NPHC fraternity or sorority! In this video I will name the songs that I think are  the Top 5 NPHC stroll songs of ALL TIME! Feel free to list your top 5 stroll songs in the comment section!

My Fraternity: http://www.phibetasigma1914.org
-snip-
The video includes clips of the vlogger, Corey Jones, strolling to the songs he features. Cory emphasized that these five songs that are used for strolls aren't given in any order. Here are the five songs he showcased:
1. "Back That Thang Up" by Juvenile
2. "Wipe Me Down" by Boosie Badazz
3. "No Hands" by Waka Flaka Flame and Roscoe Dash 
4. "Knuck If You Buck" - Crime Mob
5. Down For My N's - C- Murder
-snip-
WARNING: Some of these songs may have lyrics that include profanity and other references  that aren't suitable for children.     
-snip-
The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is the governing council for historically Black (African-American) fraternities and sororities. "The Divine Nine" is the informal referent for NPHC as that council consist of five fraternities and four sororities.

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision -  February 23, 2025

This pancocojams post presents information about historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLO) strolls and showcases two YouTube vlogs that list songs that are often used for these strolls.

Selected comments from the discussion threads for these vlogs are also included in this post.

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

The information in this post is intended to help "flesh out" (provide more information) about the experience of participating in and/or observing fraternity and sorority strolls, and especially those strolls that are performed by members of historically Black Greek letter organizations.

All copyright remains with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and these vlogs. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publishers of these videos and these vlogs on YouTube. 
-snip-
Click the African American fraternity and sorority stepping and strolling tag below for other pancocojams posts about strolling, including unity strolls, and stroll offs (competitive strolls). 

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EXCERPT OF MY ESSAY "AN OVERVIEW OF HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER FRATERNITY AND SORORITY STROLLS" 
by Azizi Powell, latest revision: February 22, 2025

"Strolls" are loosely or tightly choreographed processional  (vertical line) dances that are usually performed by a group of people that are members of the same Greek letter organization, or -in the case of unity strolls- by members of different Greek letter organizations. Strolls originated with and are still mostly associated with members of the historically Black (African American) Greek letter organizations (members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, informally known as "The Divine Nine".https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Pan-Hellenic_Council)  )

Strolls may be competitive or non-competitive events that can occur indoor or outdoor with notice or without notice (planned or seemingly spontaneously). In the case of competitive stroll events (known as "stroll-offs"), members of the Divine Nine fraternities compete against each other and members of the Divine Nine sororities compete against each other.

Certain non-competitive strolls (referred to as "unity strolls") are also performed to recorded music on the yard (a centrally placed university courtyard), or in a university gymnasium during half-time of a basketball game, or at other formal and informal events and gatherings. "Unity strolls" usually consists of multiple fraternities or sororities performing strolls in their own (separate) lines at the same time. Alternatively, unity strolls may consist of members of multiple Greek letter organizations strolling together in one vertical line, in usually staggered placements (such as a member of one organization standing behind a member of another organization). Some historically Black Greek letter organization strolls include members of other People of Color non NPHC fraternities and sororities and/or members of PWI (predominately White)Greek letter organizations).  

More Descriptions of Strolling 
Strolls (early name- "party walk") are processions (single line formations) in which two or more people move in a circular manner either straight forward or zig zagging while performing  choreographed struts or dance like motions. Unlike Conga lines, strollers don't touch the shoulders or any other part of the body of the person standing in front of them.

The term "party walks" is an early (1990s) referent for strolls. That name reflects the history of that performance movement art. The spontaneous nature of early party walks meant that those processions weren't necessarily associated with a particular record. Although strolls now (in 2025) are usually performed to a specific R&B or Hip Hop record, in the 1990s, strolls might not have had anything to do with what record was being played or even if there was any record being played at all. Instead, a stroll could begin when one member of a specific fraternity, or sorority (or a fraternity's little sister group) spontaneously decided to "party walk". That person (silently or while chanting) started performing steps (movements) that were (are) associated with that organization. Technically, the party walk (stroll) began when another member of that organization joined that first person, thus creating a procession. Other members of that specific organization usually join/ed in the party walk/stroll which continued until the end of the record or (if they were strolling without a record) continued for one reason or another.

Strollers often chant their organization's signature call and "throw" (perform their organization's signature hand sign. Their facial expressions are usually confident, proud, and focused (since they are promoting their organization by these public strolls. Strollers may also chant words or dates that are associated with their fraternity or sorority such as their founding date. "

[...]

Purposes of Strolling

Strolling provides informal and formal opportunities for members of a specific Greek letter fraternity or sorority(or in the case of "unity strolls" for more than one fraternity or sorority) to "rep" (represent, promote, "big up", show off) their organization/s.

Strolling also provides opportunities for people to dance even if a person doesn't have a dance partner. Strolling helps build group esteem and strengthens the connection that strollers have with their organization itself and with other members of that organization. Strolling also helps  reinforce the self-esteem of individual strollers because it provides opportunities for them to  "show out" (show off) their dance (strolling) skills as long as they remain on beat and remain in that stroll line. Unity strolls provide opportunities for members of different Greek letter organizations to get to know each other and engage in activities together. 

In addition, party walking (strolling) provides serious, but also fun opportunities for strollers (party walkers) to enjoy themselves. The seriousness of strolling is suggested by the rule mentioned earlier about how cutting into a stroll line is viewed as a definite breach of etiquette."...
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-history-of-and-changes-to.html "The History Of And Changes To Historically Black (African American) Greek Letter Fraternities & Sororities Strolling" for the complete form of this essay.

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SIGNATURE RECORDS THAT ARE USED FOR STROLLS BY THE DIVINE NINE ORGANIZATIONS  
Specific historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities have one Hip Hop song that is closely associated with their organization (such as "Atomic Dog" that is associated with members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and "Set It Off" that is associated with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.)  Certain other Hip Hop songs may be used by any (or each) of the historically Black Greek letter organizations that are part of the "Divine Nine" (such as "Knuck If You Buck") However, the popularity of certain songs that are used for BGLO strolls may differ depending on which state or region of the United States the chapter of the fraternity or sorority is in. Also, while some songs used for strolls continue their popularity over time, other songs that were used for strolls in past years have been retired.

-snip-
*Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/04/when-did-historically-black-greek.html "When Did Historically Black Greek Letter Fraternity & Sorority Stepping Begin?" for information about the history of historically Black Greek letter organization "steppin", including quotes from Elizabeth C. Fine's 2003 book "Soulstepping, African American Step Shows". Here's one quote from that book:
"Page 87

"Groups frequently enter [the step show stage] to popular music, often performing what black fraternities and sororities label “party walks” and what Latino Greek organizations call “strolls”. [Jacqui] Malone defines a party walk as an ‘organized line movement performed around the floor at a party.” Party walks and strolls may or may not include the characteristic stomping and clapping of stepping, but they are performed to music."
-end of quote-

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/10/black-greek-letter-fraternities.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Black Greek Letter Fraternities & Sororities Unity Steps & Unity Strolls (information & videos)"

And click the African American fraternity and sorority steppin and strolling tag for more pancocojams post about strolling. 

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COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THE SHOWCASE VIDEO GIVEN ABOVE 
(Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.)
1. Sincerely Taylor, 2018
"I'm from florida, i don't hear no hands too often, but they always stroll to nasty song by lil Ru"
-snip-
"The Nasty Song" by Lil Ru (Hip Hop; 2009)

**
REPLY
2. Corey Jones, 2018
"I can see that! No hands is really just one of my favorites and a classic at my university. But nationally I can definitely see Nasty Song being a top song."

**
3. Jonai Amanai, 2018
"Alabama State (HBCU) probably top 5 would be:

1) Back That Azz Up

2) Knuck if you Buck

3) F them other Ninjas

4) Throwed Off (F Everybody)

5) Wipe Me Down

Coming from a Delta lol
-snip-
"Delta" =  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (DST)

**
4. trinibwoy27, 2018
"Corey, what do you call the special stroll each Organization does to their special songs ex. AKAs- Set It Off (Strafe), DST- Got 2 Be Real (Cheryl Lynn) and I've seen Z Phi B stroll a lot to Bad Mama Jamma"
-snip-
AKA= Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Z Phi B =Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

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REPLY
5. Corey Jones, 2018
"I don’t know if there’s a legit name. I just call them universal strolls. Because everyone in the org will usually learn that special stroll first."

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6. pathwaytojannah, 2018
"Down for my Ninjaz😭😭😂😂😂😂😂😂"

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REPLY
7. Corey Jones, 2018
"Gotta keep it PG 😂😂"
-snip-
“Ninjaz” is this vlogger's parental guidance (PG) substitution for a form of the “n word”.

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8. Brionna Tolbert, 2019
"Sigmas can stroll to anything tbh 😂😂😂💯
-snip-
"Sigmas" = Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

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REPLY
9. Corey Jones, 2019
"I can’t deny that!"

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REPLY
10. Abiola Fernandez, 2020
"And look good doing it."

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11. T’s, 2020
"I feel like the Kappas should have Wipe me down!"
-snip-
"Kappas" = Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. (also referred to as "Nupes")

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REPLY
12. Alicia Hockaday, 2020
"Or either Alpha Phi Alpha.. Because that is one of their moves wiping down the legs.. But I think APA  favor Choppa Style by Choppa.. When they stroll to that, girl 😁"

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13. Darren Keaton, 2018
"90's Old Heads....can I get a amen for Bow Down (Ice Cube), Scarred (Luke),  Ruff Ryders Anthem (DMX)"

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14. Myles Jimmar, 2020
""He totally forgot Atomic Dog."

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REPLY
15. Abiola Fernandez, 2020
"Indeed"
-snip-
George Clinton's 1982 song "Atomic Dog" is definitely associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

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16. Pattrice Gray, 2020
"Wipe Me Down is the Sigma stroll song, whenever you done. I love seeing my Frats stroll to this!"

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17. Alicia Hockaday, 2020
"Get it Corey 🕺🏾... My brother is Phi Beta Sigma 🕊💙... You're correct lol... Knuck if you buck,wipe me down,  Choppa Style is missing though lol"

**
18. Darren Keaton, 2020
"90's Old Heads....can I get a amen for Bow Down (Ice Cube), Scarred (Luke),  Ruff Ryders Anthem (DMX)"

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ADDENDUM- VIDEO LINK AND COMMENTS FROM ANOTHER FAVORITE STROLL SONGS VLOG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFLa9JtDVHM&ab_channel=SheaMiller

SHEA'S TOP 10 STROLL SONGS! FALL 17, Step In My Office ..

Shea Miller, Dec 30, 2017

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFLa9JtDVHM&ab_channel=SheaMiller

SHEA'S TOP 10 STROLL SONGS! FALL 17, Step In My Office ..

Shea Miller, Dec 30, 2017

WHAT'S POPPIN Y'ALL?! Alright Fall 17, it's your time to shine. I know y'all been eager to stroll since you saw the interest meeting flyer go up lol here are my five favorite "classic" stroll songs (i.e. ones that you can't go wrong with) and five current favorite songs. What are YOUR favorite songs? Help me improve my music library lol.

Check out the playlist here http://spoti.fi/2zNpfeX*

All opinions are my own because I paid for this with my own coinssss.
-snip-
*That link reverts to this site https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2bmNKaNqpHRlCoshMyIEjc

Top 10 Stroll Songs
Ronieshea Miller
1. Down For My Ni—az*
2. Knuck If You Buck
3. Back That Thing Up** (particularly for sororities)
4. Freaky Girl
5. Wipe Me Down
6. No Limit
7. Pills And Automobiles
8. Bodack Yellow
9. Juice
10. Plain Jane Remix
-snip-
*This form of the “n word” is fully spelled out in this title and is pronounced in that complete form the song

** Shea, the vlogger, said that this song is particularly used for sorority strolls.

Selected comments from this video's discussion threads (with numbers added for referencing purposes. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only)
1. Jeffrey Byrd, 2018
"Wipe me down is definitely the Alphas 😎🤙🏽"
**
REPLY
2. Shea Miller, 2018
"Every time that song comes on I hear whistles lol even if nobody has one."

**
REPLY
3. Jeffrey Byrd, 2018
"Shea Miller 😂😂 cause you already know Pham"
-snip-
“Pham”= vernacular way of spelling a shortened form of the word “family”.

****
4. Destinie Jackson, 2018
"you forgot set it off"

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REPLY
5. Shea Miller, 2018
"+JxcT chXll Boosie or Strafe? Lol only time I’ve ever strolled to the Strafe set it off was at practice. They don’t play that one here. Now Boosie? YES!"
-snip-
Regarding the sentence “They don’t play that one here.”: Based on her comments in that vlog,  “here” in that comment is “New Orleans, Louisiana”. 

**
REPLY
6. kay Jack, 2018
"Destinie Jackson Yes!!My grad chapter(NJ) LOVES the one by Strafe😂💕💚"

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7. Jonathan Still, 2018
"My top 10 (from my Undergrad Year’s 2001-2006)
1. Tussle

2. B.O.B. By OutKast

3. Rep Yo City- Lil Jon

4. Back that Thang Up- Juvenile

5. If You Give A.....- Youngbloodz

6. I Don’t Give A-Lil Jon

7. Throw Yo Hood Up- Lil Jon

8. America’s Most Wanted- Tupac

9. Headsprung- LL Cool J

10. Till I Collapse- Eminem

Honorable Mentions

-Never Scared by Bone Crusher

- Push it Inside of You by Sons of Funk

-No letting Go by Wayne Wonder

**
8. mayabowens12, 2018
"In Florida, when the nasty song play, it's so hard to get out the way cause everyone is strolling!!!😂"

**
REPLY
9. Shea Miller, 2018
"+mayabowens12 lmao it’s a dangerous game. DJs need to give warnings lol."

**
10. Corey Jones, 2018
"Knuck if you buck is my “Drop everything I’m doing and hop in” stroll. My body just takes over, I can’t control it 😂😂. I might need to get checked out because that ain’t healthy"

**
REPLY
11. Shea Miller, 2018
"+Corey Jones see lmao it be dangerous 😂😂"

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REPLY
12. kay Jack, 2018
"Corey Jones Yes!Fellas knock folks out the way off of this song😂"

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13. Sincerely Taylor, 2018
"The classic stroll songs in Florida are kind of different, but nuck if you buck is surely one of them though."

**
REPLY
14. Shea Miller, 2018
"+Sincerely Taylor what y’all listen to out there?"

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REPLY
15. Sincerely Taylor, 2018
"Shea Miller omg I can't belive you replied! Yay! 😂 but Knuck if you buck, nasty song-lil ru, lifestyle- young thug, wipe me down remix, but alphas stroll to down for my ni—as*. And as for the newer songs, anything Kodak 😂
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment

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REPLY
16. Shea Miller, 2018
"+Sincerely Taylor yasss girl! 😜 but yooo I love nasty song 😂😂 whenever that song comes on I cannot stop myself from doing the stroll we have to it lol. Lifestyle was hot for the moment but ion really hear it anymore. I barely be hearing Kodak too lol or maybe I just don’t pay enough attention."

**
17. Adrienne Ellem 2018
"Louisiana rappers make the best stroll songs 🤷🏽‍♀️ BOUNCE MUSIC RULES"

**
REPLY
18. Shea Miller, 2018
"+Adrienne Elle 🗣 I SECOND"
-snip-
“I SECOND” =  “I definitely agree”

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REPLY
19. Alicia Hockaday, 2020
"Lol.. Facts💯... Choppa Style by Choppa and he from New Orleans, it's practically the towns theme song."

**
20. MzSouthernComfort, 2018
"Great video! In Mississippi and Tennessee we don't play when Set It Off comes on...like you said...people...get out of the way!"

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REPLY
21. Shea Miller, 2018
"See lol last thing I want is a bow to the face. I know when to move!"
-snip-
“Bow” is probably a typo for “blow”. My guess is that that comment refers to people who are in the path of strollers at a party getting accidentally getting jabbed by elbow movements that those strollers make

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REPLY
22. Brionna Tolbert, 2019
"You not lying"

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23. Jeffrey Byrd, 2018
"Wipe me down is definitely the Alphas 😎🤙🏽"

**
24. Shea Miller, 2018
"Every time that song comes on I hear whistles lol even if nobody has one."

**
REPLY
25. Jeffrey Byrd, 2018
"Shea Miller 😂😂 cause you already know Pham"
-snip-
"Pham" - a vernacular way of spelling a shortened form of the word "family"

**
26. Mikaila Houston, 2018
"Ugh yes! The first time I heard pills & automobiles I immediately thought of nupes 😂"

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REPLY
27. Shea Miller, 2018
"+Mikaila Houston 😂😂 see I knew I wasn’t trippin."

**
28. Anastasia Osho, 2018
"I guess I’m old because I was thinking “Bad Mamma Jamma” should have been in the classic top 5 Lol!!!"

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REPLY
29. Shea Miller, 2018
"I never hear that one out around here! Lol that’s a good one though."

**
30. Bay Little, 2018
"I'm from Michigan and a lot of greeks here stroll to straight hood music lol. I go to Eastern Michigan, which isn't too far from my hometown Detroit and they be going dumb to all my hood songs. I thought Knuck if You Buck would be first lol. I think that's the top here but Down For My Ni—as* goes hard here too. This was a good video!! Hopefully others follow lol. Your classics are definitely ones that I've heard at greek events! Good job
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

“straight hood songs” = songs that are popular in the ‘hood (urban communities, particularly poor and working class neighborhoods of predominately African American communities)

**
REPLY
31. Shea Miller, 2018
"+Bay Little thank you! 💚 when they play the hood songs out here everybody go in to concert mode tryna rap the songs lol."

**
32. Jãÿ Smīth, 2018
"Right about #KnuckIfYouBuck I K Psi ⚀💛⚀💛⚀💛⚀💛"

**
33. Bball_Boyz, 2018
"Ques can't help but hop to Atomic Dog"
-snip-
“Ques”= members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

“Hopping” refers to the way that Ques “step”. Those movements are incorporated in their strolls.

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REPLY
34. Shea Miller, 2018
"Yeah I get out of the way for that one too lol"

**
35. Justin Magwood, 2019
"All the Σigma stroll songs but i would replace no hands w nasty song..and u cant forget computer games or cold blooded"

**
36. Carlos Nisby, 2019
"That is not a Nupe song (gucci mane)"

**
REPLY
37. Shea Miller, 2019
"Definitely opinion based lol it may not be across the board but it’s something I’ve seen before 🤷🏾‍♀️"

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REPLY
38. Alicia Hockaday, 2020
"Nupes stroll to it though 😉"

**
39. Patrick Mitchell, 2020
"work work don't stop was the play Spr 14"

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40. Alicia Hockaday, 2020
"What about Choppa Style... I see Alpha's killing it to this... When that leg goes up, Lord 😍"

**
REPLY
41. Shea Miller, 2020
"You like that one huh? 😂😂 choppa style is a good one!"

**
REPLY
42. Alicia Hockaday, 2020
"@Shea Miller ... Yes, they get so hype 😂😂.. I am also Southern, from North Carolina."

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43. goofboy96, 2020
"I’ve seen Phi Beta Sigma chapter stroll to Otis by Kanye and Jay Z a lot it was pretty lit!"

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44. NYETHEBRATm 2020
"soon as i hear back that ass up i think of the sigmas fasho 😂"
-snip-
“Fasho”= for sure (meaning- “definitely”)

**
45. Jasmine Washington, 2020
"Where’s Choppa Style?"

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REPLY
46. now now, 2020
"Is choppa style only a west coast thing"

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REPLY
47. Princess Mesheaa, 2020
"no it’s an east coast thing actually"

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48. Chazz Shabazz, 2020
"Bro I'm OLD SCHOOL. Don't disrespect THE QUES. Where is ATOMIC DOGG!

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