Taylor Swift Fans Beg Her Not To Collaborate With F.L.Y. Amid "Swag Surfin'" Trend

BYGabriel Bras Nevares14.8K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Celebrity Sightings In New York City - January 18, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 18: Taylor Swift is seen on January 18, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images/Getty Images)
The debate isn't just over who is really responsible for the current popularity of "Swag Surfin'," but also what lines she can't cross.

If you're an NFL fan, a Taylor Swift fan, or have been on the Internet at all recently, you've probably seen her support her boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs on their Super Bowl run. In fact, you probably saw her dance to Fast Like Youngstaz's (F.L.Y.) 2009 hit with Ea$ton, "Swag Surfin'," an HBCU and sports staple that sparked debate over who should get credit for its resurgence: its dancers or its creators? "My initial reaction to Taylor Swift swag surfin’ was I thought it was dope," group member Mook told TMZ. "I automatically knew it was going to be a good look because of who she is, what she’s got going on.

"Our streams across all platforms [are] up 700%," Mook continued. "Our YouTube numbers went up. We gained 20,000 subscribers in like two weeks. So everything is up. It’s just been a dope thing to watch everything unfold so quickly." Not only that, but he also suggested this is the biggest moment the song's ever had in terms of growth, and proposed and endorsed the idea of Taylor Swift remixing it with a rap verse. Some people already don't like the league pushing her at every chance they get, and this was even more of a red flag for fans.

Taylor Swift Dances To "Swag Surfin'" + Watch F.L.Y.'s Original Music Video

Moreover, on social media sites like Twitter, folks lamented this prospect, as they see it as appropriation or a cheap way to capitalize on another artist's work. Some didn't take it that far, suggesting that it would just be cringe, and a lot of people don't really care much about it at all. Still, it's fair to say that making assumptions about Taylor Swift's malice in terms of her NFL visibility and her participation in these dances is pretty unfair, and frankly unfounded. As unlikely as this remix seems, though, fans are very careful not push this to its limits. You can see these reactions down below.

Fans React

Meanwhile, most folks only like to see Kelce and the superstar singer develop a wholesome bond for a bit. Beyond that, there are as many good reasons as there are bad reasons to be wary of this exposure. But we'll see if the Super Bowl changes any of that. With that in mind, log back into HNHH for more news on F.L.Y., Taylor Swift, and the NFL.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
...