With the possible exception of Three 6 Mafia and Lil Jon, no artist embodied the crunk movement than the Ying Yang Twins, the charismatic duo (comprised of not-actual twins Kaine and D-Roc) with a predilection for cranking out top-notch club bangers and, as we learned in their episode of MTV Cribs, eating instant ramen and enthusiastically singing sea shanties.
Though their star has waned, the Ying Yang Twins have left their indelible imprint on humanity. To *GET CRUNK* remains an act of unbridled joy. Plus, their songs have aged about as well as Halle Berry. Which is to say, they have aged gorgeously.
This article revisits the Ying Yang Twins oeuvre from 2000 to 2006. Click through the gallery to read on.
"Whistle While You Twurk" (2000)
From the jump, the Ying Yang Twins were fresh, evocative, and creatively lewd. "Whistle While You Twurk," from their debut album Thug Walkin, begins, "Let me see ya make that pussy fart, good Lord..."
Their commitment to twurk music spans their entire career; in 2013, they released a mixtape called Twurk Or Die.
"Say I Yi Yi" (2002)
The Ying Yang Twins on their breakthrough regional hit "Say I Yi Yi," as told by Vice:
“Say I Yi” is like swing, like 1930s music. All our music be feel-good music, so we gotta keep the little jingles going. Hooks like that just come out. We say a bunch of funny statements within a 24-hour period. All we do is just sit around and shoot the shit, and basically our CEO be in the back and he might just say, “All right, now you heard what you said right there? That’s a hook.” But we say a bunch of stupid shit, dawg.
"Naggin" (2003)
"Women always talking about what men do. We don't never talk about what women do... at least till now." This is the premise of the "snake charmer song"-interpolating "Naggin." In the music video, Kaine and D-Roc head to court to submit evidence of NAGGIN against their female counterparts.
Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz - "Get Low" feat. Ying Ying Twins (2003)
Chris Rock described "Get Low," the biggest crunk song of all time, like this in his 2004 special Never Scared: "My favorite song right now is impossible to defend. It's IMPOSSIBLE. We should all be ashamed of ourselves for liking this fucking song."
Though "Get Low" is most closely associated with Lil Jon, it is the YY Twins who rap for the majority of the song.
"Salt Shaker" feat. Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz (2003)
The Ying Yang Twins' biggest hits came when they guest-starred on songs by Lil Jon, Pitbull, and Bubba Sparxxx, and their only song as the primary artist to crack the top 10 of the Hot 100 is "Salt Shaker." The Twins were underrated lyricists, and "Salt Shaker," like many of their songs, contains an opening line that invites the listener in for more. "Shawty crunk, on the floor wide open / Skeet so much they call her Billy Ocean." It's the greatest opening line this side of "Call me Ishmael."
"What's Happenin" feat. Trick Daddy (2004)
Ying Yang Twins owe much of their success to the legendary hitmaker Mr. Collipark. Collipark produced nearly all of the Twins' most 2003 platinum-selling album Me & My Brother. On "What's Happenin" he deploys the same sort of thunderous digital brass that would appear on the YYT's most enduring hit...
"Halftime (Stand Up & Get Crunk!)" feat. Homebwoi (2004)
"Halftime" initially gained exposure on the soundtracks of "NFL Street Vol 2" (GOAT video game) and "Coach Carter." These days, it is played at the Superdome every time the New Orleans Saints score a touchdown.
"Wait (The Whisper Song)" (2005)
The song that needs no introduction. Hey how you doing, lil mama, let me whisper in your ear...
"Shake" feat. Pitbull (2005)
Pitbull has crunk artists to thank for introducing him to the national consciousness when he was a 23-year-old and had not yet earned the moniker "Mr. Worldwide." His earliest hits were his guest appearances on Lil Jon's 2004 single "Culo" and Ying Yang Twins' "Shake."
Bubba Sparxxx - "Ms. New Booty" feat. Ying Yang Twinz (2006)
By the mid-'00s, the Ying Yang Twins had safely cemented their reputations as two of the premiere artisans of crunk. But they weren't done yet... they had one more incredible booty-themed club smash to share with the people of Earth.