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The Viral Legacy Of "Hit The Quan": Unpacking ILoveMemphis' Iconic Dance Anthem Lyrics

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Few songs define a cultural moment quite like "Hit The Quan." Released in 2015, this track by iHeartMemphis (who later changed his name to iLoveMemphis) wasn't just a song; it was a global dance instruction manual that transcended language barriers and dominated social media platforms like Vine and Dubsmash. As of the current date, December 21, 2025, the song remains a powerful nostalgic anchor for the mid-2010s, with its simple, infectious lyrics serving as the blueprint for one of the decade's biggest viral dance crazes.

The genius of the "Hit The Quan" lyrics lies in their simplicity and direct, instructional nature. Unlike many rap songs that require deep interpretation, this track is a step-by-step guide to a physical movement, ensuring that anyone, anywhere, could participate in the phenomenon. This deep dive will explore the artist, the inspiration, the key lyrical instructions, and the lasting cultural legacy of this chart-topping dance anthem.

iLoveMemphis: A Brief Profile and The Song's Origin Story

The man behind the phenomenon is Richard Colbert, better known by his stage names iHeartMemphis and, later, iLoveMemphis. His career trajectory is intrinsically linked to the success of his debut single, "Hit The Quan."

  • Real Name: Richard Colbert
  • Stage Names: iHeartMemphis (Original), iLoveMemphis (Current)
  • Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee
  • Debut Single: "Hit The Quan" (2015)
  • Producer: Buck Nasty (Cordarius Williams)
  • Inspiration: The dance move popularized by Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan in the music video for his 2015 hit, "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)."
  • Chart Performance: Peaked at No. 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
  • Record Label: Released under RECORDS, LLC.

The song was a direct and intentional tribute. iLoveMemphis, seeing the viral potential of Rich Homie Quan's unique dance moves in his "Flex" video, quickly worked with producer Buck Nasty (Cordarius Williams) to create a track that codified the movement. The resulting single, "Hit The Quan," wasn't just a nod to the Atlanta rapper; it was a commercial juggernaut that, ironically, out-charted Rich Homie Quan's own track, "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)," which peaked at No. 26.

Decoding The Instructional Lyrics: The Dance Step-By-Step

The "Hit The Quan" lyrics are a masterclass in direct, repetitive, and effective instruction. The song’s structure is built around a simple, catchy beat that perfectly matches the rhythm of the dance, making the lyrics less about narrative and more about choreography.

The Iconic Chorus: The Call to Action

The most memorable and essential part of the song is the chorus, which serves as the primary call to action and the song's title repeated for maximum impact:

"I'm finna show you how to
Hit the Quan, Hit the Quan, Hit the Quan, Hit the Quan
I said get down low and swing your arm
I said get down low and hit the Quan."

This section outlines the two most crucial elements of the dance:

  • "Get down low": This refers to the signature squat or slight bend in the knees, which is the foundational groove of the dance. It gives the move its bouncy, low-to-the-ground feel, characteristic of many Southern hip-hop dance styles.
  • "Swing your arm": This is the defining hand and arm motion. The arms are swung in a wide, sweeping, and often dramatic motion, mimicking the movements Rich Homie Quan would perform while dancing. The combination of the low stance and the arm swing is the essence of "hitting the Quan."

Verse Breakdown: Adding Flair and Personality

The verses expand on the basic move, adding personality and encouraging the dancer to incorporate their own style. The lyrics often mention specific body parts or actions, turning the song into a dynamic tutorial.

Key lyrical phrases often include instructions like "rock your upper body forward" or "push your hips forward," which are subtle but necessary components of the full dance. The song also includes hype-man phrases like "I think we got a winner" and "people want to dap it up," which build energy and encourage participation, turning the dance from a solo move into a communal experience.

The beauty of the lyrics is that they are open to interpretation. While the core moves are defined, the song encourages flair, allowing dancers to add their own unique "flavor" to the squat, arm swing, and bounce. This flexibility is what made it so popular in user-generated content.

The Cultural Impact and Lasting Legacy of the Quan Craze

The success of "Hit The Quan" was not just a musical victory; it was a cultural phenomenon that perfectly captured the zeitgeist of the mid-2010s digital landscape. The song's simple, instructional lyrics were tailor-made for the short-form video era.

The Viral Explosion: Vine, Dubsmash, and Musical.ly

The song’s rise to prominence was fueled almost entirely by social media. It became a staple on Vine, the six-second video platform, where users would perform the dance in increasingly creative and humorous settings. Similarly, on Dubsmash and Musical.ly (the precursor to TikTok), the song provided the perfect soundtrack for short, choreographed clips.

This digital propagation is a key part of the song's topical authority. It solidified the model for how a dance craze could go from a regional inspiration (Rich Homie Quan's Atlanta-based move) to a global trend in a matter of weeks, bypassing traditional radio play in its initial stages. The lyrics were the script, and the internet was the stage.

The Dance-Rap Blueprint

"Hit The Quan" stands as a significant milestone in the history of dance-rap, following in the footsteps of previous instructional hits like "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" and preceding others like "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)." Its success proved the enduring commercial viability of songs that tell listeners exactly how to dance. The simplicity of the lyrics—focused entirely on the physical movement—made it universally accessible, a trait that helped it peak at a very respectable No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song's legacy is also tied to the producer, Buck Nasty (Cordarius Williams), whose minimalist, bouncy beat perfectly complements the dance. The production style, which iLoveMemphis specifically requested to be similar in tempo to Rich Homie Quan's "Flex," created the perfect rhythmic pocket for the squatting and arm-swinging motions.

Topical Entities and LSI Keywords Integrated: iLoveMemphis, Rich Homie Quan, Buck Nasty, Cordarius Williams, Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Vine, Dubsmash, Musical.ly, dance craze, Atlanta hip-hop, Memphis rap, Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh), instructional lyrics, viral phenomenon, digital propagation, six-second video, dance-rap, Richard Colbert, 2015, squatting, arm swing, rhythm, tempo.

The Viral Legacy of
hit the quan lyrics
hit the quan lyrics

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