Long before a word is written for your favorite Hip Hop website or magazine, public opinion is shaped by friendly or even heated debates all across the globe. Jay Rucker and Mike Rob of Be Your Own Boss Entertainment just decided to take the feedback from those conversations and animate them—literally. The pair of childhood friends created “Shawt Bus Shawty,” a viral video that jokingly pokes fun at Gucci Mane, Wacka Flocka Flame, OJ Da Juiceman and Soulja Boy.
“We’re pretty much saying what everybody else has on their minds,” explained Rucker. “Every once in a while, someone will say a really funny joke, and we just take that and run with it.”
In the case of “Shawt Bus Shawty,” the joke came from the fact that, much like any other listener, Rucker and Rob aren’t immune to a catchy hook. Rucker initially produced an intro to Soulja Boy and OJ Da Juiceman’s “Gold Grill Shawty,” and his partner found that he didn’t need to look any further.
“The song kept getting stuck in my head from him saying, ‘Gold grill shawty! Gold grill shawty!’” said Rob. “I just thought, ‘You know what, why not make something about how he always says something about being retarded? Gucci Mane is always saying something is stupid or retarded too, so let’s just change it to ‘Shawt Bus Shawty.’”
The video currently has over 4.5 million views on YouTube, and it has been one of HipHopDX’s most watched videos ever. Much like Ed Lover’s “C’mon Son!” series and legendary Hip Hop illustrator (and frequent DX contributor) Andre Leroy Davis, BYOB Entertainment viral clips take a lighthearted approach to a subject that some Hip Hop fans can get freakishly passionate about. One of the things that separate Mike and Jay from the average fanboy typing “OJ Da Juiceman is killing Hip Hop!!!” on any given site’s comment boards is perspective. In 2008, the pair narrowly escaped a fatal run-in with an 18-wheeler, while on the way to conduct some business.
“We could’ve died,” Rob said. “So we called each other up the next day like, ‘Man, I think we’re really here for a reason. I don’t know what it is, but let’s change the world and try to do something.’”
Having practiced their respective crafts of production and illustration for over a decade, the choice was easy. The dozens of videos they’ve created add to Hip Hop’s public discourse, while social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook allow fans to weigh in as well.
“Everything is evolving, so it’s just another form of entertainment,” said Rob. “It’s great, because you put a video out, and you instantly know how people feel.”
While people outside the realm of Hip Hop, such as South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have cashed in with ideas such as their parody of Kanye West, BYOB Entertainment might have a distinct advantage.
“I think it’s more authentic,” Rucker explained. “When somebody on the outside is trying to make fun of something they can’t fully relate to, things get lost. Let’s say a white guy made a cartoon about a black family. Would he be able to fully grasp what goes on versus someone who is in the culture?”
With “Shawt Bus Shawty” currently on regular radio rotation and available for purchase, there’s an opportunity to provide some cultural commentary and turn a decent profit. And what about the artists depicted in the dozens of BYOB Entertainment videos? Should any of them take the viral clips personally?
“Sometimes we leave it up to the interpretation of the person watching it too,” said Rucker. “But, I’ll keep it one hundred, and say that sometimes we are going at certain artists. Because we’re cool with a lot of artists, then yeah, it’s all love at the end of the day…nothing personal.”
For the latest from Be Your Own Boss Entertainment, subscribe to their YouTube channel and follow the BYOBEntertainment Twitter feed. You can also purchase “Shawt Bus Shawty” via iTunes.
wow this is an embarrassment to hip hop and shows how uncivilized these people
…people are***
most Atlanta rappers are just horrible (save for OutKast) but trap music and snap music has to be the most uncreative form of the genre. I understand making music to support or represent what you do, but the way they rap and produce is really lazy.
cosign everything u jus sed
To diss an entire region is lame and an unintelligent point of view…shoulda learned that shit back in the 90s. smh
STFU DUMBASS
You are right trap and snap music is very very very very very, uncreative. All you need is one or two instruments, and you have a beat and just recycle some lines that have been used and waahlaah you have trap/snap music. I am from South Carolina so of course i was a fan of alot of music coming out of Atlanta. Now it is hard for you to get me to listen to just any kind of music, “MUSIC IS SUPPOSE TO INSPIRE” and if your music isn’t sending a message then i aint listening to your shit…..right now i exclusively fuck with Big KRIT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUNvK1PNQRc
At the end of the day they are making money off of the success or work of others. They are pimpin you dudes that think you are smarter and better than others. Like the stereotypical cracka below me that knows nothing about hip hop.
Man its called PARODY. Been going on since the beginning of time!
http://www.youtube.com/305ilovemia#p/u
No Image No Gimmicks Just Bangin Ass Music
I Love M I A Presents $WonDough$
http://www.youtube.com/305ilovemia#p/u
Waka>Gucci>OJ>Soulja Boy
No lie Waka is a lyrical monster, he murdered this track I mean listen to the lyrics.
“Waka cross the street/
Waka dog on a leash/
Waka Texas Ranger/
Luke Sky Waka/
Waka Waka Waaaakaaaaaaa”
Don’t tell me he isn’t killin it. Ha 🙂
Dude, this is a parody. Wakka aint even on this shit. And i think it’s funny that a wakka fan would actually think that a wakka parody actually sounds like some good wakka rhymes lmao. Just goes to show how shitty he is and how retarded his fans are lmfao
@ turftalka…
damn my dude…i sincerely hope you’re joking…cuz they definitely made this to make fun of waka, gucci and the others…
Its clear he is being sarcastic you dicksssss
Oh my… it’s OBVIOUS that he’s being sarcastic guys. Grief! And you have the audacity to call someone else an idiot when you’re “shawt bus” candidates yourself. If you couldn’t interpret it right, 1 would at least think the “Ha :)” gave you a hint fellas. SmH
That Waka part had me dyin laughin. Luke Skywaka…
Nobody’s above parody, especially retards like oj, gucci, soja and wakka crakka lakka’s faggot ass
If you don’t find this funny fuck a blender
soulja boy says “shawt bus shawty” a few times in his new video ‘swag od’ with Lil B the based god, i guess he saw it
new ROSA ACOSTA & D.STEPHENS video at http://www.wapproved.com
white snitch tryna rap http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxRLpYYvpcQ
Broken Equipment was doing this stuff way before BYOB. I wouldn’t be suprised if thats where they got the idea from.
This shit was so funny I almost pissed myself laughing! About time someone put these retarded ‘Bama clowns on blast…These assholes are so wack that they parody themselves.
shawt bus shawty is the bomb