Shake Ya Tailfeather

Lore & Background

The music video, directed by Benny Boom, features appearances by Esther Baxter and future June 2004 Playboy Playmate Hiromi Oshima. The song incorporates the Florida State Seminoles/Atlanta Braves/Kansas City Chiefs Tomahawk Chop "War Chant". The video starts with all three artists eating and talking in a dining stall. Nelly raps the first verse and the bridge, P. Diddy raps verse two, and Murphy Lee raps the third verse. In the chorus, Nelly and P. Diddy take turns rapping in each line, with the "War Chant" melody in the background. The music video premiered on July 8, 2003.

Reader's Guide

"Shake Ya Tailfeather" stands as a significant crossover hit of 2003, uniting three prominent rappers on a soundtrack single that achieved commercial and critical success. Its chart-topping performance on the Billboard Hot 100 marked milestones for each artist: Nelly's third number one, Murphy Lee's first, and P. Diddy's fifth, which at the time set a record for the most number one hits by a rapper on that chart. The song's Grammy win for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group further cemented its impact. The track's use of the Tomahawk Chop "War Chant" and its music video, featuring notable models and a dining-stall opening, contributed to its cultural footprint. The song remains a representative example of early-2000s rap collaborations tied to major film soundtracks.

Did You Know?

• The song won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards.
• P. Diddy's fifth number one on the Billboard Hot 100 made him the rapper with the most number one hits at the time before being passed by Drake.
• The music video features future June 2004 Playboy Playmate Hiromi Oshima.
• The song incorporates the Tomahawk Chop 'War Chant' associated with the Florida State Seminoles, Atlanta Braves, and Kansas City Chiefs.