Released: 2011 • Features: Nicki Minaj
“Dance” by Big Sean, featuring Nicki Minaj, is a provocative and high-energy track that celebrates wealth, sexual desire and body positivity. The lyrics delve into the artists’ flamboyant lifestyles, expressive sexuality and an unapologetic obsession for shapely derrieres.
The song starts with a chorus that adds an energetic vibe, a party anthem trademark of Big Sean. The line “Stop, now make that motherfucker Hammer time like”, is a nod to an iconic dance move popularized by MC Hammer in the 90s. “Go stupid” demonstrates that the song is all about having fun and not being too self-conscious.
When Big Sean says, “I’m st-stacking my paper, my wallet look like a Bible,” he’s using slang to communicate about his wealth—’stacking paper’ being a common hip-hop phrase for accumulating money. The phrase “How your waist anorexic and then your ass is colossal?” is a cheeky reference to the highly desired hourglass figure in popular culture.
Nicki Minaj steps in with her verse boasting about her leadership among “bad bitches”, again expressing themes of wealth and sexual empowerment. Her lines, “Kiss my ass and my anus, ’cause it’s finally famous”, are a bold statement about how her body has become iconic in popular culture. When she says, “Bitches ain’t poppin’, google my ass”, she’s essentially challenging her detractors to acknowledge her fame and impact in the industry.
Moreover, with lines like “white girls, black girls, tall girls, fat girls”, Big Sean is encouraging body positivity among all women, emphasizing that they should be proud and confident, irrespective of their physical attributes.
All in all, “Dance” is a flashy and risqué track that celebrates carnal desires and the artists’ extravagant lifestyles, while also dabbling into themes of body positivity and unapologetic self-expression.
