The internet has a way of resurrecting songs from obscurity, stripping them of their original context, and repurposing them into something entirely new. Few tracks have undergone this transformation as dramatically as “What What (That Whistle Song)”, the 2004 single by British band Missy Elliott that somehow became the soundtrack to a bizarre, body-focused meme in the 2010s. What began as a funky, bass-heavy track about a playful encounter (“What what in the butt?”) morphed into a viral sensation tied to a specific, often misunderstood phrase. The song’s revival wasn’t just about nostalgia—it was about the internet’s ability to recontextualize music, turning a once-forgotten hit into a cultural shorthand for absurdity, humor, and digital folklore.
By 2016, the phrase “what what in the butt” had infiltrated meme culture, TikTok trends, and even mainstream media, often paired with videos of people mimicking the song’s signature whistle or reacting to the line in exaggerated ways. The song’s resurgence wasn’t accidental; it was a perfect storm of algorithmic timing, meme evolution, and the internet’s penchant for reclaiming forgotten tracks. What started as a joke about a literal interpretation of the lyrics became a broader commentary on how digital culture repackages and reinterprets art—sometimes with hilarious, sometimes with bizarre results.
Yet, despite its memetic fame, the song’s original meaning—Missy Elliott’s playful, sexually suggestive lyrics—remains largely untouched by the meme’s absurdity. The contrast between the track’s original intent and its modern usage raises questions: How does a song become a meme? What does it say about our relationship with music and humor online? And why does “what what in the butt” continue to resonate across generations?
The Complete Overview of “What What in the Butt Song”
“What What (That Whistle Song)” is a track that defies easy categorization. Released in 2004 as part of Missy Elliott’s *This Is Not a Test!* album, it was a departure from her usual hip-hop sound, blending funk, R&B, and a distinctive whistle sample that became its trademark. The song’s lyrics—centered around a flirtatious, almost teasing interaction—were straightforward enough, but the line “What what in the butt?” stood out as particularly suggestive, even by Missy’s standards. At the time, the track was a moderate hit, charting in the UK and gaining a cult following, but it never reached the stratospheric success of her earlier work like “Work It” or “Get Ur Freak On.”
Fast forward to the mid-2010s, and the song’s obscurity was shattered by the rise of meme culture. Platforms like Vine, then TikTok, turned the phrase “what what in the butt” into a template for reaction videos, lip-sync challenges, and even a bizarre trend where users would ask each other the question in increasingly absurd contexts. The meme’s persistence was partly due to its simplicity—three words, a whistle, and an open-ended question that invited endless interpretations. But it was also a product of the internet’s love affair with reclaiming and repurposing older media, much like how “Never Gonna Give You Up” became a dance trend or “Sandstorm” fueled a bizarre TikTok craze. The “what what in the butt” meme wasn’t just a joke; it was a testament to how digital culture turns fragments of music into shared experiences.
Historical Background and Evolution
The origins of “What What (That Whistle Song)” trace back to Missy Elliott’s innovative approach to music production. The song’s whistle sample was inspired by a 1970s funk track, and its production was handled by Elliott herself, along with her longtime collaborator Timbaland. The result was a track that felt both retro and futuristic—a rare blend of vintage soul and cutting-edge hip-hop. The lyrics, delivered with Elliott’s signature sass, played with double entendres, making the line “What what in the butt?” particularly intriguing. In its original context, the question was part of a flirtatious, almost teasing exchange, but the ambiguity left room for interpretation.
By the time the song resurfaced in the 2010s, the internet had evolved into a space where music was increasingly consumed in short, shareable clips. The rise of platforms like Vine (and later TikTok) meant that songs could be reduced to their most meme-worthy moments. “What What” was no exception. The whistle, the phrase, and the song’s infectious groove made it ripe for repurposing. Early iterations of the meme involved users asking each other “what what in the butt?” in a playful, often exaggerated manner, sometimes paired with the song’s whistle sound effect. Over time, the meme expanded to include reaction videos, lip-sync battles, and even a short-lived trend where people would ask the question in public spaces, waiting for confused or amused reactions. The phrase became a shorthand for absurdity, much like “Do a barrel roll” or “Distracted Boyfriend” memes.
Core Mechanisms: How It Works
The “what what in the butt” meme operates on a few key principles of internet humor: repetition, absurdity, and shared cultural references. The phrase itself is a perfect meme template because it’s short, open-ended, and invites participation. Users don’t just consume the meme—they engage with it, often by asking the question themselves or reacting to it in videos. The song’s whistle sample adds another layer, serving as an auditory shorthand that instantly signals the meme’s presence. When paired with visuals—whether it’s a confused face, a lip-sync, or a random object—the meme becomes a participatory experience rather than a passive one.
Algorithmic amplification played a crucial role in the meme’s spread. TikTok’s “For You Page” (FYP) thrives on short, engaging content, and the “what what in the butt” trend fit perfectly. Users would create videos asking the question, often with exaggerated facial expressions or absurd backdrops, and the platform’s recommendation engine would push these videos to others who might find them funny. The meme’s longevity can also be attributed to its adaptability—it wasn’t tied to a single format or trend but instead evolved alongside internet culture, appearing in everything from gaming streams to political commentary (yes, even that). The phrase became a cultural shorthand for something being funny, weird, or just plain ridiculous.
Key Benefits and Crucial Impact
The “what what in the butt” meme’s impact extends beyond its immediate viral moment. It’s a case study in how digital culture repackages and recontextualizes older media, turning forgotten songs into shared experiences. For Missy Elliott, the meme’s resurgence was a reminder of the long tail of music—how a song that didn’t chart in the top 10 could still find relevance decades later. For internet users, it became a way to connect over shared humor, proving that even the most absurd phrases could become part of the cultural lexicon.
Beyond its entertainment value, the meme also highlights the internet’s ability to democratize humor. Unlike traditional media, where jokes are often controlled by creators or studios, memes thrive on user participation. The “what what in the butt” trend wasn’t dictated by a single person or brand—it was shaped by millions of users who found joy in its absurdity. This participatory nature is what makes memes so powerful: they’re not just consumed; they’re created, shared, and reinvented in real time.
“Memes are the folklore of the digital age.” — Anthropologist Limor Shifman
Major Advantages
- Cultural Resilience: The meme’s ability to persist across years and platforms demonstrates how digital culture can revive and repurpose older content, keeping it relevant in new contexts.
- Participatory Humor: Unlike passive entertainment, the “what what in the butt” meme encourages users to engage, create, and share, fostering a sense of community around absurdity.
- Algorithmic Optimization: The song’s structure—short, catchy, and easily clip-able—made it ideal for viral spread on platforms like TikTok, where brevity is key.
- Generational Bridge: The meme’s appeal spans multiple generations, from millennials who remember the original song to Gen Z users who only know it from the internet.
- Economic Revival: The song’s resurgence led to streaming spikes, cover versions, and even merchandise, proving that memes can have real-world commercial value.
Comparative Analysis
| Aspect | Original Song (2004) | Meme Version (2010s-Present) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Audience | Urban pop/R&B listeners, hip-hop fans | Internet users, meme communities, Gen Z/TikTok users |
| Cultural Context | Sexually suggestive, flirtatious lyrics in a funk/hip-hop fusion | Absurd, participatory humor; often used in reaction videos or challenges |
| Key Feature | The whistle sample and Missy Elliott’s vocal delivery | The phrase “what what in the butt” and the song’s whistle as a sound effect |
| Legacy | Moderate commercial success, cult following | Global internet phenomenon, enduring meme status |
Future Trends and Innovations
The “what what in the butt” meme’s journey isn’t over. As internet culture continues to evolve, we can expect similar trends where older songs are repurposed into new forms of humor. The key to a meme’s longevity is its adaptability—whether it’s through new platforms, formats, or even entirely new interpretations. For example, the phrase could evolve into a gaming meme, a political joke, or even a marketing slogan. The internet’s love of nostalgia ensures that forgotten tracks will keep resurfacing, but the ones that truly endure are the ones that can be reinvented.
Looking ahead, AI-generated content could also play a role in meme evolution. Imagine an AI tool that takes the “what what in the butt” phrase and generates endless variations—new videos, sound effects, or even entirely new songs. While this raises questions about authenticity, it also opens up possibilities for even more creative repurposing. The future of memes may lie in their ability to transcend their original forms, becoming something entirely new while still retaining a connection to their past.
Conclusion
The story of “What What (That Whistle Song)” is more than just a tale of a meme’s rise and fall—it’s a reflection of how digital culture consumes, repackages, and reinterprets art. What started as a moderately successful R&B track became a global internet sensation, not because of its original intent, but because of the internet’s ability to turn fragments of music into shared experiences. The phrase “what what in the butt” may seem absurd, but its persistence speaks to the power of participatory humor and the internet’s endless appetite for nostalgia.
As we move forward, the “what what in the butt” meme will likely continue to evolve, appearing in new contexts and taking on new meanings. But its core—three simple words, a whistle, and a shared joke—remains unchanged. It’s a reminder that in the digital age, the most enduring cultural artifacts aren’t always the most serious or sophisticated; sometimes, they’re just the funniest, weirdest, and most unexpected ones.
Comprehensive FAQs
Q: Why did “What What (That Whistle Song)” become a meme?
A: The song’s short, catchy structure—particularly the whistle sample and the phrase “what what in the butt”—made it easy to clip and share on platforms like Vine and TikTok. The absurdity of the question invited user participation, turning it into a viral template for reaction videos and challenges.
Q: Is “what what in the butt” a real phrase from the song?
A: Yes, it’s a line from Missy Elliott’s lyrics in the original song. The phrase plays on double entendres, but its literal interpretation became the foundation for the meme’s humor.
Q: Did Missy Elliott approve of the meme?
A: While Missy Elliott hasn’t publicly addressed the meme in detail, she has acknowledged the song’s resurgence in interviews, calling it a “blessing” and a sign of the song’s lasting appeal. The meme’s absurdity likely amused her given her history of pushing boundaries in music.
Q: How long did the “what what in the butt” trend last?
A: The meme peaked around 2016-2017 but has had sporadic revivals, particularly on TikTok. Its longevity is due to the internet’s cyclical nature—memes often resurface in new forms or contexts, keeping them alive for years.
Q: Are there other songs that became memes in a similar way?
A: Absolutely. Songs like “Never Gonna Give You Up” (Rick Astley), “Sandstorm” (Darude), and “YMCA” (Village People) have all been repurposed into memes, often through dance trends or reaction videos. The “what what in the butt” meme follows a similar pattern of taking a song’s most distinctive element and turning it into a cultural shorthand.
Q: Can I still use “what what in the butt” in memes today?
A: Technically, yes—but with caution. The meme’s peak has passed, and overuse could make it feel stale. However, creative repurposing (e.g., in niche communities or as a callback) can still work. The key is context: the phrase works best when tied to humor, absurdity, or nostalgia.
