Pants on the Ground
Encyclopedia
"Pants on the Ground" is the first single by civil rights activist "General" Larry Platt
. The song is meant to protest the practice of sagging
. It was released on American King Music on February 4, 2010. The song became an internet meme
after being performed during the Atlanta
audition for American Idol
that aired on January 13, 2010.
in October 2009 and Centennial Olympic Park
in 2008. Platt was encouraged to perform the song during the American Idol (season 9)
auditions by civil rights activist Sally Harley. After performing the song, it gained popularity as a viral hit
. Platt's former manager Jason Mills released the studio version of the song, without Platt's consent. The single version of the song was released though unauthorized by Mr. Larry Platt BMI
on February 4, 2010 by American King Music for MP3
download where the song has reportedly sold more than 260,000 downloads. Mr. Platt has been offered deals by several labels including Melee Entertainment, Jake Records
and others have also entered negotiations with Larry Platt to produce a single of the hit song, but due to the unauthorized distribution of the song by American King Music it has been difficult to navigate. It was reported that Platt's former manager Jason Mills intended to promote the song servicing radio stations to gain exposure, which is a common music industry practice. Mr. Platt has since secured new management under a firm based in Atlanta headed up by Mr. Earl Little.
The song was performed at the American Idol Finale by Platt, accompanied by William Hung and a crew of dancers who dropped their pants as part of the act.
Larry Platt
"General" Larry Platt is an American Civil and political rights activist and rapper who gained fame with his performance of "Pants on the Ground" on the ninth season of American Idol. His hit release song "Pants on the Ground" was released on iTunes and received over 150,000 hits...
. The song is meant to protest the practice of sagging
Sagging (fashion)
Sagging is a manner of wearing trousers below the waist, hanging below the waist area and therefore revealing much of the underwear. Sagging is predominantly a male fashion...
. It was released on American King Music on February 4, 2010. The song became an internet meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
after being performed during the Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
audition for American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
that aired on January 13, 2010.
Production
The song was first performed in 2001 by "General" Larry Platt in the streets of Atlanta during many campaigns for city elected officials across the city of Atlanta and professionally recorded as early as 2002. The "General" is also known for performing the song publicly in events and functions around the city of Atlanta including a live performance at the Sweet Auburn Heritage FestivalSweet Auburn Heritage Festival
Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival is an annual festival held the first weekend in October located on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. Civil rights leader Hosea Williams founded the first festival in 1984. Charles Johnson founded the Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival in 2006 as a way to celebrate...
in October 2009 and Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park is a 21 acre public park located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA that is owned and operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. The park was built by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games as part of the infrastructure improvements for the Centennial...
in 2008. Platt was encouraged to perform the song during the American Idol (season 9)
American Idol (season 9)
The ninth season of American Idol premiered on January 12, 2010 and concluded on May 26, 2010 on Fox. Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi all returned as judges, and Ellen DeGeneres permanently replaced Paula Abdul as the fourth judge. Idol Gives Back also returned for the season and was...
auditions by civil rights activist Sally Harley. After performing the song, it gained popularity as a viral hit
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
. Platt's former manager Jason Mills released the studio version of the song, without Platt's consent. The single version of the song was released though unauthorized by Mr. Larry Platt BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
on February 4, 2010 by American King Music for MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
download where the song has reportedly sold more than 260,000 downloads. Mr. Platt has been offered deals by several labels including Melee Entertainment, Jake Records
Jake records
Jake Records is an independent record label.-History:Jake Records is a Las Vegas based independent record label. The company was founded in Seattle in January 2008 by entertainment industry executive Scott Thomas...
and others have also entered negotiations with Larry Platt to produce a single of the hit song, but due to the unauthorized distribution of the song by American King Music it has been difficult to navigate. It was reported that Platt's former manager Jason Mills intended to promote the song servicing radio stations to gain exposure, which is a common music industry practice. Mr. Platt has since secured new management under a firm based in Atlanta headed up by Mr. Earl Little.
Chart performances
| Charts (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
63 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
46 |
Live performances
Platt performed the song outside the Grammys.The song was performed at the American Idol Finale by Platt, accompanied by William Hung and a crew of dancers who dropped their pants as part of the act.
For an ironic folk performance of the song, Jimmy FallonJimmy FallonJames Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
channelled his inner Neil YoungNeil YoungNeil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
on Late Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
.
Tyler PerryTyler PerryTyler Perry is an American actor, director, playwright, entrepreneur, screenwriter, producer, author, and songwriter. Perry wrote and produced many stage plays during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, he released his first film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman...
as Mabel "Madea" Simmons performed the Madea remix to this song on the play Madea's Big Happy FamilyMadea's Big Happy FamilyMadea's Big Happy Family is a 2010 American musical play created, written, produced, and directed by Tyler Perry. It stars Tyler Perry as Mabel "Madea" Simmons, Cassi Davis as Aunt Bam, Palmer Williams, Jr. as Uncle Monroe, and Chandra Currelley-Young as Shirley.Perry began writing "Big Happy...
.