Who Dey Rap vs. Superbowl Shuffle

Songs by athletes are rarely any good.  I shudder to think of Ben Utecht's Christian rock/folk act, and I'm sure if guitar-stroking Jordan Shipley ever releases any original music I won't exactly be excited about it.

Music about sports teams are rarely any good either.  As much fun as I have singing the Bengals fight song, I have to admit it's a pretty weak effort.  Even those Bootsie Collins Bengals jams are only OK - and let's face it, if anyone that weren't Bootsie were producing them they'd be pretty bad.

But that's where the1988 Superbowl Bengal's Who Dey Rap stands out, especially compared with the much more famous 1985 Bear's Superbowl Shuffle.  Take a quick look at both.  It's no contest.

For starters, the the beat to the Who Dey Rap is actually listenable, the lyrics are a little less trite, the chorus is catchier, the rapping is much smoother, and they have one guy that can actually sing pretty soulfully.  Best of all, they kept the white players out of the recording studio.  We don't have to groan through a Boomer line or two like on the dreadful Shuffle.

Speaking of the recording studio, it made a much better setting than the awful looking blue smoking lounge the 1985 Bears shot in. Plus the editing was actual interesting to watch. Props to Local 12 in Cincinnati for putting the thing together.

I once heard the "Superbowl Shuffle" accused of setting back Chicago's rap scene by 10 years. Alternately, I'm pretty sure this song set up the all too brief golden age of Cincinnati rap, leading to Scribble Jam, producer Hi-Tek, and that Mood group that hiphoppers from Cincy are always talking about.

I'm sure the only reason Who Dey Rap doesn't get more respect is because the team ultimately didn't win the big game.  But that obviously shouldn't stop Bengals fans from rocking one of the better sports jamz of the 80s.