THIRD BASS – Pop Goes The Weasel

“Pop Goes the Weasel” is the best-selling single from hip hop trio 3rd Bass; it appears on their second album, Derelicts of Dialect (1991). Released a year after the ill-fated Cactus Revisited E.P., “Pop Goes the Weasel” instantly became a hit and soon went gold. The song helped the album reach gold status a month later. The song’s message was similar to “Gas Face”, voicing criticism towards the many mainstream commercial rap artists that had been gaining attention in the early 1990s (such as Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer). The music video features Henry Rollins as Vanilla Ice!

The song features funk samples from the J.B.’s and Stevie Wonder as well as rock samples of The Who’s “Eminence Front”, and the foundation sample was from Peter Gabriel’s #1 hit, “Sledgehammer”. Production came from John Gamble, Geeby Dajani, and Dante Ross (noted for their groundbreaking work on Brand Nubian and Grand Puba’s debut albums).

Antoine, Antoine’s got something here Ro-roll that window We have to turn around because I want to shoot you Park the limousine, in front of the swamp Then I want to shoot you dauncing on the limousine With the swamp in the background It looks like you’re in the jungle, okay?

Let’s all sing, Pop Goes the Weasel!

[Pete Nice] Pop goes the, pop goes the windin of the weasel I see the empty pocket needs a refill [MC Serch] I got a squad with a list of complainers I should have started RAPE: Rappers Against Phony Entertainers So we can make it known that we won’t get swayed It’s ninety-one son, so somethin’s gotta change

[Pete Nice] Gettin paid to peddle sneakers and soda pop (pop pop pop) Pop goes the weasel as drawers drop (drop drop dop) Why not take your top ten pop hit Vic the music and make senseless ryhmes fit

[MC Serch] I guess it’s the fact that you can’t be artistic Intricate raps, becomin’ so simplistic I gotta strong mind, it doesn’t have to be spoon-fed And I can read what doesn’t have to be read

[Pete Nice] So some stay illiterate and feeble, legally licked You go the ways of the weasel (the weasel)

[Chorus: 3rd Bass] Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop goes the weasel, ‘cuz the weasel goes pop Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop goes the weasel, ‘cuz the weasel goes pop

[MC Serch] Hip-hop, got turned into hit pop The second a record was number one on the pop charts For those that get on heart that gotta in the ghetto Let no one forget about the hard part Now in ninety-one we got a new brand, a new band Lookin like the same old Klan Same old theives that skeez so we gotta make sure That real rap has got to endure

[Pete Nice] Why score all my points in one period Appearin in complex structure like a pyramid The paper for the media presence Ya learn lesson from the face of false legend Stop vexin on the skills, ya ain’t originate The thin ice you skate upon will break and set ya straight Ate up on the plate, now who’s diesel Not the weasel, not the weasel, pop goes the weasel

[Chorus: 3rd Bass] Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop goes the weasel, ‘cuz the weasel goes pop Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop goes the weasel, ‘cuz the weasel goes pop

[Serch] Ya stole somebody’s record then ya looped it, ya looped it [Pete] Ya boosted the record then ya looped it, ya looped it [Kurious] Aiyyo, I came from Cali, and they hooped it, they hooped it [Pete] But now you’re getting sued kinda stoopid

[MC Serch] Boosted tracks get slaps, ya got no haps To reach all four corners of the map For kids in Kansas.. to those who speak Spanish Doin crazy damage so the wack gets banished Can’t manage the truth until you buy a way Ya ain’t quick so ya switch off the exit from my highway To rest but a crook, had to take a second look Ever heard of a chef who can’t cook? But the Minister Prime can lay laws Hey yo, Pete Nice, rip the mic and go for yours

[Pete Nice] Goes for mine, I goes for mine Find the Prime won’t eat the green eggs and swine On line like the Serch, in the hoody with the woody Get a disc or tape, at Sam Goody Why’d ya run through the doors some left open? Ropin off the scenes of the crime smokin I got pub and I’mma nut like a SCUD see Blowin up, like I’m throwin up a beef patty Sell-outs run a bout like the measles No cures, cause pop goes the weasels

[Chorus: 3rd Bass] Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop goes the weasel, ‘cuz the weasel goes pop Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop goes the weasel, ‘cuz the weasel goes pop

Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop goes the weasel, ‘cuz the weasel goes pop Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop Pop goes the weasel, the weasel Pop goes the weasel, ‘cuz the weasel goes pop