Hat 2 da Back
Intro: T-Boz, Chilli, Left Eye
Hahahaha, what up?Sup T-Boz?Yeah, what's up Chilli?What up, Left Eye?Yo, where's Left Eye? Did she leave? "I left" HahahaVerse 1: T-Boz
Bein' that I am the kinda girl that I amNobody can make me do what I don't want to, uhI can be myself a lot and I'm proud of what I gotSo I'll never change for youBein' that I am the kinda girl that I amTight jeans don't hit the scene with one like meI got to be feeling freeAnd you better believe I'll do what pleases meYo, Left Eye, kick the sceneVerse 2: Left Eye
Every day, last week and not a place to goThis nut still had me dressin' like a fashion showBut not this week I'm chillin' 'cause it's nothin' to hideThrew on my baggy dips and waited for my rideHe pulled up (Knock-knock) 'til I opened the doorPeeped my gear and started dissin' me from head to toeBut yo, just to let ya know, it's takin' taMake me wanna say gotta go, gotta goChorus: TLC
Hat to da backI gotta kick my pants down real lowThat's the kinda girl I amThat's the kinda girl I amHat to da backI gotta kick my pants down real lowThat's the kinda girl that I am (Aww yeah)(Here we go, here we go, here we go again)Verse 3: T-Boz
Bein' that I am the kinda girl that I amSome people just don't understand the things I do(You feelin' it "D", you feelin' it?)Chillin' with the girls or kick it with the fellas if I chooseAnd bein' that I am the kinda girl that I amDumb rules are left for fools with no attitude (Hahaha)I think my way is coolSo let me be me, continue bein' real smoothYo, Left Eye, what's up wit' that guy?Verse 4: Left Eye
So yo, get it back to this dude wit' the foul attitudeShoot, he made another bad move sayin' thatGirls shouldn't wear baseball caps, he can go take a hike'Cause it's the style that I like, yeah, it's a trip'Cause somethin' hasn't yet been saidI never talked about them damn finger waves in his headTight pants and two rings in each earYou know that is dead, but it's me insteadChorus: TLC
Hat to da backI gotta kick my pants down real low (Pants down real low)That's the kinda girl I amThat's the kinda girl I amHat to da backI gotta kick my pants down real lowThat's the kinda girl that I am (Aww yeah)(Here we go, here we go, here we go again)Bridge: Chilli
(Here we go again)That's the kinda girl I amDon't cha know I really don't give a damnLet me be me for me and not what I'm supposed to beSo I'm gonna do what I wanna do'Cause dumb rules are left for silly foolsThat's the kinda girl that I am, oh(Here we go, here we go, here we go again)Break: T-Boz & (Left Eye)
Some people might wonder why we're like that(Cause we're smooth)Smooth as… ahWhy not?Bridge 2: Left Eye, T-Boz
Relatively speakin' I am no ordinary dip'Cause I ain't reachin' hippedTil you be thinkin' I'm flippedAnd that is ooooh on the TLC tipOne, two three, four, y'allHere we go againChorus: TLC
Hat to da backI gotta kick my pants down real lowThat's the kinda girl I amThat's the kinda girl I amHat to da back (Baby)I gotta kick my pants down real lowThat's the kinda girl that I am (I am)Hat to da backI gotta kick my pants down real lowThat's the kinda girl I amThat's the kinda girl I amHat to da backI gotta kick my pants down real lowThat's the kinda girl that I amOutro: T-Boz, Chilli, Left Eye
TLC, that's it, that's usYo, T, you know that's right 'cause she a bossT-Boz, she a bossYo, Left Eye, why's your name, Left Eye?'Cause Eye left motha fucka, hahaWhat the song means
"Hat 2 da Back" is TLC's celebration of individuality. T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chilli take turns declaring that they are who they are and will not change to please anyone. The refrain is a defiant statement of identity, and the verses reject people who don't understand their choices and the "dumb rules" others try to impose.
The story moves from general pride to a specific scene. Left Eye describes a guy who keeps criticizing her outfit, from her baggy clothes to her baseball cap, and she brushes off his judgment and insists on her own style. The mood shifts from patience to irritation and then to playful confidence, which the group delivers with humor and ad-libs in the intro, breaks, and outro.
The key images are the backwards cap and the baggy pants. They stand for a deliberately non-conforming, streetwise look that was part of the group's identity. The "finger waves" in the guy's hair mock his fussy, old-fashioned image. The refrain about pants hanging low is less a literal fashion note than a symbol of the freedom to dress and act without permission. Overall, the song turns everyday arguments about style into a statement of self-respect.
Key phrases explained
- hat to da back
- wearing a baseball cap backwards — A signature look and the chorus title, showing the group's rebellious street style.
- baggy dips
- baggy pants or loose outfit — "Dips" is slang for pants or a way of dressing, here loose and comfortable clothing.
- nut
- a guy, a fool — Slang for the man who keeps criticizing her look.
- finger waves
- a sculpted, slicked-down hairstyle — Used to mock the guy's fussy, old-fashioned appearance.
- kick the scene
- make an entrance, join in — Left Eye's cue to take the spotlight in the verse.
Song info
- Release date
- 1992-02-25
- Album
- Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip
- Written by
- Dallas Austin, Harry Wayne Casey, Kevin Wales, Richard Finch, Left Eye
- Produced by
- Dallas Austin
- Samples
- KC and the Sunshine Band – What Makes You Happy, LL COOL J – Big Ole Butt, MC Lyte – Shut The Eff Up! [Hoe]
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