THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

791-Terror Squad-Lean Back.

2004-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 1.31. The dance they are doing is called ‘The Rockaway.’ I would imagine it is one of the easier dance routines to choreograph.

Terror Squad was the brain child of the ‘Hip-Hop’ artist Fat Joe, who was born Joseph Antonio Cartagena, on August 19th, 1970, in New York City, United States. Prior to forming Terror Squad, Fat Joe had already recorded two solo studio Albums, in 1993, and 1995, it was when signing with ‘Atlantic Records’ in 1997 that Fat Joe, under his deal, was granted the freedom to create his own record label, which he called ‘Terror Squad Productions.’ Terror Squad were made up of artists who Fat Joe had signed to his label, and among those who appeared on his third studio Album ‘Don Cartagena,’ in 1998 were, Christopher Lee Rios, (1971-2000) who was better known as ‘Big Punisher,’ Felix Delgado, who is better known by his stage name ‘Cuban Link,’ and Antonio Cruz, whose stage name is ‘Tony Sunshine. The Terror Squad were active between 1998-2004, with nine different members coming and going, including a pre fame DJ Khaled.

Terror Squad released a total of two Albums, in 1999, and 2004, and five singles in the same time period, both Albums reached the top 40 on Billboard in America, while their only charting single on Billboard was ‘Lean Back,’ which made the Number 1 spot. Fat Joe has released 10 studio Albums between 1993-2010, and 43 singles as the lead artist, he has also appeared on a further 26 singles as the featured artist, between 1993-2021. There are also three collaborative Albums available, including ‘Plato O Plomo’ from 2017, with ‘Remmy Ma,’ who also performed with him on ‘Lean Back.’ In America on the Billboard Hot 100, Fat Joe has appeared on 10 top 40 singles, with ‘What’s Luv?’ featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti, charting the highest at Number 2 in 2002, while in the UK, he has charted within the top 40 on six occasions, with ‘What’s Luv?’ peaking the highest at Number 4 in 2002.

‘Lean Back’ was the first of two singles released by Terror Squad from their second and final studio Album ‘True Story,’from July 2004. The song was co-written by Fat Joe, Remy Ma, and Scott Storch, who was also the tracks producer. The song was performed by Fat Joe, and Remi Ma, with Ma providing the second verse. Scott Spencer Storch was born on December 16th, 1973, in Long Island, New York, United States, he is one of the most prolific producers, and songwriters of the 21st Century. Storch began his music career as a keyboard player for the Philadelphia based ‘Hip-Hop’ group ‘The Roots,’ His breakthrough as a producer came in 1999 when he co-produced ‘Still D.R.E.’ with Dr. Dre, it was Storch who provided the memorable keyboard riff on the track. Scott Storch has produced for dozens of artists, including Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera.

Remy Ma was born Reminisce Kioni Mackie, on May 30th, 1980, in New York City, United States, up until 2020 she was one of only six female Rappers to have performed on a Billboard Number 1 single. After the death of Big Punisher in 2000, Fat Joe signed Remi Ma as a member of Terror Squad, and she performed on the groups second Album ‘True Story.’ She also released her one solo Album, ‘There’s Something About Remy: Based on a True Story,’ in 2006, and the collaboration Album ‘Plato O Plomo,’ with Fat Joe in 2017. Remi Ma has also released 13 singles as the lead artist between 2002-2021, and she has appeared on a further 15 singles as the featured artist between 2001-2017. Her only top 40 hit as a solo artist on Billboard to date is ‘All the Way Up’ with Fat Joe featuring French Montana and Infared, which made Number 27 in 2016.

‘Lean Back’ as you would expect, is full of all the cliches you would associate with many Rap songs, and it has more than it’s fare share of braggadocio. The dance that the songs chorus talks about is called ‘The Rockaway,’ which Fat Joe has described as just ‘Throwing back the right shoulder to the beat of the song,’ which must have been handy for a man of his ample size.

‘Said my n…s don’t dance, we just pull up our pants, and do The Rockaway, now lean back, lean back, lean back, lean back.’