Blackstreet was an American R&B group founded in 1994 by Teddy Riley, a New… Read Full Bio ↴Blackstreet was an American R&B group founded in 1994 by Teddy Riley, a New Jack Swing pioneer known for his work as a member of Guy. The band members were: Teddy Riley, Chauncey Hannibal, Eric Williams, and Terrell Philips (and formerly Joe Stonestreet, Levi Little, David Hollister, and Mark Middleton). Their debut album, Blackstreet, was a moderate success due to the singles "Booti Call" and "Before I Let You Go", both Top 40 hits ("Before" hit the Top 10). The follow-up, 1996's Another Level was a breakthrough success due to the top single "No Diggity" (with Dr. Dre), which was a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1996, and won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, along with the Top 40 hit "Don't Leave Me". Another Level eventually went four times platinum in the United States and peaked at #3 on the Billboard chart. "No Diggity" is ranked at #91 on Rolling Stone and MTV: 100 Greatest Pop Songs, while Blackstreet comes in at #214 of the Top 500 Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years.

Blackstreet has also collaborated with Jay-Z on his single "The City is Mine". With the help of the Janet Jackson single "Girlfriend", Blackstreet finally had a top ten album with Finally. But personnel shifts wracked the group and contributed to the relative failure of Finally in 1999, and Blackstreet soon broke up. After rumors of legal action and a preemptive countersuit, the group reformed and released Level II in 2003.

Booti Call
Blackstreet Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's just a bootie call

Hey baby, turn around
It's not what it seems
The way I like it by the pound
Must be in the genes

Only want to have fun

No time to get sprung
That's the way it is on Blackstreet
After all, it's a booty call

Well, you know what I like
You've got it
Just be there tonight
I want it, hey, yeah

You know that it's right
All I wanna do is be
Where you're at

[Chorus]
Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Nothing but the dog in me
Why must I feel like that
Why must I chase the cat
Nothing but the dog in me

Sometimes I feel that I
Might want to settle down
But on my wedding night I feel
I'm gonna play around

Life is too short to lie
I mean no disrespect at all
But if the other woman's on my mind
On my life, it's a booty call

Well, you know what I like
You've got it
Just be there tonight
I want it

You know that it's right
All I wanna do is be
Where you're at
Why must I feel like that

[Chorus]

Bow wow wow
Yippy yo yippee ay, hey

Yo, take it to the limit

Every dog has his day
And I'm digging on the vibes
So we can get together
Make tonight real live

Checking out the front
Checking out the back
Well, I'll be god damned
Is it really like that

Summer's hot
Winter's freezing
Chasing that cat
All through the season
Hey, yo, girl, stop teasing

Check your trips
'Cause I really wanna stroke
You're saying I'll drown
I'm saying you'll choke

Back at my place
Face to face
I'm trying to be good
So we can cut to the chase

You know what I like
And, baby, you got it
Come on, let's get this started

Back on Blackstreet
We can have a ball
'Cause after all
It's just a booty call

Well, you know what I like
You've got it
Just be there tonight
I want it

You know that it's right
All I wanna do is be
Where you're at
Why must I feel like that

[Chorus]

Bow wow wow
Yippy yo yippee ay, hey

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Booti Call" by Blackstreet depict a sexual encounter that is purely for fun, with no emotional attachment or commitment involved. The singer expresses his desire for physical pleasure with the woman, but acknowledges that it is not a serious relationship, describing it as nothing more than a "booty call." He suggests that it's simply in his nature to want to have fun and not get too emotionally invested in relationships, and that this is just part of who he is. He also mentions feeling conflicted about settling down and potentially cheating, acknowledging the temptation of other women but still wanting to enjoy his freedom.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Why must I feel like that, why must I chase the cat, nothing but the dog in me" which suggests that the singer feels like he is driven by animalistic instincts and desires, without much control over his impulses. The bridge section adds a rap verse, which describes the singer checking out the woman and suggesting they go back to his place for some physical activity. The chorus is then repeated several times until the end of the song.

Overall, the song presents a view of sexual encounters that are purely for pleasure and have no strings attached, with the singer suggesting that this is just a natural part of who he is and how he enjoys life. While acknowledging the potential moral implications of his actions, he still chooses to pursue physical pleasure regardless.

Line by Line Meaning

It's just a bootie call
This encounter is just a casual, physical one

Hey baby, turn around
The singer is addressing their partner

It's not what it seems
The singer is implying that their partner has misconceptions about the nature of their hookup

The way I like it by the pound
The artist enjoys a larger body type in a sexual partner

Must be in the genes
The artist believes their physical preferences are a part of their nature

Only want to have fun
The singer is looking for a carefree and enjoyable sexual experience

No time to get sprung
The singer does not want to develop feelings for their partner

That's the way it is on Blackstreet
The band's reputation aligns with the artist's intentions for their hookup

After all, it's a booty call
The artist reiterates that this is a casual encounter

Well, you know what I like
The artist's partner is familiar with their sexual preferences

You've got it
The partner possesses the qualities the singer desires for a satisfying sexual experience

Just be there tonight
The artist's partner is requested to be available for sexual activity that evening

I want it, hey, yeah
The singer is expressing their desire for sexual activity

You know that it's right
The singer's partner understands and reciprocates the sexual attraction

All I wanna do is be
The singer's intentions are solely sexual

Where you're at
The artist wants to be with their partner

Why must I feel like that
The artist is questioning their sexual urges

Why must I chase the cat
The singer is questioning their desire for sexual encounters

Nothing but the dog in me
The singer feels like their sexual impulses are animalistic

Sometimes I feel that I
The artist has occasional thoughts of settling down

Might want to settle down
The artist considers a long-term relationship

But on my wedding night I feel
The artist has doubts about their ability to be faithful

I'm gonna play around
The singer plans to cheat on their future spouse

Life is too short to lie
The artist values honesty and directness in their sexual relationships

I mean no disrespect at all
The singer wants to be clear that they do not intend to offend or harm anyone

But if the other woman's on my mind
The singer is considering involvement with another woman

On my life, it's a booty call
The singer admits that their actions are self-serving and disrespectful

Bow wow wow
An expression of excitement or enthusiasm

Yippy yo yippee ay, hey
An exclamation of joy or enthusiasm

Yo, take it to the limit
Encouragement to push boundaries or take risks

Every dog has his day
Every person gets their chance to shine or succeed

And I'm digging on the vibes
The artist is enjoying the atmosphere or mood

So we can get together
The artist is expressing a desire to have sex with their partner

Make tonight real live
The artist hopes to have an enjoyable and exciting sexual experience

Checking out the front
The singer is inspecting their partner's body

Checking out the back
The artist is inspecting their partner's body

Well, I'll be god damned
The singer is expressing disbelief or surprise

Is it really like that
The singer is questioning the accuracy of their assumptions

Summer's hot
Reference to the warm weather

Winter's freezing
Reference to the cold weather

Chasing that cat
Pursuing sexual encounters

All through the season
Continuously engaging in sexual activity

Hey, yo, girl, stop teasing
The singer wants their partner to stop figuratively leading them on and engage in sexual activity

Check your trips
The artist is making sure their partner is mentally in the same place as them regarding sex

'Cause I really wanna stroke
The artist wants to have sex with their partner

You're saying I'll drown
The partner is questioning the artist's ability to handle sexual activity

I'm saying you'll choke
The singer is confident in their sexual abilities despite their partner's doubts

Back at my place
The artist wants to have sex at their residence

Face to face
The sexual activity between the two parties is personal and intimate

I'm trying to be good
The singer is attempting to behave themselves and keep the encounter casual

So we can cut to the chase
The singer wants to forego any pretense and proceed directly to sexual activity

Back on Blackstreet
The artist is referencing their return to their previous state of mind, suggesting that they are getting back to their roots

We can have a ball
The artist and their partner can have a great time engaging in sexual activity

'Cause after all
Reiteration that the sexual encounter is casual and not serious

It's just a booty call
Final confirmation that the encounter is just for physical pleasure

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EDWARD THEODORE RILEY, ERICK S. SERMON, LARRY TROUTMAN, ROGER TROUTMAN, GEORGE JR. CLINTON, GARRY MARSHALL SHIDER, DAVID L. SPRADLEY, LEON F. III SYLVERS, ANTWONE L. DICKEY, MARKELL DEMONT RILEY

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