If Cali Swag District has its way, everyone across the country will be doing the dougie. That's the name of the dance movement that the Inglewood, Calif., rap group has fashioned into an infectious first single -- and first hit -- on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Moving 10-9 this week on the chart, "Teach Me How to Dougie" also climbs 9-6 on Hot Rap Songs and graduates after two weeks at No. 1 on Heatseekers Songs to No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. Up 13% from last week with 30,000 in sales, the song has sold 184,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and rises 62-48 on Hot Digital Songs.
"This time last year, we weren't on any charts," says Yung, who with fellow rappers Smoove Da General, JayAre and dancer M-Bone comprise Cali Swag District. "This is a dream come true."
Video: Cali Swag District, "Teach Me How to Dougie"
Initially introduced to the dougie by a friend attending Texas Southern University, the group members decided to put their own energetic West Coast twist on the dance, directing followers to "put your arms out front and lean side to side." Since then, Cali Swag District's YouTube video has garnered more than 1.5 million views. The 19-year-old alumni of Inglewood's Morningside High School have also performed on a series of school tours; at rhythmic KPWR Los Angeles' Power House Concert with headliners Snoop Dogg, Drake and Trey Songz; on Fuel TV's "Daily Habit"; and on the 2010 BET Awards preshow.
Up next is Cali Swag District's debut album, "The Kickback." It's set to drop Sept. 14 on Checkmate Records/Capitol. In-house Checkmate producers including rapper Poly Rob, Jay Hustle and GX are supplying tracks for the album, which will release a second single in the coming weeks.
The group's members are aware of the one-hit-wonder stigma that has categorized other rap/dance acts in the last several years. "We have other tracks you can dance to," Smoove Da General says, "but we also have many different styles . . . We're pretty sure we won't be one-hit wonders."