#DabOnEm: The Gesture That Conquered the World
The dab—a simple dance move where you drop your head into the crook of one elbow while raising the other arm—became the most ubiquitous gesture of the mid-2010s.
Hip-Hop Origins
The dab originated in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene around 2012-2013, popularized by groups Migos and Rich The Kid. The move’s name came from marijuana concentrate “dabs”—the motion allegedly mimicked coughing into your elbow after a hit.
Rapper Skippa Da Flippa and producer Bow Wow both claimed credit for inventing the dance.
Mainstream Explosion
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton brought dabbing to national attention in 2015, celebrating touchdowns with the move. NFL fans either loved or hated it—there was no middle ground.
By 2016, everyone was dabbing: Hillary Clinton on Ellen, musicians at award shows, teachers in classrooms, and kids absolutely everywhere. It transcended age, context, and appropriateness.
Peak Saturation
The dab became the default celebration gesture. Score a point? Dab. Win a game? Dab. Successfully complete homework? Dab. The move required no coordination, making it accessible to everyone.
Politicians dabbing to appear “relatable” became a cringe genre of its own.
Death by Overuse
By late 2017, the dab was officially dead—killed by overexposure and adult adoption. When your middle school principal dabs during assembly, it’s over.
Despite its demise, the dab remained the defining gesture of mid-2010s internet culture.
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