Overview

Blanco Brown’s “The Git Up”—a line dance country-rap hybrid with step-by-step instructions—became summer 2019’s wholesome TikTok phenomenon, bridging country and hip-hop while reviving line dance culture for the short-form video era and proving viral dances could still be fun, inclusive, and multi-generational.

The Song & Dance

Blanco Brown: Atlanta-based producer/artist blending country and trap (self-described “TrailerTrap”)
Released: April 2019

Instructional lyrics:

• “Right foot up, left foot slide”
• “Left foot up, right foot slide”
• “Basically running man”
• “Do the two-step, then cowboy boogie”
• “Throw your hands up in the sky”

Like Cupid Shuffle and Cha-Cha Slide, the song literally tells you how to dance—no prior knowledge required.

TikTok Explosion

“The Git Up” became TikTok’s first major line dance craze:

• Accessibility: All ages, abilities, backgrounds could participate
• Family-friendly: Parents, kids, grandparents dancing together
• Positive vibes: No controversy, danger, or negativity
• Format-perfect: 15-60 second clips ideal for full routine

The challenge went viral (May-August 2019):

• 100M+ video creations
• #1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs (14 weeks)
• Top 20 on Billboard Hot 100 (#14 peak)

Cross-Cultural Appeal

The song’s genre fusion resonated across divides:

• Country fans: Line dance tradition, Southern pride
• Hip-hop heads: Trap production, Atlanta roots
• Pop audiences: Catchy, accessible, fun
• Rural & urban: Bridging geographic/cultural gaps

Blanco Brown (Black country artist) creating country-rap hybrid felt authentic—Southern culture’s blended reality, not forced marketing.

Multi-Generational Participation

Unlike youth-exclusive viral dances, “The Git Up” united ages:

• Kids: Simple, energetic, playground-friendly
• Parents: Nostalgic for line dance era (Electric Slide, Cupid Shuffle)
• Grandparents: Accessible, low-impact, community-oriented
• Families: Content showing three generations dancing together

The wholesome inclusivity was refreshing in influencer-driven TikTok landscape.

Line Dance Revival

“The Git Up” reintroduced line dancing to Gen Z:

• Cultural education: Many TikTokers hadn’t experienced line dances
• Community aspect: Group participation vs. solo performance
• Instructional format: Songs teaching dances (pre-TikTok norm)
• Offline translation: Dances performed at actual events (weddings, parties, schools)

The song connected TikTok’s digital virality to real-world social dancing.

Chart Success

• #1 Hot Country Songs (14 weeks, summer 2019)
• #14 Billboard Hot 100 (crossover success rare for country)
• Streaming dominance: Hundreds of millions of plays
• International charts: Charting in Australia, Canada, UK

The song proved TikTok could launch country-crossover hits—not just pop/hip-hop.

Wholesome Exception

In 2019’s viral landscape (dominated by Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” controversies, “Truth Hurts” drama), “The Git Up” was:

• Uncontroversial: No scandals, debates, or backlash
• Inclusive: Celebrated participation, not exclusion
• Positive: Pure fun, no cynicism or irony
• Community-building: Brought people together

The wholesomeness felt almost radical in clickbait-driven social media.

Blanco Brown’s Trajectory

Post-”Git Up”:

• One-hit wonder status: Subsequent singles didn’t replicate success
• Tragic accident: Severe car crash (August 2020) halting career momentum
• Recovery: Slowly returned to music post-recovery
• Legacy: “The Git Up” remained his defining work

Line Dance Tradition

The song joined the line dance canon:

• Electric Slide (1982): The grandmother
• Cha-Cha Slide (2000): The uncle
• Cupid Shuffle (2007): The stepfather
• The Git Up (2019): The TikTok-native cousin

Unlike viral TikTok dances that fade in weeks, line dances endure—“The Git Up” likely to be performed at weddings and school dances for years.

Legacy

“The Git Up” demonstrated:

• TikTok’s genre diversity: Not just pop/hip-hop platform
• Wholesome virality: Positive content could still succeed
• Multi-generational appeal: Viral moments transcending age demographics
• Line dance longevity: Traditional formats working in digital age
• Country-rap fusion: Genre blending reflecting Southern cultural reality

The song exists as a rare TikTok success story without controversy—just pure, inclusive, joy.

Sources

• Billboard “‘The Git Up’ Chart Performance and TikTok Success” (August 2019)
• Rolling Stone “Blanco Brown and the TrailerTrap Movement” (June 2019)
• NPR “How ‘The Git Up’ Became Summer 2019’s Wholesome Hit” (July 2019)