Overview
The Running Man Challenge—set to Ghost Town DJ’s 1996 “My Boo”—became summer 2016’s wholesome viral craze, reviving a classic hip-hop move and a forgotten one-hit wonder while police departments nationwide attempted to PR-rehab through dance videos.
The Dance
The Running Man (original move, circa 1987):
- One leg slides back while appearing to run in place
- Arms pump in running motion
- Body doesn’t move forward (illusion of running)
The move originated in 1980s hip-hop/house dance culture (Melbourne Shuffle, MC Hammer popularization). The 2016 challenge revived it with a 1990s R&B throwback soundtrack.
Origins
Started by: New Jersey high school students Kevin Vincent and Jeremiah Hall (May 2016)
Song choice: “My Boo” by Ghost Town DJ’s (1996)—a forgotten Southern hip-hop classic
Initial spread: Instagram video went viral, celebrities/athletes joining within days
The challenge’s nostalgic song choice (20-year-old track) gave it multi-generational appeal—Gen X remembered it, millennials rediscovered it, Gen Z learned it fresh.
Viral Explosion
Within two weeks (May 2016):
- NBA stars: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, entire teams participating
- NFL players: Off-season training camp content
- Ellen DeGeneres: Michelle Obama joined Ellen for the Running Man on national TV (May 2016)
- Police departments: Hundreds of PDs creating videos (attempted community outreach)
The challenge’s positivity (no controversy, no dangerous stunts) made it safe for institutions.
”My Boo” Resurrection
Ghost Town DJ’s obscure 1996 single suddenly topped charts:
- Spotify streams: 50M+ plays within weeks
- iTunes charts: Re-entered 20 years after release
- Music licensing: New revenue for a forgotten one-hit wonder
- Nostalgia economy: Proof that viral moments can revive catalog tracks
The song’s Southern hip-hop origins (Virginia) brought regional 1990s R&B to 2016 audiences.
Police PR & Backlash
Hundreds of police departments created Running Man videos, attempting to:
- Humanize officers: Show “fun” side during heightened police-community tensions
- Recruit younger demographics: Appeal to social media-savvy potential officers
- Community outreach: Bridge divides through shared cultural moments
Criticisms:
- Tone-deaf timing: Videos emerged during ongoing police brutality protests (2016 Black Lives Matter activism)
- Copaganda: Using viral trends to distract from systemic issues
- Cringey execution: Older officers awkwardly attempting youth culture moves
The police participation became a case study in institutional misunderstanding of viral culture—what worked for Ellen/Michelle Obama felt dystopian from uniformed cops.
Institutional Adoption
Beyond police:
- Military units: Army, Navy, Air Force bases participating
- Fire departments: Competing with police for viral views
- Corporations: Brands attempting to capitalize (mostly failing)
The Running Man Challenge demonstrated how quickly viral moments get institutionalized—within weeks, it went from high school students to government agencies.
Decline
By August 2016, the challenge was over:
- Oversaturation: Everyone from toddlers to grandparents had done it
- Institutional co-option: Lost youth culture credibility
- Next viral trend: Mannequin Challenge (November 2016) replaced it
Legacy
The Running Man Challenge exemplified pre-TikTok viral culture:
- Instagram/Twitter-driven: Hashtag-based spread (not algorithmic feeds)
- Nostalgia mining: Reviving 1990s culture for 2016 audiences
- Wholesome virality: No danger, minimal controversy (rare in viral challenges)
- Institutional misuse: How organizations kill cultural moments through participation
It also proved viral moments could resurrect forgotten music—a pattern Spotify/TikTok would exploit algorithmically in subsequent years.
Sources
- The New York Times “Running Man Challenge and Police PR” (June 2016)
- Billboard “‘My Boo’ Streams Surge After 20 Years” (May 2016)
- NPR “The Running Man Challenge: Harmless Fun or Copaganda?” (June 2016)