Source: Frank Mullen / Getty
For any artist lucky enough, the victory of releasing a hit debut single is a celebratory experience that only happens once yet can also leave an everlasting imprint on the culture.
Young Dro knows that all too well. His debut single, the 2006 summer smash “Shoulder Lean” featuring his Grand Hustle head honcho T.I., is the core reason why many now regard him as a veteran on the ATL music scene almost 20 years later.
In addition to cracking top 10 on the Hot 100 and fairing even greater at #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the Lil’ C-produced banger also ushered in one of the first predecessors to the chart-controlled dance crazes you see on TikTok today.
RELATED: My First Time – Ralph Carter Remembers His Earliest Onstage Acting Memory
Speaking of firsts, it only made sense to have Dro stop by “My First Time” to give us a breakdown of the very first ‘shoulder lean.’ Who would’ve thought a meeting of the minds and some smart thinking when it came to staying true to image led to a certain “bounce right to left” that people are still hitting on the dance floor in 2024?
Watch Young Dro on “My First Time” below for his story behind making the world “Shoulder Lean”: