How "Whoop That Trick" became a Grindhouse anthem for the Grizzlies
I’m going to let the rest of the NBA finish, but the Memphis Grizzlies had the best crowd of the season in last night’s Game 2 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Not only did the Grizzlies whoop up on the Wolves, winning by the score of 124-96, but the FedExForum was in peak playoff form […]
I’m going to let the rest of the NBA finish, but the Memphis Grizzlies had the best crowd of the season in last night’s Game 2 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Not only did the Grizzlies whoop up on the Wolves, winning by the score of 124-96, but the FedExForum was in peak playoff form for the entire game.
On the court, Ja Morant finished one rebound shy of a 23-point triple-double while the Grizzlies’ bench dazzled by pouring in 60 points. The win set the franchise record for the largest margin of victory in a home playoff game in what was a night to remember in Memphis.
However, the pinnacle of the night came late in the fourth quarter with the game already in hand. With six minutes remaining on the clock, the Grizzlies reminded the rest of the league why there is no place like the Grindhouse in the playoffs.
During a media timeout, Memphis’ mascot Grizz unleashed the fan-favorite “WHOOP EM” banner as Al Kapone’s “Whoop That Trick” began to reverberate through the building.
The best thing about this big game tradition is that it is all-inclusive. Young folks, old folks, fans sitting courtside, or in the nosebleeds — when this song plays, everybody knows what to do. It is without a doubt the best in-game anthem in the NBA.
So, where did it start?
Kapone’s “Whoop That Trick” originally appeared in the 2005 film Hustle & Flow, a movie filmed in the mean streets of Memphis, and quickly gained popularity. In the film, the main character DJay, played by Terrence Howard, decides to step away from life as a pimp and turn to making rap music. By now, you can hopefully put two and two together.
The Birth
The date was April 27, 2013, it was Game 4 during a first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers had eliminated Memphis just one year prior as the rivalry between the two had intensified by this point.
Down 2-1 in the series, the Grizzlies desperately needed to pull even with a win at home before going back out West.
It was in the middle of the game when the officials went to the monitor to review a scuffle between Zach Randolph and Blake Griffin. During the review, “Whoop That Trick” began to play lifting the sold-out crowd to its feet. The original chant was intended to be "Whoop that Clip," but Memphis did what Memphis does and stuck with the OG version.
The Grizzlies would go on to win the contest by the score of 104-83. Memphis wouldn’t lose another game for the rest of the series.
“Whoop That Trick” has been the Grizzlies’ rallying cry late in pivotal games at home for nearly a decade. With max capacity crowds returning to most of the NBA at the beginning of the season, fans were soon reminded of the Grindhouse anthem and everything that came with it.
Never change, Memphis.
Featured image via Christine Tannous – USA TODAY Sports
