Long before TikTok dances, there was the Dougie.
In 2010, Cali Swag District’s “Teach Me How to Dougie” went worldwide, and for the decade-plus since, people have been trying to learn the viral moves.
More than 15 years later, a Korean TikTok creator went viral for doing the Dougie… badly. He claimed to be learning how to do the Dougie day-by-day – but his moves were so stiff and awkward, viewers from around the world – including Endless Thread producer Kalyani Saxena — were suspicious. Was @JBStarMax faking being bad at the Dougie? Kalyani presents her investigation to Ben and Amory.
Show notes:
- “Day 1 of learning to do the Dougie until I can do it smoothly” (@JBStarMax on TikTok)
- Breakdancing (@JBStarMax on TikTok)
- Know Your L.A. Hip-Hop Dances: The Controversial Origin Story of The Dougie (LA Weekly)
- Ben does the crabwalk, and Amory does the worm (WBUR)
This episode was produced by Grace Tatter and co-hosted by Kalyani Saxena, Ben Brock Johnson, and Amory Sivertson. It was edited by Dave Shaw. Mix and sound design by Emily Jankowski.