Juvenile and Mannie Fresh have revived their 1999 classic “Back That Azz Up” for an important message about the COVID-19 vaccination. On Wednesday (July 7), the rappers and No Limit’s Mia X partnered with the dating app BLK to release “Vax That Thang Up,” a reworked version of the song that encourages vaccination.
Over the familiar, bouncing beat, Juvie and Mannie swap bars about getting vaccinated before returning to dating apps and normal life.
“Girl you look good once you vax that thang up/ You a handsome young brother once you vax that thang up,” Juvie spits.
Mia comes in at the end, rhyming, “Of you wanna get sticky and hot/ Go, go, go, go get the shot/ If you wanna smash some dude named Scott/ Go, go, go, go get the shot.”
In a statement, Juvenile explained why he chose to participate in the campaign.
“I just wanted to do something positive for my people and to stand in the front to show that I’m willing to sacrifice my life not just for me but also for my family,” he said. “We don’t know what we’re facing right now but we really do all need to be vaccinated so we can continue to do our thing and survive.”
According to a recent survey, Americans aged 18 to 29 are still the demographic least likely to be vaccinated and the least likely planning on getting vaccinated as compared to other age groups.
“We have a direct line to the audience that needs to internalize this message,” BLK Head of Brand & Marketing Jonathan Kirkland said. “The song may be playful and fun, but the underlying message is as real as it gets.”
Along with “Vax That Thang Up,” which also marks the first-ever collaboration between Cash Money and No Limit, BLK has unveiled a “Vaxified” badge on its app, which allows singles to promote their vaccination status.
The campaign was created in partnership with the Shaquille O’Neal co-founded marketing agency Majority.
“To be young is to feel invincible. BLK is uniquely positioned to meet this historic moment, not through an academic lecture or sober manifesto, but through pop cultural content that speaks directly to the benefits of dating IRL once you’re vaccinated,” Majority co-founder Omid Farhang added.
Watch Juvenile, Mannie Fresh and Mia X’s “Vax That Thang Up” video below.