What Is the Buss It Challenge? 2021's First Big Viral Trend, Explained

The Buss It Challenge is 2021's first major viral trend. Here's everything you need to know about the TikTok challenge, based on Erica Banks' "Buss It."

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There’s a new challenge taking over TikTok. Last year was all about the Don’t Rush Challenge and the Savage Challenge, but this year everyone is showing off their glo-ups and sharp editing skills with the Buss It Challenge. 

The challenge, which uses Texas rapper Erica Banks’ song, “Buss It,” is simple and fun to pull off. It just takes two different outfits, some video editing knowledge, and twerking skills (you don’t really have to know how to dance though). 

While Banks’ song was originally released in 2020, the track has really started to take off in the first couple weeks of 2021. The challenge is so popular right now that it’s trending on Twitter and a number of celebrities have already shared their own videos. In case you’re looking to hop on the movement, here is a rundown of what you need to know about the Buss It Challenge. 

What is the Buss It Challenge?

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The Buss It Challenge is a trend going viral on TikTok. The challenge involves participants recording two videos: one where they are in regular clothes (usually sweatpants) and another where they are dressed up. Participants start by dancing along to a sample of Nelly’s “Hot In Herre” in regular clothes. After the song says, “I think my butt gettin' big,” participants drop down low, which signals a transition to a different cut of them dolled up and twerking to Erica Banks’ “Buss It.”

When did it start?

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Erica Banks’ song, which is used in the challenge, was recorded in Dec. 2019 and released in June 2020. By Aug. 2020, the record charted at No. 38 on the R&B Hip-Hop Airplay chart. And while it is unclear when exactly it was started, the Buss It Challenge gained viral popularity in the first few days of Jan. 2021.

@zazatopia

PLEASE TAG ME. And if this has been done I’m sorry, i just fux wit the song #transition #fyp #newtrend #newdance

♬ Buss It - Erica Banks


A woman named Erika Davila was one of the first to the challenge. In her video, shared on Jan. 1, she is seen dancing along to “Buss It” without a transition. “Please tag me. And if this has been done I’m sorry, I just fux wit the song,” she wrote in the caption. In the video, she urges followers to create videos of their own, writing, “Someone plz do this transition but all prettied up omg plzzzz," seemingly creating the challenge. Davila later made another video with a transition that was dressed up.

Who is Erica Banks?

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Erica Banks is an up-and-coming rapper from Dallas, Texas. As a young child, Erica had a lot of skills growing up, but writing poetry and rap was always a passion for her. “I always loved being on stage,” she said in a statement. “I was always performing in a school play or engaged in something athletic. I was always involved in something that would show off my talents.” Shortly after Banks rapped for her classmates in ninth grade, she began posting freestyles on Instagram. She uploaded her first single, “Talk My Shit,” to SoundCloud in 2018, followed by “No Hook.” She later released her debut mixtape, Art of the Hustle, which received widespread attention. Then she came back with two more mixtapes, Cocky on Purpose and Pressure. In Jan. 2021, Banks announced that she signed with 1501 Certified Entertainment, the Texas-based label that also signed Megan Thee Stallion. In an announcement video on Instagram, Banks also announced a deal with Warner. “I am proud to announce that I am now signed to @warnerrecords @warnerbrosentertainment,” she wrote. “Thank you to EVERYBODY supporting me, and thank you to @1501_certified_ent.  I’m just gettin started!” Speaking about the making of “Buss It,” she told Okayplayer, “Initially I didn’t like the song when it was completed so having it go viral wasn’t something I thought about like that. It’s a good feeling to see ‘Buss It’ go viral… It feels unreal yet exciting, I didn’t expect it to blow up so fast.”


The Buss It Challenge is 2021’s most popular challenge so far. It currently has more than 400 million views on TikTok and Erica Banks’ song has charted on Apple Music’s Top 10 list. Rico Nasty, Monica, Daniliegh, and YouTuber Jackie Aina have all shared challenge videos online. Banks’ talent is also catching the attention of major rap heavyweights. Nicki Minaj commended the rapper on a freestyle video that samples Sada Baby and Minaj’s collaboration “Whole Lotta Choppas.” “Sending love right back. U sound dope on this,” Nicki Minaj wrote on the video, which was originally posted in Nov. 2020.

@riconasty

#bussitchallenge 🥺 THANKS FOR A MILLLION FOLLOWERSSSSS

♬ Buss It - Erica Banks

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