No Diggity was a monster hit in the 90s.
Part of that was due to a cameo by Dr Dre that doesn’t really fit into the song at all.
But it was also the general feeling of the song.
What had nothing to do with the success was the No Diggity lyrics meaning.
I’ve seen some very different takes on the meaning, but I think some are just wishful thinking.
The real meaning seems clear. It’s what you probably think.
And it doesn’t really matter. This is not the type of song where the lyrics matter at all. Nevertheless, let’s take a closer look at the No Diggity lyrics and find out exactly what Blackstreet was singing about.
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No Diggity Lyrics And Meaning
No Diggity is a song by Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen. It features elements of hip hop and R&B and has a catchy, laidback feel to it.
The song was released in 1996 and was the lead single from Blackstreet’s second studio album Another Level. It became a major hit and even reached number one on the Billboard Top 100. The song was such a hit that it sold 1.6 million copies in 1996 and was even considered one of the songs of the decade.
Not only was No Diggity a success on the charts, but it also received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1997. No Diggity is still considered a hit record to this day and is still widely played.
The song’s catchy lyrics and easily repeatable chorus, along with the upbeat rhythm, played a huge part in this success. The song has even been covered and sampled by other artists since its release, showing just how popular it has become.
When it was released, the track brought a new feel to the genre of R&B, giving it some excitement. No Diggity was unlike anything that had been released previously.
Dr Dre opens the track with a verse that is slightly off-tone for the rest of the song. But it still works as an introduction. More importantly for the song’s success, it added some star power onto the track.
Dr Dre is one of the most famous rappers worldwide. Having him add a verse, no matter how out of place, certainly helped make the song as popular as it’s become. And these days, it has become the norm: everyone is getting more famous artists to cameo on their songs to give them a popularity boost.
No Diggity Lyrics
Verse 1
It’s going down, fade to Blackstreet
The homies got at me, collab’ creations bump like acne
No doubt, I put it down, never slouch
As long as my credit can vouch, a dog couldn’t catch me ass out
Tell me who can stop when Dre makin’ moves
Attracting honeys like a magnet
Giving ’em eargasms with my mellow accent
Still moving this flavor
With the homies Blackstreet and Teddy
The original rump shakers
Verse 2
Shorty get down, good Lord
Baby got ’em open all over town
Strictly biz, she don’t play around
Cover much grounds, got game by the pound
Getting paid is her forte
Each and every day, true player way
I can’t get her out of my mind (Wow)
I think about the girl all the time (Wow-wow)
East side to the west side
Pushin’ phat rides, it’s no surprise
She got tricks in the stash, stacking up the cash
Fast when it comes to the gas
By no means average
She’s on when she’s got to have it
Baby, you’re a perfect ten, I wanna get in
Can I get down so I can win?
Chorus
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Bag it up)
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Bag it up, girl)
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Bag it up)
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Get up)
Verse 3
She’s got class and style
Street knowledge by the pound
Baby never act wild
Very low-key on the profile
Catchin’ feelings is a no
Let me tell you how it goes
Herb’s the word, spin’s the verb
Lovers, it curves, so freak what you heard
Rollin’ with the phatness
You don’t even know what the half is
You’ve got to pay to play
Just for shorty bang-bang to look your way
I like the way you work it
Trump tight all day, every day
You’re blowing my mind, maybe in time
Baby, I can get you in my ride
Chorus
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Bag it up)
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Oh, yeah)
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Bag it up, babe)
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Get up)
Verse 4
‘Cause that’s my peeps and we rolls deep
Flyin’ first class from New York City to Blackstreet
What you know about me? Not a motherfucking thing
Cartier wooden frames sported by my shorty
As for me, icy gleaming pinkie diamond ring
We bes the baddest clique up on the scene
Ain’t you getting bored with these fake-ass broads?
I shows and proves, no doubt, I been diggin’ you so
Please excuse if I come across rude, that’s just me
And that’s how a playette’s got to be
Stay kickin’ game with a capital G
Ask the peoples on my block, I’m as real as can be
Word is bond, faking moves never been my thing
So, Teddy, pass the word to your n***a Chauncy
I’ll be sending the call, let’s say, around 3:30
Queen Pen and Blackstreet, it’s no diggity (No diggity, no doubt, baby)
Chorus
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Girl, you got it going on)
I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Play on, play on, play on)
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Hey, ooh)
(Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, hey yo) I like the way you work it
No diggity, I got to bag it up (Hell, yeah, babe)
No Diggity Meaning
First things first. The slang phrase “no diggity” means “no doubt”. It is used as an affirmation. For example, you could tell your friend: “this is the best burger I’ve ever eaten” and they could reply with “no diggity” to mean no doubt.” In other words, they agree.
The phrase was in use long before the song came out, but Blackstreet helped make it more popular. And for many fans (primarily the suburban white ones), the song was their first introduction to the phrase.
Now to the meaning of the song. I’ve seen completely contradictory takes on the meaning of No Diggity. For example, I’ve seen several people say that it was created to empower women to celebrate their own personal style and the confidence that comes with it.
The “PC” Meaning
They say the phrase “no diggity” gives affirmation to women that they look great. And the chorus with its line “I like the way you work it, no diggity, I got to bag it up.” is the singer saying that he likes how a woman carries herself and he wants to get some of that.
It’s a way of him saying that he’s attracted to a woman who exudes confidence and may not follow the crowd when it comes to her personal style.
I can see where you might want to read this more positive meaning into the song, but honestly, I think it’s a load of crap. And there’s no need to do this.
The Real Meaning
To me, it’s pretty straightforward. The singer sees a woman he finds attractive and he wants to sleep with her. And that’s all there is to it.
Is that a bad thing? No, why should it be?
Wanting to sleep with women (or men, if it’s a woman singing) has always been a popular theme when it comes to the hip-hop genre. It never bothered me, if I liked the song. Nor did it bother most people.
Why do I think thins is the real meaning, and not the idea that the song is meant to empower women?
It’s in the chorus. Let’s take another look at the same line from before.
I like the way you work it, no diggity, I got to bag it up.
He likes the way she moves her body. No doubt. He’s hoping to sleep with her. “I got to bag it up” means he plans on putting a condom on before sleeping with the woman.
In the verses, it is clear she is an impressive woman. It’s not just about looks, but also the way she carries herself, her style, her attitude, everything.
She is certainly a strong, confident woman. That part is true. But the singer’s reaction is that he wants to have her. “Catchin’ feelings is a no.” He wants her physically, with no romantic attachment.
You don’t even know what the half is
You’ve got to pay to play
Just for shorty bang-bang to look your way
…
You’re blowing my mind, maybe in time
Baby, I can get you in my ride
He knows he will have to work hard to get her to go home with him, but she’s worth the effort.
No Diggity Lyrics Meaning: Final Thoughts
The No Diggity lyrics meaning, just like the lyrics of any other song, can be whatever you want to read into them. It just depends on the type of mood you’re in when you listen to the track or how you uniquely interpret the lyrics.
That said, it seems clear to me what Blackstreet had in mind when they wrote it. It’s about wanting to get laid, like 80% of all songs written by men since the dawn of time. In the end, the lyrics don’t really matter with songs like this. It’s all about the party mood they create.
If you enjoyed this article, we have many similar analyses of other songs. One example comes from the Backstreet Boys. Check out our breakdown of the I Want It That Way lyrics. For some reason, I always connected these two songs in my head. Maybe it’s the similarity in the names of the groups.
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