Candyman’s “Knockin’ Boots” Took Over Hip-Hop | Battling Ice Cube, Riding With Dre & Johnny J

Описание: Candyman—the “original boot knocker”—sits with Shawn Stockman to unpack the real story behind **“Knockin’ Boots”*: the Dre cosign, the swap-meet hustle, turning a B-side into a platinum smash, and the sample-clearance chess with Betty Wright and Rose Royce that almost killed the record before it exploded. He also rewinds to Washington Prep—Sir Jinx introducing him to Dr. Dre, a campus battle vs. Ice Cube, and becoming Dre’s “wingman” in the LA club era.

They trace the hit’s DNA—Slick Rick’s story-rhyme influence, the SB-12/SP-1200 era, and why those first five seconds (“Attention all ladies…”) still light up shows. Candyman breaks down how Tone Lōc and touring cracked doors open, how Thump Records and the Lowrider Soundtrack gave the song its second life, and how a nine-day sprint landed him at Epic Records. There’s inside baseball on splits, the Color Me Badd “I Wanna Sex You Up” overlap, and connections to DJ Quik, Johnny J, and the wider West Coast scene.

This is the untold backstory of a track that defined early ’90s hip-hop culture and still moves crowds decades later.

00:00 Introduction and Nostalgic Memories
01:43 Candyman's Journey and Early Influences
03:31 The Evolution of Candyman's Identity
07:22 High School Battles and Meeting Dr. Dre
09:51 Early Makings of Knockin’ Boots
14:34 Navigating the Music Industry
24:20 The Making of a Hit Record
36:45 Clearing Samples and Royalty Splits
38:22 Confronting Color Me Badd
38:44 The Influence of Candyman's Music
43:27 Johnny J's Impact and Legacy
01:04:55 The Importance of True Friendship
01:08:48 Candyman's Advice to His Younger Self
01:10:14 Closing Remarks and Live Performance of "Knockin' Boots"