It happened in 2014. A single line of dialogue—not even a chorus, just a guest verse—shifted the entire trajectory of internet slang. When Omarion dropped "Post to Be," featuring Jhené Aiko and Chris Brown, nobody expected a grocery metaphor to become the most quoted line of the decade. But here we are. The gotta eat the booty like groceries song lyrics didn't just top the charts; they became a permanent fixture of the digital lexicon.
The line is delivered with such casual, airy confidence by Jhené Aiko that it catches you off guard. It’s funny. It’s provocative. It’s absurdly specific. Most people hear the track and immediately wait for that one specific moment in the second verse. It’s the "water cooler" moment of 2010s R&B.
The Origin of the Most Viral Line in R&B
Let’s look at the facts. "Post to Be" was produced by DJ Mustard, who was essentially the architect of the "Ratchet City" sound that dominated the mid-2010s. The beat is a classic Mustard production: high-pitched synth blips, a steady 95 BPM bounce, and plenty of "Hey!" chants in the background. It was designed for the club. But while Omarion and Chris Brown turned in solid performances, Jhené Aiko stole the entire show with just a few syllables.
When she sings, "Might let him take a hit and never ever hit it / He lower than a midget / His booty gold-plated / I’m just kidding," she’s setting the stage. Then comes the haymaker. "But he gotta eat the booty like groceries."
The genius of the line lies in its delivery. Aiko is known for her ethereal, almost whisper-like vocal style. Hearing such a graphic, humorous demand delivered in a "zen" tone created a cognitive dissonance that the internet absolutely loved. It wasn't just a song lyric anymore; it was a meme before memes were the primary way we consumed music.
Why the Groceries Metaphor Actually Worked
Why groceries? Why not dinner? Why not a snack?
📖 Related: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
The word "groceries" implies volume and necessity. It suggests a trip to the store where you're stocking up for the week. It’s mundane yet essential. By pairing a sexual act with the most domestic chore imaginable, the song achieved a level of relatability that a more "poetic" lyric would have missed.
Interestingly, the line sparked a massive conversation about female agency in hip-hop and R&B. For a long time, lyrics regarding specific sexual acts were heavily skewed toward the male perspective. Aiko flipped the script. She wasn't just a passive participant in the song; she was setting the terms of engagement. It was empowering in a way that felt modern and irreverent.
Impact on Pop Culture and Social Media
The gotta eat the booty like groceries song lyrics exploded on Vine—RIP to the six-second king—and Instagram. You couldn't scroll through a feed in 2015 without seeing someone jokingly captioning a photo of a literal grocery bag with those lyrics.
It also changed how artists approached "viral" songwriting. Before this, lyrics usually tried to be "cool." After this, artists realized that being "quotable" was more valuable than being "cool." If you can get people to tweet your lyrics, your streaming numbers will take care of themselves.
We saw this play out later with Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Doja Cat. They all lean into humorous, slightly shocking imagery because they know that’s what sticks. Aiko’s grocery line was the blueprint for the modern "Instagram Caption" lyric.
👉 See also: Who was the voice of Yoda? The real story behind the Jedi Master
The Technical Breakdown of the Track
Musically, "Post to Be" is a masterclass in West Coast "Snap" music evolution. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, which is impressive for a track that feels so niche.
- The Tempo: At roughly 97 BPM, it’s fast enough to dance to but slow enough for the lyrics to breathe.
- The Structure: Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus. It’s a standard pop structure, but the placement of Aiko’s verse as the "climax" of the song’s personality is what makes it work.
- The Key: Written in the key of F# Minor, providing that slightly moody, late-night vibe that fits the lyrical content perfectly.
Critics at the time, including those from Pitchfork and Rolling Stone, noted that the song felt like a transition point for Omarion. He was moving away from the boy-band polish of B2K into a more mature, albeit playful, solo artist phase. But despite his name being the primary one on the jacket, the song is forever tied to Aiko’s grocery list.
Misinterpretations and Urban Legends
There’s a common misconception that the line was a mistake or an ad-lib. It wasn't. It was a calculated part of the songwriting process. In various interviews, Aiko has mentioned that she wanted to say something that would make people's heads turn. She succeeded.
Another myth is that the song was censored heavily on the radio. Actually, because the word "booty" is generally considered "safe" for broadcast compared to other anatomical terms, the song received massive airplay without losing the impact of its most famous line. This "safe-but-edgy" balance is why it dominated FM radio for over a year.
The Long-Term Legacy of the Groceries Line
If you go to a wedding, a club, or a 2010s throwback night today, the DJ will play "Post to Be." And when that second verse hits, the entire room will shout the grocery line in unison. It has reached the level of "Don't Stop Believin'" or "Mr. Brightside" for a specific generation.
✨ Don't miss: Not the Nine O'Clock News: Why the Satirical Giant Still Matters
It represents a time when R&B didn't take itself too seriously. It was fun. It was a little bit gross. It was honest.
Looking back, the gotta eat the booty like groceries song lyrics served as a bridge between the old-school R&B of the 2000s and the meme-driven rap of the 2020s. It proved that a single, well-placed, hilarious line could do more for a career than a million-dollar marketing budget.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans and Creators
If you're looking to understand why certain songs "stick" while others fade, look at the grocery line. It teaches us three distinct things about modern entertainment:
- Specific beats generic every time. If she had said "He gotta treat me right," no one would remember the song. The specificity of "groceries" made it iconic.
- Contrast is king. A soft, "pretty" voice saying something "gritty" creates an immediate hook.
- Humor is a superpower. Music doesn't always have to be deep or soulful. Sometimes, being the funniest person in the room is the best way to get noticed.
To fully appreciate the impact, go back and watch the music video. Notice the stark white background and the simple choreography. It doesn't distract from the lyrics. It lets the words do the heavy lifting. If you’re building a playlist of 2010s essentials, this track is the anchor. It’s a snapshot of a moment when the internet and the airwaves finally became the same thing.
Check the writing credits too. You’ll see names like Brian Angel and Tyrone Edmond, who helped craft a hit that managed to be both a club banger and a comedy goldmine. It’s a reminder that even the silliest lyrics often come from a place of serious professional craft.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Knowledge
To get the full picture of this era in music, your next move should be exploring the rest of Jhené Aiko's Souled Out album released around the same time. It offers a fascinating contrast to the "Post to Be" persona, showing the depth she’s capable of beyond the viral one-liners. Additionally, looking into DJ Mustard's discography from 2014 to 2016 will show you exactly how this specific sound—the "groceries" sound—defined a half-decade of American pop music. Keep an eye on how modern TikTok hits use similar "shock-value" lyricism to climb the charts today; the lineage is direct and undeniable.