Project Pat and the Recent Waffle House Rap Legacy

July 19, 2011


Though the first Waffle House opened in 1955 it has only been in recent years that the 24-hour greasy spoon chain has fully entered the hip hop lexicon. This is probably due to the rise of late expanding local scenes, particularly in the south (there are no Waffle Houses in California or the greater New York City area, but the chain has its roots in Georgia). On "Waffle House" Project Pat and the Corporate Mob use the 24-hour breakfast spot as both an analogy and an outlet for their hustle. But it's only the latest in a surprisingly long recent line of Waffle House Bangers. Let's look back:





Travis Porter, "Waffle House" (2010)
Probably the "Waffle House" song that is most explicitly about the menu at Waffle House but only because Travie didn't bother to polish whatever larger metaphor they seem to be aiming for. Though the video features a seemingly drunk white dude rhyming about biscuits, it sadly cuts the Waka Flocka verse in which Joaquin orders his eggs Michael Vick scrambled and rightfully disses IHOP.





Andre Nickatina, "Waffle House" (2010)
Bay Area eccentric Dre Dog teams up with Gucci Mane producer Zaytoven to espouse Waffle House's value as a late night meeting spot for the organization of dirt doing. Nicky makes no specific mention of menu items, nor does he say what happens happens to those who fail to make his proposed 3AM Waffle House rendezvous.




Promatic, "Waffle House" (2002)
This cut from deceased Eminem affiliate Proof and fellow Detroit spitter Dogmatic has almost nothing to do with Waffle House and everything to do with drugs and more drugs but it's called "Waffle House" so it warrants mention nonetheless.

Other good to great rap songs in which a Waffle House or Waffle Houses figure prominently into the narrative: Gucci Mane's "Pillz," Lil B and Soulja Boy's "Gucci Wings," Cam'ron's "Wet Wipes" and Jay-Z's "Do It Again." There are also dozens of YouTube clips of raps in, around or about Waffle House, most of which are better avoided.

None of these songs appear on the Waffle House Records Jukebox Favorites Vol. 1 compilation, which favors "syrupy down-home welcome anthems" like Mary Welch Rogers' "Waffle House Family."

Project Pat and the Recent Waffle House Rap Legacy