The Evolution of “Like a G6”: From a Party Anthem to a Cultural Phenomenon
The Birth of the “Like a G6”
In 2010, Far East Movement, a Los Angeles-based pop-rap group, released a song that would later become a worldwide sensation. “Like a G6” was an instant party anthem, with its catchy chorus, infectious beat, and provocative lyrics.
The song, which featured guest vocals from Dev and the Cataracs, was inspired by the popular business jet Gulfstream G650, commonly referred to as a G6. Nathan Lawrence, one of the members of Far East Movement, explained in an interview, “We were in the studio and kept hearing our South Asian homies talking about ‘flying G6s’ and ballin’ out.”
The metaphorical use of the private jet in the song’s chorus (“Now I’m feeling so fly like a G6”) represented the group’s desire to break free from their humble beginnings and reach new levels of success and opulence. The song’s success was immediate, reaching the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and selling over 4 million copies worldwide.
Party Anthem to Cultural Phenomenon
While “Like a G6” was initially viewed as a simple party anthem, it quickly evolved into a cultural phenomenon. The song’s popularity in the United States spread to other countries such as South Korea, where it became the first song by an Asian-American group to reach number one on their music charts.
Interestingly, “Like a G6” became a symbol for Asian-American pride and empowerment. The song’s band members, who are of Korean, Chinese and Filipino descent, became role models for young Asian-Americans, proving that they too could succeed in the music industry.
The Future of “Like a G6”
Despite being almost a decade old, “Like a G6” remains a relevant song even today. It has played a significant role in shaping pop culture, with its chorus and hook being sampled in other songs, movies, and TV commercials. Moreover, it’s been streamed on Spotify over 500 million times.
In 2018, Far East Movement released a remix to the song, featuring popular K-Pop group NCT 127 and soulful singer-songwriter Jason Derulo. The updated version breathed new life into the song, introducing it to an even broader audience.
Summing Up
From a party anthem to a cultural phenomenon, “Like a G6” has become an iconic song representing the dreams and aspirations of Far East Movement and Asian-Americans around the world. As the band members famously sang in the song, they continue to “pop bottles in the ice, like a blizzard” and live their dream, inspiring others to do the same.
