You can’t talk about the mid-2010s without hearing that specific, warbling melodic chirp. It’s a greeting that defined an era. Hey what’s up hello isn't just a casual way to start a conversation anymore; it’s the opening salvo of Fetty Wap’s "Trap Queen," a song that basically rewrote the rules for how hip-hop crosses over into the mainstream.
It was 2014. Soundcloud was becoming a gold mine. Suddenly, this guy from Paterson, New Jersey, with a unique vocal trill and a missing eye, was everywhere. He wasn't rapping like the lyrical miracle types. He was singing. Sorta. It was raw, it was infectious, and it felt remarkably sincere for a song about cooking illegal substances with a romantic partner.
The Sound of Paterson Taking Over
Paterson isn't usually the first place people think of when they talk about rap dynasties. New York? Sure. Atlanta? Obviously. But Fetty Wap brought a specific North Jersey energy that felt different. When he dropped that first "hey what's up hello," he wasn't trying to be a polished pop star. The production by Tony Fadd was simple—a looping, bright synth and some heavy 808s—but it provided the perfect canvas for Fetty’s "Zoo Gang" style.
The song’s rise was anything but an overnight fluke, even though it felt like it. It actually took months to bubble up. It was released in early 2014, but it didn't hit the Billboard Hot 100 top ten until May 2015. That’s a long burn. It shows that the "hey what's up hello" hook had some serious staying power. People didn't just like the song; they lived in it. It became a meme before memes were the primary way we consumed music.
Honestly, the brilliance of the track lies in its vulnerability. Fetty wasn't just talking about "the trap." He was talking about a "Trap Queen"—a woman who was his equal, his partner, and his support system. It was a love song disguised as a street anthem. That duality is exactly why it worked at backyard BBQs and in high-end nightclubs simultaneously.
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Why Hey What’s Up Hello Still Hits Different
Musically, Fetty Wap’s approach was a precursor to the "melodic rap" wave that dominates Spotify today. Think about artists like Roddy Ricch or Juice WRLD. They owe a massive debt to the way Fetty used his voice as an instrument, flaws and all. He wasn't hitting perfect notes. He was hitting emotions.
When you hear that "hey what's up hello," your brain immediately triggers a specific nostalgia. For many, it represents the last era of the "monoculture," where everyone was listening to the same ten songs on the radio. It stayed on the charts for weeks. Twenty-five consecutive weeks in the top ten, to be exact. That’s a feat usually reserved for names like Taylor Swift or Drake.
The lyrics are simple. "I be in the kitchen cookin' pies with my baby." It’s domestic. It’s gritty. It’s weirdly wholesome in its own way. He’s admiring her "stripes." He’s promising her the world. This wasn't the hyper-masculine, distant rap of the early 2000s. It was communal.
The Cultural Impact and the "One-Eye" Factor
We have to talk about the image. Fetty Wap didn't wear a prosthetic eye. He didn't hide his glaucoma-related condition. In an industry obsessed with a very specific type of "perfection," he was unapologetically himself. This gave the "hey what's up hello" greeting a face that was unmistakable. It gave kids who felt different someone to look up to. He turned a perceived physical "weakness" into a trademark of strength.
The song eventually went Diamond. That’s 10 million units moved. Think about that for a second. A kid from Paterson with a DIY sound reached the highest certification the RIAA offers.
But then, things got complicated.
The music industry is a fickle beast. Fetty had a string of hits—"679," "My Way," "Again"—but the momentum slowed. Legal troubles followed. In 2022, he was sentenced to six years in prison on federal drug trafficking charges. It’s a harsh reality that contrasts sharply with the upbeat, melodic world of his biggest hit. It makes those early lyrics feel a lot heavier in hindsight.
Decoding the Technical Side of the Hit
If you look at the song from a songwriter's perspective, the "hey what's up hello" is the perfect "anchor." In pop music, you need a "hook before the hook."
- Frequency: The phrase is repeated just enough to stick without being annoying.
- Pitch: Fetty’s voice rises on the "hello," creating an inquisitive, welcoming tone.
- Timing: It lands right on the beat, making it incredibly easy to sample or remix.
Social media platforms like Vine (RIP) and later TikTok thrived on these short, punchy audio bites. Even though Vine was dying out as "Trap Queen" peaked, the "hey what's up hello" intro was the blueprint for what would eventually become "TikTok sounds." It was a five-second clip that told you exactly what time it was.
Beyond the Music: The Phrase in Popular Culture
The phrase has outgrown the song. You see it on t-shirts, in Instagram captions, and as a standard greeting in Discord servers. It’s entered the lexicon of "internet speak" that transcends the original context of the music video.
Interestingly, the song also sparked a lot of debate about the romanticization of the drug trade. Critics argued it made a dangerous lifestyle look "cute." Fans countered that it was just a reflection of Fetty’s reality—a way of expressing loyalty in a world where loyalty is scarce. Both are probably true. That’s the nuance of art. It doesn't have to be one thing.
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Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans and Creators
If you're looking to understand why certain songs "pop" or if you're a creator trying to capture that lightning in a bottle, there are a few real-world lessons from the "hey what's up hello" phenomenon:
- Authenticity over Polish: Fetty’s voice was unrefined. People connected with the cracks in his vocals more than they would have with an Auto-Tuned, "perfect" performance. If you're creating content, don't over-edit the humanity out of it.
- The Power of the Intro: You have about three seconds to grab someone's attention. A signature greeting or a unique sound at the very start of a video or song is worth more than a million-dollar bridge.
- Community Matters: Fetty was always shouting out "1738" (his squad's name, a nod to Remy Martin 1738). Creating a sense of belonging for your audience makes them feel like they're part of a club, not just consumers.
- Resilience is Key: "Trap Queen" took over a year to become a global smash. If you believe in a project, don't dump it just because it doesn't go viral in the first week.
The story of "hey what's up hello" is a reminder of how quickly the world can change for an artist. It’s a snapshot of a moment where a specific sound from a specific street in New Jersey managed to bridge the gap between the underground and the absolute peak of the Billboard charts. Whether you're a casual listener or a student of pop culture, the track remains a masterclass in melodic catchiness and raw, unfiltered personality. Keep an eye on how these "Soundcloud-era" pioneers continue to influence the new generation of genre-bending artists. The "Zoo" might have gone quiet for a bit, but the echoes of that greeting are still everywhere.