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5 Shocking Facts About The ‘Eat Booty Like Groceries’ Lyric And Its $547 Million Streaming Legacy

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Few lines of modern R&B have achieved the instant, meme-worthy virality and lasting cultural impact of the phrase "but he got to eat the booty like groceries." This single, unforgettable bar, delivered by Jhené Aiko on Omarion's 2014 megahit "Post To Be," transcended the song itself to become a cultural shorthand for a specific expectation in a relationship. As of late December 2025, the track continues to rack up massive streaming numbers, cementing its status as a timeless R&B/Hip-Hop anthem.

The lyric is more than just a catchy, explicit phrase; it’s a moment of pop culture history that captured the zeitgeist of the mid-2010s, fueled by the short-form video platform Vine. From its surprising inspiration to the artist's own contradictory views, here is a deep dive into the full story of the lyric that changed the conversation around sexual expectations in mainstream music.

The Architects of a Viral Sensation: Omarion and Jhené Aiko Biography

The success of "Post To Be" is a fusion of two distinct and powerful careers in R&B. The track anchored Omarion's comeback and provided a defining, boundary-pushing moment for Jhené Aiko.

Omarion (Omari Ishmael Grandberry)

  • Born: November 12, 1984, in Inglewood, California.
  • Career Start: Rose to prominence as the lead singer of the early 2000s boy band B2K.
  • Solo Career: Launched a successful solo career with hits like "Ice Box" and "O."
  • Album Context: "Post To Be" was the lead single from his fourth studio album, *Sex Playlist* (2014), which marked a more mature, R&B-focused direction for the artist.
  • Legacy: A Grammy-nominated singer and actor, Omarion has maintained relevance across two decades, a testament to his versatility and ability to adapt to new sounds.

Jhené Aiko (Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo)

  • Born: March 16, 1988, in Los Angeles, California.
  • Career Start: Began her career in 2002, contributing vocals to B2K projects, though she was initially marketed as Lil' Fizz's cousin.
  • Breakthrough: Gained critical acclaim with her 2011 mixtape *Sailing Soul(s)*, establishing her unique "trip-hop soul" sound.
  • Key Albums: Known for her emotionally raw and introspective work on albums like *Souled Out* and the Grammy-nominated *Chilombo* (2020).
  • Impact: Jhené Aiko is celebrated for her poetic lyricism and ethereal vocal style, often exploring themes of spirituality, love, and mental health. Her verse on "Post To Be" remains her most culturally explosive guest feature.

1. The Surprising Inspiration: Credit Goes to Kevin Gates

One of the most fascinating revelations about the "groceries" lyric is that it was not an original idea sprung from a brainstorming session, but rather a direct reference to a viral moment involving rapper Kevin Gates.

  • The Viral Clip: In a 2014 interview, Kevin Gates made a candid and explicit comment about anilingus, stating matter-of-factly that he was "post to eat the booty."
  • Jhené's A-Ha Moment: Jhené Aiko, upon hearing that Omarion’s new song was titled "Post To Be," immediately connected the two ideas. She felt the song's title, which suggests a mandatory or expected action, perfectly aligned with the viral phrase.
  • The Analogy: The addition of the "like groceries" analogy elevated the line from a simple statement to a memorable, everyday metaphor. Groceries represent a necessity—something one must acquire regularly and frequently—implying that the act is a non-negotiable part of the relationship.

This single line, therefore, is a perfect example of hip-hop’s ability to quickly absorb and repurpose internet culture into mainstream music, creating an instant classic that feels both raunchy and relatable.

2. The Contradiction: Jhené Aiko Doesn't Actually Like It

Perhaps the most shocking fact that adds an extra layer of irony to the song's legacy is Jhené Aiko's personal preference regarding the act she made famous. Despite penning the line that set a new standard for R&B bedroom talk, Aiko later revealed that she doesn't actually enjoy the act of anilingus herself.

In a subsequent interview, she clarified that the line was purely a creative decision—a brilliant piece of songwriting that fit the song's theme and was designed to be provocative and catchy. It was a commitment to the art and the collective cultural moment, rather than a personal mandate. This revelation only amplified the lyric's notoriety, highlighting the separation between the artist's persona and their personal life, and confirming her status as a master lyricist who understands how to manipulate a phrase for maximum impact.

3. The Unstoppable Streaming Power: Over Half a Billion Streams

Despite being released in 2014, "Post To Be" remains a powerhouse in the streaming era, a testament to its enduring popularity and placement on countless R&B and "Sex Playlist" compilations. The song’s longevity is exceptional for a mid-decade track.

  • 2025 Streaming Metric: As of December 2025, the song "Post To Be" has accumulated over 547 million streams on Spotify alone.
  • The Longevity Factor: This massive, ongoing streaming count demonstrates that the track is not merely a nostalgic relic, but a constantly rediscovered R&B megahit. Its performance rivals many songs released in the 2020s, securing continuous streaming royalty for Omarion, Jhené Aiko, and Chris Brown.
  • Chart Performance: The song peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. *Billboard* Hot 100 and reached No. 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It has since been certified Platinum multiple times, a direct result of its digital and streaming success.

4. The Vine Effect: How a Single Lyric Became a Meme

The success of "Post To Be" was inextricably linked to the social media platform Vine, which was at its peak popularity around the time of the song's release. The six-second video format was perfectly suited to isolating and repeating short, catchy audio clips.

The "eat the booty like groceries" line became a viral sensation, driving millions of listeners to the full track. Vine users created countless skits, dances, and reaction videos centered around the phrase. This virality was a crucial factor in the song's commercial success, demonstrating a new model for music promotion where a single, provocative lyric could become a standalone piece of content, overshadowing the song's overall message.

5. The Grammy Snub and the Cultural Conversation

Despite its massive commercial success, cultural ubiquity, and multi-Platinum status, "Post To Be" was famously snubbed by the Grammy Awards. Omarion publicly expressed his disappointment, arguing that the track was one of the best collaborations of the year and deserved recognition.

However, the lyric's true legacy is found not in awards, but in its ability to force a conversation. The explicit nature of the line, presented so casually, pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in mainstream R&B lyrics. It normalized a previously taboo subject in a lighthearted, yet demanding, way. The phrase became a cultural touchstone, analyzed by publications like *The Root* for its use of analogy in hip-hop and its reflection of shifting sexual politics in modern music. It remains a powerful example of how a single, well-crafted line can define an entire era of pop culture.

eat booty like groceries lyrics
eat booty like groceries lyrics

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