About

Dat Ass is an image macro series based on a still photograph of rapper Rich Boy that was taken during his studio visit to MTV's Total Request Live in March 2007. The original picture reveals the young Southern rapper biting his lower lip while trying to listen to someone speaking in the audience. Since its inception, both the facial expression and the catchphrase "Dat Ass" have been used as a popular response to rump threads.

Origin

The man in the picture has been identified as southern rapper Rich Boy (real name: Maurice Richards), who was co-hosting MTV's music variety program TRL with rapper Ne-Yo in New York's Times Square on March 13, 2007. Contrary to the widespread rumors, the rapper depicted in the image is NOT Kanye West.

According to unconfirmed internet legends, the original image macro of Rich Boy was posted on 4chan when a desperate Anon decided to start a rump thread on /b/. A fellow anon responded to the thread with a found photograph of rapper Rich Boy, slapping the words Dat Ass on the image for good measure.

Spread

Google Trends search for "dat ass" reveals a visible spike of interest in 2009:

The earliest Urban Dictionary entries for "Dat Ass" were submitted in between February and March of 2009.

DAT ASS: To see a female derriere and have the emotional response to bit the bottom lip while wearing expensive sunglasses.

DAT ASS: A positive vernacular expression used when one sees the buttocks of another,
((usually in a pic posted on an internet board)) expressing delight and a possible suggestion of sexual interest.

Usage

"Dat Ass" images are typically used when a user would like a thread relating to a human posterior or "ass". Notably a "bubble butt" thread. It can also be used to compliment another person's well shaped buttocks. Also, Dat Ass images can be sometimes represented in the form of emoticon, which reads:

Mainstream Crossover

On January 16th, 2010, American actress Sigourney Weaver referenced "Dat Ass" in a sketch on Saturday Night Live, Excerpt (s.35 : ep.12):