Baha Men, Who Let The Dogs Out?

In the 41^st edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we highlight “Who Let The Dogs Out?” performed by Baha Men. 

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the 41^st edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2025), we dive into “Who Let The Dogs Out?”, the one-hit wonder by Baha Men.

“Who let the dogs out? / (Who? Who? Who? Who?).”

“Who Let The Dogs Out?” by the Bahamian collective, the Baha Men, is an iconic, unforgettable song from the 2000s. You know what else is intriguing about “Who Let The Dogs Out?” It is a cover 🤯.  Written by Anslem Douglas and Ossie Gurley, it is Douglas who originally released it in 1998 as “Dogie.” Of course, Baha Men transformed “Dogie” into “Who Let The Dogs Out?”, the opening track from their multiplatinum 2000 album, Who Let The Dogs Out.  A top 40 hit on the pop charts, peaking at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Baha Men won their only Grammy for Best Dance Recording at the 43^rd Annual Grammy Awards. Dyson Knight gets the honors of performing the seminal chorus.

“Who Let The Dogs Out?” is groovy AF.  There is no shortage of striking instrumental cues, including the percussive groove, tropical sounds, and smooth guitar. There are plenty of ridiculous sound effects: barking, heavy panting, and aggressive ad-libs. A novel, reggae/dance-infused-rap song, it was easy to disregard the lyrics.  Revisiting the song years later, beyond acknowledging playful vocals showcasing a compelling cadence and flow, the theme and lyrics are worth analyzing further. “And everybody was having a ball,” Patrick Carey sings in the first verse, and continues, “Until the fellas started name-calling /… And the girls respond to the call, I heard a woman shout out…” Well, the dogs appear to be those men… There is some distinct slang during the bridge that precedes the second verse: “Called she mealybug and sketel /… Get back, you flea-infested mongrel.” Again, more to unpack than previously thought, though, it’s clear the men are something else. Well, dogs: “Say, a doggy is nutting if he don’t have a bone.” In the third verse, Marvin Prosper, embracing his inner dog, asserts, “And I can’t see color, any color will do / I’ll stick on you, that’s why they call me Pitbull / ‘Cause I’m a man of the land / When they see me, they say, ‘Woo.’” Woo, indeed! All in all, “Who Let The Dogs Out?” is a one-hit wonder extraordinaire. Personality-filled performances, infectious lyrics, and an unforgettable chorus make this song a surefire, timeless vibe.