The 1738 Phenomenon: How Fetty Wap’s 2015 Catchphrase Captured Pop Culture
Between late 2014 and the autumn of 2015, Fetty Wap achieved a commercial feat unseen in decades. His breakout single, "Trap Queen," climbed steadily before peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It eventually achieved an RIAA Diamond certification (surpassing 10 million certified units in the United States).
The follow-up singles established historical precedent. "679" featuring Remy Boyz member Monty reached No. 4, while "My Way" featuring Monty rose to No. 7. In mid-2015, Fetty Wap became the first male rapper in the history of the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart to place his first four entries simultaneously inside the top 10.
Every single one of these tracks opened with the unmistakable cadence: "1738, yeah baby!" The repetition conditioned an entire generation of radio listeners. Athletes began using the number as dugout celebrations. High school yearbooks referenced the phrase in senior quotes. The number transformed from regional slang into a ubiquitous pop culture catchphrase.
