Boots on the ground: From tiktok to trail ride tradition

When Tre Little two-stepped in cowboy boots at the BET Awards preshow this summer, he wasn’t just performing—he was riding the wave of a cultural moment. Alongside southern soul singer 803Fresh, Little delivered the viral sensation “Boots on the Ground,” a trail ride-inspired song whose signature dance has swept across African American gatherings nationwide.

The routine—complete with rhythmic fan clacks—was born casually on a…