I Like to Move It was released in 1993 by Reel 2 Real featuring the Mad Stuntman, becoming an international dance hit. It reached a new generation in 2005 when Sacha Baron Cohen performed it as King Julien in Madagascar, turning the chorus into a signature moment for the lemur king. The song returned in the sequels and spin offs, and the short chorus later circulated widely as a meme sound for dance edits, remixes and reaction videos, which is why the hook remains instantly familiar online.