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Juicy J Reacts to Capitals’ Viral Use of ’Bandz A Make Her Dance’

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 14, 2025 6:20 AM ET

Famous rapper Juicy J had never been to a hockey game before Sunday night in D.C., but by the end of it, the Memphis rap icon had witnessed Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin add another goal to his already-historic tally.

Ovechkin scored goal No. 896 on Sunday and provided a glimpse of his greatness to Juicy J, who also watched first-hand how his 2012 hit “Bandz A Make Her Dance” has become the unofficial anthem of the Capitals and part of their pregame ritual.

The Grammy-nominated artist joined his brother Project Pat in the tunnel at Capital One Arena before the Capitals game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The two were guests of the team and were surprised to see Ovechkin and Jakob Chychrun perform their usual shimmy to the song as the track blasted overhead.

We present to you, Bandz feat. @therealjuicyj and @ProjectPatHcp pic.twitter.com/Lm7Zcdqyxd
— z - Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 13, 2025

“Ovi!” Project Pat shouted when the Capitals captain turned the corner.

“What’s up, man,” Juicy J said, dapping him up. “Bandz a make her dance.”

After the pregame exchange, Juicy J explained that he first noticed the Capitals' affinity for the song on social media and couldn't believe it.

"This is my first time at a hockey game ... I started seeing it blowing up on TikTok, my phone's ringing and here I am."@tarynbray chats with @therealjuicyj on the collab of the century, attending his first-ever hockey game and what his plans are for after the game. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/nXnBfdsc3O
— z - Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 13, 2025

“I was watching my timeline, maybe like a month ago, and just seeing the Capitals singing ‘Bandz A Make Her Dance,’" Juicy J said. "I thought it was like an AI or something. People take AI all the time, and they put pictures with music. But it kept going and going.

"I was like, ‘Hol’ up a second, what’s going on? Somebody likes my song.'”

Juicy J said the Caps have breathed new life into the track, one already more than 10 years old since his initial release on Sept. 2012 as part of the album "Stay Trippy."

“I feel like they brought the song back — even more popular than it was five or six years ago,” Juicy J said. “They say [Ovechkin] is the Michael Jordan of hockey... I started doing research, and here I am.”

Ovechkin, who sat out Saturday’s loss, scored just 70 seconds into Sunday’s game on a setup from Dylan Strome. It was his 896th career goal and first since breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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