Devo's song "Whip It" became a massive hit through a combination of radio popularity and MTV's launch in 1981. Although co-writer Mark Mothersbaugh originally penned the lyrics as a parody of author Thomas Pynchon's satirical writing, the public widely misinterpreted them as sexual innuendo about sadomasochism. Rather than correct this misconception, Devo deliberately amplified it by creating a provocative music video, leaning into the myth that propelled them to prominence.

Devo produced the "Whip It" music video for approximately £15,000 in their rehearsal studio. When MTV launched in 1981, nearly a year after the video's creation, the channel's limited content library meant the provocative clip received constant airplay alongside the song's continued radio presence. This dual exposure elevated Devo to household-name status and significantly boosted sales of their album "New Traditionalists," establishing them as pioneering visual artists in the emerging music-video era.