Here Comes the Hotstepper

"Here Comes the Hotstepper" is a song co-written and recorded by Jamaican dancehall artist Ini Kamoze. It was released as the lead single from his 1995 album Here Comes the Hotstepper as well as the soundtrack to the film Prêt-à-Porter. It is best known for its "na na na na na..." chorus sampled from the Wilson Pickett song "Land of 1000 Dances".

"Here Comes the Hotstepper"
Standard artwork
Single by Ini Kamoze
from the album Here Comes the Hotstepper
Released	August 18, 1994
Genre	Hip hop reggae fusion
Length	4:13
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Ini Kamoze Chris Kenner Kenton Nix Salaam Remi
Producer(s)	Salaam Remi
Ini Kamoze singles chronology
"Hill and Gully Ride" (1992) "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (1994) "Listen Me Tic (Woyoi)" (1995)

The song was Kamoze's only song to reach the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking atop the chart on December 17, 1994, and remaining there for two weeks. It also became a number-one hit in Denmark, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe and a top-ten hit in thirteen other countries. John Gibbons made a remix of the song in 2018.

Usages of music sampling

"Here Comes the Hotstepper" contains several samples, including vocals from "The Champ" by The Mohawks, "Hot Pants" by Bobby Byrd, and "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick. The song's instrumental samples the drums and bass from "Heartbeat" by Taana Gardner and guitar notes from "Hung Up on My Baby" by Isaac Hayes. The song uses the "na na na na na..." chorus from the Cannibal & the Headhunters cover of "Land of a Thousand Dances," and the verse vocal melody is reminiscent of The Beatles' "Come Together".

Chart performance

"Here Comes the Hotstepper" remains Kamoze's biggest hit to date. It went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and on the Canadian RPM Dance chart.[1][2] In Europe, it peaked at number one in Denmark as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100.[3][4] The single climbed into the top 10 in Austria, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.[5][6][7][8][9] In the latter nation, it peaked at number four during its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on January 15, 1995, and spent four weeks at that position, topping the UK R&B Chart in the process.[10][11] Elsewhere, "Here Comes the Hotstepper" topped the charts in New Zealand and Zimbabwe and peaked at number two in Australia.[5][12] The single was awarded with a gold record in France and Germany and a platinum record in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US.[13][14][15][16][17][18]

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic noted that the song "lifts a line from "Land of 1000 Dances" and places it on an infectious dancehall beat -- it's a great single that deserved to be a huge hit."[19] Steve Pick from St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote, "Kamoze has been a journeyman reggae dancehall singer for a number of years. With this cut, he's distilled most of the stylistic variants of his competitors, sweetened them with some goof hooks and come up with a breakthrough pop record that threatens to keep folks dancing for the next several years. I'm not sure what's "Heartical" about this version, but this is the mix you want."[20]

Music video

A music video was made to accompany the song which used various scenes from the film Prêt-à-Porter. It was uploaded to YouTube in May 2014. By September 2020, the video had more than 5,3 million views.[21]

Impact and legacy

Blender listed the song at number 492 in their ranking of The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born in 2005.[22]

BuzzFeed listed it at number 46 in their list of The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s in 2017.[23]

Track listing

CD single

1. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (heartical mix)
2. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (allaam mix)

CD maxi – Europe (1994)

1. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (heartical mix) – 4:13
2. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (heartipella) – 4:15
3. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (heartimental) – 4:13
4. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (allaam mix) – 4:36
5. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (allamental) – 4:37
6. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" (LP version) – 4:09

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1994–1995) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[24] 6 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[25] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[27] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[28] 15 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[2] 1 Denmark (IFPI)[3] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[6] 2 France (SNEP)[29] 2 Germany (Official German Charts)[30] 6 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[7] 3 Ireland (IRMA)[8] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 22 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[34] 4 Scotland (OCC)[35] 6 Spain (AFYVE)[9] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[36] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[37] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[10] 4 UK Dance (OCC)[38] 3 UK R&B (OCC)[11] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[1] 1 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[39] 22 US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[40] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[41] 2 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[42] 5 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[43] 1 Zimbabwe (ZIMA)[12] 1 Chart (2020) Peak position Hungary (Single Top 40)[44] 39

Year-end charts Chart (1994) Position US Billboard Hot 100[45] 85 Chart (1995) Position Australia (ARIA)[15] 22 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[46] 26 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[47] 38 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[48] 7 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[49] 22 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[50] 15 France (SNEP)[51] 9 Germany (Official German Charts)[52] 29 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[53] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[54] 32 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[55] 18 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[56] 24 US Billboard Hot 100[57] 24 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[58] 65 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[15] Platinum 70,000^^ France (SNEP)[13] Gold 250,000^* Germany (BVMI)[14] Gold 250,000^^ New Zealand (RMNZ)[16] Platinum 10,000^* United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Platinum 600,000 United States (RIAA)[18] Platinum 900,000[59] ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Ini Kamoze Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
2. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2711." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
3. Billboard 25 March 1995. Billboard. 1995-03-25. Retrieved December 1, 2010. hits of the world.
4. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (March 18, 1995). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
5. "Australian-charts.com – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
6. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (March 4, 1995). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
7. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (15.–21.12 '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 15, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Here Comes the Hotstepper". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
9. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (April 1, 1995). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 48 – via Internet Archive. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
11. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
12. • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
13. "French single certifications – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
14. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ini Kamoze; 'Here Comes the Hotstepper')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
15. "1995 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
16. "New Zealand single certifications – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". Recorded Music NZ.
17. "British single certifications – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". British Phonographic Industry.
18. "American single certifications – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
19. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". AllMusic. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
20. Pick, Steve (January 6, 1995). "Steve Pick". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
21. "Ini Kamoze - Here Comes The Hotstepper (Remix) (Video)". YouTube. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
22. "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". Blender. October 2005. Archived from the original on 2008-03-16. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
23. Stopera, Matt; Galindo, Brian (March 11, 2017). "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
24. "Austriancharts.at – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
25. VRT Top 30 peak Archived April 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
26. "Ultratop.be – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
27. "Ultratop.be – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper" (in French). Ultratop 50.
28. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2722." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
29. "Lescharts.com – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper" (in French). Les classement single.
30. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
31. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 1, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved February 2, 2020.
32. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
33. "Charts.nz – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". Top 40 Singles.
34. "Norwegiancharts.com – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". VG-lista.
35. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
36. "Swedishcharts.com – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". Singles Top 100.
37. "Swisscharts.com – Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper". Swiss Singles Chart.
38. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
39. "Ini Kamoze Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
40. "Ini Kamoze Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
41. "Ini Kamoze Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
42. "Ini Kamoze Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
43. "Ini Kamoze Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
44. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
45. "Billboard Top 100 – 1994". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
46. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1995" (in German). Retrieved February 2, 2020.
47. "Jaaroverzichten 1995" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
48. "Rapports annuels 1995" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
49. "RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1995". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
50. "1995 in Review – Year End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. December 23, 1995. p. 14. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
51. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1995" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
52. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1995" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
53. "End of Year Charts 1995". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
54. "Årslista Singlar, 1995" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
55. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1995" (in German). Retrieved February 2, 2020.
56. "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. January 13, 1996. p. 9.
57. "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
58. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
59. "Best-Selling Records of 1994". Billboard. BPI Communications. 107 (3): 57. January 21, 1995. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 5, 2015.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics