“Hot in Herre” is a song by American rapper Nelly, released as the lead single from his second album Nellyville (2002). It was released on May 7, 2002, by Universal Records. It was written by Nelly, Charles Brown, and the producers the Neptunes. It features additional vocals by former labelmate Dani Stevenson and incorporates Chuck Brown‘s 1979 single “Bustin’ Loose“.[1] “Hot in Herre” is widely considered to be Nelly’s signature song along with the worldwide hit “Dilemma“.
There were two music videos made for the single “Hot in Herre”; the rarely-seen original, which takes place at the iconic Gateway Arch, features cameo appearances by actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer, NBA player Carmelo Anthony, and NFL players T. J. Duckett and Julius Peppers. This version was broadcast heavily on MTV Europe. The second, alternative video was broadcast the most in North America on BET, MTV, Canada’s MuchMusic, and on VH1; this version is set in a nightclub, and features a D.J., portrayed also by Cedric the Entertainer, who pauses the song abruptly to announce a “fire” having started on the dancefloor, from the intensity of the music and sexy dancing. The crowd, indifferent, begins chanting the chorus from Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three‘s “The Roof Is on Fire“, to express their total dedication to partying; shrugging it off, the D.J. gives up and goes back to mixing.
