Man's Not Hot Explained

Man's Not Hot
Cover:Man's Not Hot Artwork.png
Type:single
Artist:Big Shaq
Released:22 September 2017
Length:3:06
Label:Island
Chronology:Big Shaq
Next Title:Man Don't Dance
Next Year:2018

"Man's Not Hot" is a comedy hip hop novelty song by British comedian Michael Dapaah, in character as the fictional UK drill rapper Big Shaq. It samples an instrumental by GottiOnEm and Mazza, which was first used on 86's "Lurk"[1] and later on "Let's Lurk" by 67 featuring Giggs. The song saw commercial success, peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart.[2] The song has been certified platinum in the United Kingdom by the BPI, indicating 600,000 combined sales and streams. The music video has gained over 429 million views on YouTube as of June 2024.[3]

Background and release

On 10 May 2017, Michael Dapaah uploaded a sketch to his Instagram featuring his character Roadman Shaq "freestyling" to the instrumental of "Lurk" by UK drill group 86 (also used on the 2016 song "Let's Lurk" by UK drill group 67 and rapper Giggs).[4] [5] [6]

On 19 July, an extended version of the freestyle appeared in episode six of the first series of his mockumentary SWIL, when he performed it in front of 67 as Roadman Shaq.[7]

On 29 August, Dapaah went on BBC Radio 1Xtra as both his characters MC Quakez and Roadman Shaq for the Charlie Sloth-hosted "Fire in the Booth" segment.[8] He performed a version of the freestyle which subsequently went viral on the internet, gaining millions of views on YouTube and resulting in the creation of many internet memes. In response to the unprecedented popularity of the segment, Dapaah changed his character's name to "Big Shaq" and converted the freestyle into a commercial single called "Man's Not Hot", released on Island Records on 22 September.[9]

The song was covered by American hip hop band The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, when retired American basketball player Shaquille O'Neal appeared as a guest on 10 October 2017.[10] On 16 October, O'Neal released a diss track criticising Dapaah for calling himself "Big Shaq".[11]

On 15 December 2017, Man's Not Hot (The Remixes), an album comprising remixes of the song by various artists, was released, alongside a "Christmas edition" of the song. An "MC Mix" of the song, featuring British rappers Lethal Bizzle, Chip, Krept & Konan and Jme, was released on 29 December.

In June 2018, the song trended in Malta.[12]

Critical reception

Pitchfork listed "Man's Not Hot" at number 93 on their list of the 100 best songs of 2017, opining that it "joins in a tradition of songs (e.g. the Darkness' "I Believe in a Thing Called Love") that so expertly lampoon their chosen genre they become part of its firmament."[13]

Remix

American rapper Futuristic released his remix of the song on 13 January 2018.[14]

Music video

Dapaah released the music video for "Man's Not Hot" on 26 October 2017.[15] It begins with a phone call from someone called Asznee, who is later revealed to be entertainer Chunkz.[16] It then features Dapaah rapping the song in Toronto and Miami, wearing his trademark jacket. The video features cameos from American rappers Waka Flocka Flame, Lil Yachty, Jim Jones, Dutch rap group Broederliefde and American producer DJ Khaled, who calls Dapaah's character a "legend".[17]

Commercial use

In 2022 Peloton used the song for a holiday commercial.[18]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017–18)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 22
Norway (VG-lista)[21] 23
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 15

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: - YouTube . . 4 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190807014016/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOba4GqGP_8 . 7 August 2019 . live .
  2. Web site: Official Singles Chart Results: Man's Not Hot. Official Charts Company. 6 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171108233712/http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/man's-not-hot/. 8 November 2017. live.
  3. Web site: Big Shaq – Mans Not Hot (Music Video). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107035142/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M_5oYU-IsU. 7 November 2017. 30 July 2021. YouTube.
  4. Web site: Instagram post by Michael Dapaah • May 10, 2017 at 7:57pm UTC. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BT7KOy0licG . 2021-12-24 . limited. Instagram. 1 February 2018.
  5. Web site: A Guide to Explaining UK Drill to Your Family Over the Holidays. Bassil. Ryan. Mokoena. Tshepo. 2018-12-20. Vice. en-UK. 2019-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20190807014009/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/a3m7nk/uk-drill-holiday-guide. 7 August 2019. live.
  6. Web site: Meet Mazza : The Producer Taking Drill To A New Level. Scotsman. Author The Black. 2016-07-25. en. 2019-08-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20180319084854/https://theblackscotsman.wordpress.com/2016/07/25/meet-mazza/. 19 March 2018. live.
  7. Web site: SIX SEVEN...EIGHT? #SWIL - EP 6 (SEASON FINALE FT. 67). YouTube. 19 July 2017. 1 February 2018. 23 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923231041/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJgQjN3QD0. live.
  8. News: Michael Dapaah's Fire in the Booth – official Roadman Shaq single and merch on the way. BBC News . 8 September 2017 . 6 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171112054809/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/41201489/michael-dapaahs-fire-in-the-booth---official-roadman-shaq-single-and-merch-on-the-way. 12 November 2017. live.
  9. Web site: The Ting Goes.... BBC. 6 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028221014/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b094kq4l. 28 October 2017. live.
  10. Web site: Watch The Roots welcome Shaquille O'Neal to 'The Tonight Show' by playing Big Shaq's 'Man's Not Hot'. 11 October 2017. Moore. Sam. NME. 6 November 2017.
  11. Web site: Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal releases diss track aimed at Roadman Shaq . BBC Newsbeat . BBC . 16 October 2017 . 28 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171021114206/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/41642214/basketball-legend-shaquille-oneal-releases-diss-track-aimed-at-roadman-shaq . 21 October 2017 . live .
  12. Web site: Big Shaq thanks Malta for the support on YouTube! . 26 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181127064559/https://bay.com.mt/bigshaq-thanks-malta/ . 27 November 2018 . dead .
  13. Web site: The 100 Best Songs of 2017. 11 December 2017. Pitchfork. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20171211082911/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-100-best-songs-of-2017/. 11 December 2017. live.
  14. News: Futuristic – Mans Not Hot (Official Remix Audio) – DK EXPRESSIONS®. DK Expressions. 13 January 2018. 28 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180428181131/http://www.dkexpressions.co.za/dkexp/futuristic-mans-not-hot-official-remix-audio/. 28 April 2018. live.
  15. Web site: Big Shaq Releases Video For Viral Hit "Mans Not Hot". Jefferson. J'na. 26 October 2017. Vibe. 28 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171028150131/https://www.vibe.com/2017/10/big-shaq-mans-not-hot-video/. 28 October 2017. live.
  16. Almeida, Cristina Moreno. "Economies of Resistance." Rap Beyond Resistance. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2017. 145-168
  17. News: Big Shaq's Official 'Man's Not Hot' Video Is Actually Spectacular – WATCH. Capital XTRA. 26 October 2017. 9 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114713/http://www.capitalxtra.com/news/big-shaq-mans-not-hot-video-watch/. 10 November 2017. live.
  18. Web site: Peloton TV Spot, 'Holidays: The Peloton Effect: Rent a Bike' Song by Big Shaq . 24 November 2022.
  19. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. 6 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181226125524/http://www.irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Singles. 26 December 2018. live.
  20. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 8 January 2018. 5 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180105181923/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=4439. 5 January 2018. live.
  21. Web site: VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 46, 2017. VG-lista. 18 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180723034126/http://www.vglista.no/topplister/topp-20-single-2017-46/. 23 July 2018. live.
  22. Web site: Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista. Sverigetopplistan. 2 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20151226145037/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/. 26 December 2015. live.
  23. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2017. Official Charts Company. 10 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160105233745/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/. 5 January 2016. live.

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