Drop It Like It's Hot
"Drop It Like It's Hot" is a song by American rapper Snoop Dogg featuring American musician Pharrell Williams. It was released on September 27, 2004, as the lead single from Snoop Dogg's seventh studio album, "" (2004). The song was produced by The Neptunes (Pharrell and Chad Hugo). Snoop performs the chorus and the second and third verses, while Pharrell performs the first verse. It is regarded as an iconic song. The song topped the US "Billboard" Hot 100 for three weeks from December 10, 2004, making it Snoop Dogg's first number  one on the chart. It was also his fourth top-ten as a solo artist, first since 2003's "Beautiful" (1993's "What's My Name?" and 1994's "Gin and Juice" were the others). The song also gave him his first number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also peaked at number one for four consecutive weeks in New Zealand, and number ten in the UK Singles Chart. It gained some critical attention for its minimal, extremely sparse production, consisting of tongue clicks, keyboards, a drum machine beat and white noise. It was nominated at  the Grammy Awards of 2005 for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, though it lost both awards to the songs "Jesus Walks" and "Let's Get It Started", respectively. The single was Pharrell's biggest hit worldwide, until 2013's "Get Lucky" and "Blurred Lines" (his highest peaking single as lead artist is "Happy"). On December 10, 2009, "Drop It Like It's Hot" was named the most popular rap song of the decade by "Billboard". Origin of title. The phrase "drop it like it's hot" was already in common use before the  song was released, and had been used in various songs since the 1990s. It is a metaphorical description of a dance move commonly performed by women, and is performed by various women throughout the music video. It was used in Positive K's 1992 album "The Skills Dat Pay Da Bills", in the song "Ain't No Crime." It was also used by Lil Wayne as a guest rapper on Juvenile's 1999 hit single "Back That Azz Up" from his album "400 Degreez", and in his own song called "Drop It Like It's Hot" from his 1999 debut  album "Tha Block is Hot" featuring B.G. and Mannie Fresh. Clark Kent said "drop it like it's hot" in the song "Cashmere Thoughts" from Jay-Z's 1996 debut album, "Reasonable Doubt". DJ Quik used the phrase in the song "Sexuality" from his album "Balance & Options". Another song with the same name is "Drop It Like It's Hot", but it is sung by the Big Tymers, and featuring Chilli, Juvenile, and Lac. This version of the song was featured in the Big Tymers' predecessor of their debut, "How You Luv That Vol. 2". Outside of hip-hop, it  was also the title of a song on indie rock band Minus the Bear's 2002 EP "Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them". Critical reception. "USA Today" called the song "scorching". "Rolling Stone"s Tom Moon said "The serpentine down-tempo single 'Drop It Like It's Hot', produced by the Neptunes, links Snoop's slyly exuberant delivery to a relentless dance-floor bounce". Steve "Flash" Juon of "Rap Reviews" wrote: "the stripped down sound of the Neptunes produced 'Drop it Like It's Hot' has produced one of Snoop's biggest hits to date. Ironically it may  be in some ways more gangsterish than his "Deep Cover" debut in some aspects, but he's so chill about his delivery it doesn't sound the least bit menacing: That's quintessential Snoop for you - hard when you're not looking, but still velvet enough to appeal to the ladies and drive off in a fly Mercedes". Similarly, AllMusic's David Jeffries stated: "the ultrahot production team the Neptunes' contribution to the killer single 'Drop It Like It's Hot' had been duly noted, but lost in all the chatter was how inspired and on-fire Snoop sounds". Music  video. The music video of the single was Released In 2004 and shot in black-and-white. It was directed by Paul Hunter. It shows Snoop Dogg doing the dance step known as the Crip Walk in the very beginning and end. The video included both of Snoop Dogg's sons, Corde and Cordell. Other appearances in the video include Terry Kennedy, Lauren London, Pharrell Williams' fellow Neptunes member Chad Hugo, and Pusha T. The video won the award for the best hip hop video at the 2006 MTV Australia Video Music Awards and a MOBO Award for Best Video  in 2005. Radio edits. There are two radio edits for the song: one is a standard radio edit that removes profanities and drug references while the other is an "Extra Clean" edit that removes phrases with gun and gang references (and the word "roll" from the chorus) as well. Commercial performance. North America. "Drop It Like It's Hot" was the highest-ranking debut for the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart dated October 2, 2004, entering the chart at number 51. The song topped the US "Billboard Hot" 100 for three weeks from December 10, 2004. The song also reached number  one on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Rap Songs, Rhythmic Songs, Digital Songs and Hot 100 Airplay. Since its release the song has been certified Gold by the RIAA. The Mastertone (ringtone) version received certification of double platinum by the RIAA. Europe. The song topped the Recorded Music NZ for four weeks, making it Snoop Dogg's first number one on the chart. The single reached number ten on the UK Singles Chart, and reached the top ten in several countries. Certifications. !|United States (RIAA)