Toppa Top 10: Junior Reid’s Best Cameos

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July 15, 2014


1. Mims “This is Why I’m Hot (Blackout Remix)” (2007)
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I know what you’re thinking: “This is Why I’m Hot”? Total footnote status, right? Sure, if we’re just going by the original, which came out of Washington Heights, Manhattan in early 2007 to become the biggest hip-hop song of its moment only for Mims to fade into an all-but-certain one-hit wonder by year’s end. But if you weren’t around the Eastern seaboard of the United States in summer 2007 to witness the destruction every time this remix came on in the club, let us break down all of the elements that make this one such a boomshot.

Start with the way the song’s opening melody is teased at the beginning, only to be interrupted by a fire alarm and JR’s trademark “Tu-tu tweng” ad lib, letting you know immediately the island-wise direction track the mix is headed in. Then mix in Dawn Penn’s “No No No,” Stalag and the 85 riddim (of Cham’s “Ghetto Story” fame), all elements sure to draw out gun finger salutes when dropped in quick succession. Then there’s the appearance of Cham, still running at the time on “Ghetto Story” hype. Holding it all together, and keeping the level is Junior Reid’s chill-inducing vocals, which bring “One Blood”-level gravitas to a track that’s otherwise one big boast about how hot someone thinks they are.

We rarely hear “This is Why I’m Hot” these days, but when it does get played it’s almost always the reggae remix, and for good reason.