Released July 1971 (1971-07) Genre Funk | Format 7" | |
B-side "Hot Pants Pt. 2 & 3 (She Got to Use What She Got to Get What She Wants)" Recorded May 13, 1971, Starday-King Studios, Nashville, TN Length 3:08 (Pt. 1)
3:53 (Pt. 2 & 3) | ||
"Hot Pants (She Got to Use What She Got to Get What She Wants)" is a song by James Brown. Brown recorded the song in 1971 and released it that year as a three-part single on his People Records label, which was then distributed by his primary label King. It was a number-one R&B hit and reached number fifteen on the pop chart in the U.S. "Hot Pants" was Brown's final release under King's purview before he (and the People label) moved to Polydor Records. The song's lyrics are an ode to the captivating power of the title garment, which members of the band first saw on their 1970 European tour.
Contents
Like much of Brown's funk repertoire, "Hot Pants" has been extensively sampled in hip hop productions, notably by Eric B. & Rakim on the title track of Paid in Full.
Personnel
with the J.B.'s:
Other versions and related songs
Soon after moving to Polydor, Brown re-recorded "Hot Pants" for inclusion on the Hot Pants album to be released on his new label. The 8:42 long album version, which was never released as a single, was recorded on July 12, 1971, at Rodel Studios, Washington, D.C. with the same personnel as the previous recording. It was included on the 1986 compilation album In the Jungle Groove.
Several of Brown's associates also recorded hot pants-themed songs. Bobby Byrd recorded "Hot Pants - I'm Coming, I'm Coming, I'm Coming", released on Brownstone Records in 1972. This version of the song was also frequently sampled for its drum loop. Notable sampling songs include "Fools Gold" by The Stone Roses, "Papua New Guinea" by Future Sound of London and "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. The song was featured on the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack on the Master Sounds 98.3 station. Byrd's wife Vicki Anderson also recorded an answer song, "I'm Too Tough For Mr. Big Stuff (Hot Pants)", for Brownstone. The J.B.'s recorded the instrumental "Hot Pants Road" as the B-side of their 1971 hit "Pass the Peas".
Chart run
Billboard Hot 100 (11 weeks, entered July 3): Reached #15
Cashbox (10 weeks, entered July 3): 69, 36, 26, 16, 14, 10, 17, 24, 36, 57