Released 12 February 2012 Genre Drum and bass Label Ministry of Sound | Recorded 2011 Length 3:02 | |
Format Digital download
CD single
12" vinyl | ||
"Hot Right Now" is a single by British drum and bass producer DJ Fresh, released as the second single from his third studio album, Nextlevelism. British singer Rita Ora features on the single as the main vocalist. The song also features as a bonus track on Ora's debut album, Ora. Released on 12 February 2012, the single debuted at the top of UK Singles Chart. The Official Charts Company confirmed "Hot Right Now" as the UK's first ever drum and bass number one.
Contents
Background and composition
In July 2011, DJ Fresh released "Louder", the first single from his third studio album, Nextlevelism. It reached peak position on the UK Singles Chart, giving DJ Fresh his first ever number one. After "Louder", Fresh started working on his second single, "Hot Right Now", and was looking for a vocalist. He came across an acoustic version of Outkast's song "Hey Ya!" posted on YouTube by Roc Nation signee, Rita Ora, who was working on her debut album, Ora, at the time. Ora auditioned for the part and was eventually kept on the track. Daniel Stein and The Invisible Men wrote the song while Daniel Stein and Wez Clarke produced it.
Critical reception
Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a mixed review stating:
Judging by the results of his latest track, we assume that the burden became all-too-great. Yes, the head-spinning breakneck beats and fuzzy basslines are impressive, as are the efforts of rising Roc Nation-signed guest singer Rita Ora, but there's something lacking here that made 'Louder' the hit that it was. Our suggestion? Lyrics such as "Turn it up right now/ Put your hands in the air if you want it right now" can't be doing him many favours. .
Chart performance
"Hot Right Now" debuted at number one on the "UK Singles Chart", selling over 128,000 copies in its first week, and becoming the fastest selling single of 2012 at that time. By the end of the year, "Hot Right Now" sold 482,000 copies in the UK, making it the 23rd best-selling single of 2012.
Music video
The music video for the song, directed by Rohan BM, was uploaded on YouTube on 14 December 2011. It features Ora in Los Angeles rocking a multi-colored, ’80s-inspired leather jacket amongst a crew of hipsters, breaking and crumping in a graffiti-covered lot.