This cut finds the legendary funk master completely immersed in his pure groove element. This is funk straight with no chaser as only the Godfather could do it.
Guitarists Hearlon "Cheese" Martin and Robert Coleman underline the funk with some sassy licks while bassist Fred Thomas and drummer John “Jabo” Starks adeptly anchor this killer groove.
The smokin’ horn parts are provided by Fred Wesley (trombone), St. Clair Pinckney (tenor saxophone) and Jimmy Parker (alto saxophone). The track also boasts a great bridge, where Brown lets loose with some primal funk screams.
Brown co-wrote “Hot Pants” with Wesley. The song, also produced by JB, topped the R&B charts in the U.S. and reached #15 on the pop charts. It was released as a three-part single on his label People Records in 1971. It’s one of his most popular ‘70s hits, which he’d often perform in concert.
“Hot Pants” has been sampled by a slew of rap artists, including Eric B. & Rakim, “Paid in in Full (Seven Minutes of Madness – the Cold Cut Remix),” MC Hammer, “Pump it Up,” and Gang Starr, "2 Steps Ahead.”
Additionally, some of Brown’s funk associates recorded Hot Pants-themed tracks, including “Hot Pants Road” by the J.B.’s and "Hot Pants - I'm Coming, I'm Coming, I'm Coming” by Bobby Byrd.