"Hot Pants " is a funk 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 BillboardHot 100pop chart in the U.S. along with reaching number ten on the Cashbox magazine charts. "Hot Pants" was Brown's final release under King's purview before he 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. 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.
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 albumIn 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 "Fight The Power" by Public Enemy, "Fools Gold" by The Stone Roses, "Papua New Guinea" by Future Sound of London, "Step Back In Time" by Kylie Minogue and "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. The song was featured on the on the station. Byrd's wife Vicki Anderson also recorded an answer song, "I'm Too Tough For Mr. Big Stuff ", for Brownstone. The J.B.'s recorded the instrumental "Hot Pants Road" as the B-side of their 1971 hit "Pass the Peas". James Brown's 1998 release "Funk on Ah Roll" reuses/resamples the guitar and horn parts of "Hot Pants".
