“Drop It Like It’s Hot” by Snoop Dogg (ft. Pharrell Williams)

“Drop it like it’s hot” is one of those ubiquitous-sounding hip-hop phrases which arguably has a number of applications. But it actually originated as a term encouraging female dancers, most modernly put, to twerk. 

And such is also how it is utilized within the chorus of this piece, more specifically, shall we say, in terms of inspiring said ladies to use their bodies in the name of impressing ‘pimps’, i.e. potentially generating income.

But as far as showing love to the homeys in the chorus, Snoop does that also. For example, they’re being told to “park it like it’s hot” when being pursued by “the pigs”, aka the police. 

Most generally understood, such advice would point to abandoning the vehicle you’re in when faced with such a predicament. The Doggfather also advises that “if a n–ga gets an attitude”, then one should “pop it like it’s hot”, i.e. most simply put shoot him. 

And he concludes the passage by giving allusions to his wealth, as well as noting that he smokes “the best weed”, i.e. the top-grade marijuana which money can buy. So even before getting to the first verse, the hip-hop mainstays of sex, money and violence, as well as drugs if you consider ganja in such a manner, have already been introduced.

Pharrell Williams

And with that in mind, this is one of the few cases we have come across of Pharrell Williams being flat-out braggadocious in a song. Of course he’s a successful musician on par with the main vocalist. 

And he lets such be known by for instance insinuating that he drives “the Phantom”, i.e. a car whose basic price starts at roughly half-a-million dollars. He then proceeds to address a romantic interest. In doing so, he points to his invigorated sexual prowess, while encouraging her to ‘cheat on her man’ in the name of ‘getting ahead’. 

So this is perhaps the one line in his verse most directly related to the title of the song. Then Pharrell reveals that he’s associated with street thugs. Thus if you try to play him, you may end up on the wrong side of a gun. 

In fact such an idea takes up more of his verse than any other. And he concludes the passage by noting one of his nicknames, Skateboard P, a moniker he picked up in high school due to his affinity for said sport.

Snoop

Meanwhile such braggadocio is more of Snoop Dogg’s standard. Therefore, as put forth at the beginning of the second verse, which belongs to the rapper, ‘we already know that’ he’s a “a gangsta”. 

Indeed shortly thereafter he notes his affiliation with the Crips. The Crips is a terrifying street gang headquartered in the ‘hoods of Snoop’s home state, California. But outside of that, most of the passage is actually indirectly dedicated to what is known to be Snoop’s favorite pastime beside maybe smoking weed, which is having sexual encounters with various women.

And being that he is the headliner, the D-O double G holds down the third verse also. And this one is actually centered most on his propensity to dole out violence, i.e. murder those who ‘play him close’. 

And yes, Snoop Dogg did in fact face a gang-related murder charge in times past. But obviously, that ordeal has not deterred him from dropping such lyrics nonetheless.

What “Drop It Like It’s Hot” is all about

So all wording considered, even though the title of this song may be more female-focused, the primary topic being discussed therein is actually violence. That is not to say that it was intentionally designed so, as apparently it wasn’t. 

But rap is a genre where, loosely speaking, vocalists are allowed to talk about whatever they want. And we all already know how Snoop Dogg gets down. So more notable is the fact that relatively-peaceful, fun-loving Pharrell also used the opportunity of “Drop It Like It’s Hot” to level threats against opps.

“Drop It Like It’s Hot” Writing and Production

The song was written by Snoop and Pharrell alongside the following:

• Chad Hugo,
• Tim Stahl
• John Guldberg

The Neptunes produced “Drop It Like It’s Hot”.

Release Date

September 27 of 2004 was the official release date of this Hip hop song. It comes from the Snoop Dogg album titled “R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece”.

Was “Drop It Like It’s Hot” a single release?

Yes. It was the first single from Snoop’s “R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece” album.

Chart Performance

“Drop It Like It’s Hot” was a serious hit around the globe. In the United States, it hit number 1. In New Zealand, it achieved the same accomplishment.

• US – 1
• UK – 2
• New Zealand – 1
• Netherlands – 5
• Germany – 8
• Denmark – 2
• Canada – 5
• Belgium – 9
• Australia – 3

Famous Usage of “Drop It Like It’s Hot”

Being a very famous song, “Drop It Like It’s Hot” has over the years appeared in numerous movies, TV Shows, advertisements, etc. Below are some examples.

Movies:

It featured in the animated film, “The Addams Family” of 2019 and in Episode 12, “Mission Accomplished” in Season 3 of “The Wire”

Covers:

• X & Hell (2006)
• White Coffin (2011)
• The BossHoss (2007)
• Magic Drum Orchestra (2014)
• Cheloo (2006)

Sampling:

• The Weeknd – “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls” (2011)
• Snoop Dogg feat. R. Kelly – “That’s That Sh-t” (2006)
• Tha Dogg Pound feat. Pharrell Williams – “Cheat” (2008)
• Dog Blood – “Shred or Die” (2013)
• Pharrell Williams – “Raspy Sh-t” (2006)

Awards/Honors

Snoop’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot” had multiple nominations at the 2005 Grammys, including “Best Rap Song”. It lost the award in question to Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks“.