2. “H.O.T.”

Nitty Scott, MC:“Illmind just brought it. He has this crazy ability to have this boom bap kind of sound that’s very true to this classic hip-hop sound, but it’s very coupled with a modern sound as well. That’s everything that I wanted because I didn’t want people to think: ‘Oh, you are going for the gusto.’ And have this crazy first single that is commercially different. I didn’t want to do that. I still wanted to stay true to what people expected from me but just turn it up a little bit.

“It has a futuristic sound to it, it has a club-y feel to it, but it still has this boom bap knock. It was just the perfect marriage to everything that I needed. I got Missy on the sample so it’s just like a huge salute to her. Under Construction was one of my favorite albums; it really helped to shape me as an artist in high school. And then the dubstep breakdown at the end, it’s just fucking crazy. I love doing it at shows. I love wylin’ out. I’m glad that it’s out now so my fans can wylin’ out with me. [Laughs.]

“It’s fun especially when you are kind of blending genres a little bit there because I haven’t really had the opportunity to be experimental in that way just yet. It was always about this ‘I am Hip-hop message,’ but now that I know that you get it. I want to express to the people that I love all different types of music. As a hip-hop artist, I don’t even listen to as much hip-hop as many people think I do. Just throwing in and sprinkling a little bit of something else, that’s also a reflection of me. I am appreciative of all different types of genres.”

““H.O.T.” stands for “Hard Over Tracks.” We played with it for a long time. We just liked how “H.O.T.” sounds over “Hot.” Or I am keep it hot. We were forever looking for an acronym and we finally settled on “Hard Over Tracks.” “H.O.T.” can mean whatever you want it to mean. “Hoes On Tap.” You know? Whatever you want to do. Just keep it hot.”