Ini Kamoze’s ‘Hotstepper’ Back On Charts Thanks To TikTok
Roots Reggae artist Ini Kamoze probably never dreamed that after almost three decades, his Here Comes The Hotstepper song would go viral. But thanks to tens of millions of views on TikTok videos, posted to the popular platform with the hashtags #hotstepper and #herecomesthehotstepper over the last month, the singer is enjoying new success after the song entered the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart three weeks ago.
The song, which is the lead single on his 1995 album of the same name, peaked at No. 7 on the chart, before slipping to No. 9 and then to No. 25 this week. It is still currently No. 1 on the US iTunes Reggae song chart and No. 3 on Amazon’s Best Sellers In Reggae chart.
Meanwhile, the 12 track Here Comes The Hotstepper album re-entered the Billboard Reggae Album chart at No. 10 last week, and remains at that position this week. It had debuted at No. 1 on the chart in 1995.
Kamoze’s rise on the charts is the latest example of TikTok fueling a resurgence of older music. While some royalties may be earned by artists through their distributors from plays of their music on TikTok, the power of the platform lies in music discovery and fan engagement.
According to an MRC Data survey in 2021, 63% of TikTok users heard new music on the platform that they had never heard before, while 67% said they are likely to seek out a song on a music streaming service that they heard on the app first.
On January 8, TikTok user @dawnydawnperil, who has just over 3,000 followers, shared a video clip of Kurdish men dancing at a wedding, but with the audio of Kamoze’s Here Comes The Hotstepper. Another user’s reshare of @dawnydawnperil’s clip, has attracted over 3.4 million views on the platform.
https://www.tiktok.com/@dawnydawnperil/video/7050815686465064197?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&q=%23hotstepper&t=1644875518219
Thereafter, the song blew up as more users shared their own video clips. Here are a few:
@kkristinwwaynick the line of men doing this dance are the real MVPs😄 #hotstepper
@hey_julie_hey_girl Reply to @fjb020 I think this is why we don’t watch the married couples.#bluesuit #kamilkaya #newbluesuit #hotstepper #mrshades #DuetDoWet
@thetratterhouse Hot steppin at the Tratter House! 🔥#tratterhouse #mavenmessenger
Born Cecil Campbell, Ini Kamoze began his career in the early 1980s. Adopting another nickname from the song title, Kamoze would become known as the “Hotstepper”, from the meaning—a man on the run from the law. The song was originally recorded with Philip “Fatis” Burrel and later remixed by Salaam Remi and initially featured on a reggae music compilation Stir It Up, released on the Epic label.
His dub version of Here Comes the Hotstepper, otherwise known as I’m Steppin’ it Hotter This Year, released in 1993, remains a dancehall anthem.
The Here Comes The Hotstepper album, which originally made its debut on May 6, 1995, featured production from legendary duo Sly and Robbie. It also contains rebooted versions of some of Kamoze’s previous recordings, including Call the Police, Gunshot, and World-A-Music.
The artist’s most recent album release is 2016’s Ini Kamoze Meets Xterminator: Tramplin’ Down Babylon on his label, 9SoundClik. This is a collection of newly recorded and previously recorded tracks that were originally released as singles on Xterminator Records by producer Phillip “Fattis” Burrell.
Kamoze has also written a book on the history of Port Royal and a play, Runnings.