St. Louis rapper Nelly hits the airwaves with the first single from his new album "Nellyville." The song is very catchy and was one of the summer of 2002's biggest hits. Not much a rap music due to the high level of originality that market has (e.g., sampling Broadway musicals, Duran Duran songs, etc..) but Nelly has proven that with this song that not only can he get his groove on, but that he can produce a single with high potential for market crossover success. Regardless of his feud with other old-school rap artists such as KRS-1, Nelly's appeal lies in his ability to adapt to the times, something that many rappers have not been able to do. Only a handful artists such as Busta Rhymes, Queen Latifah, and Ice Cube have mastered the art of keeping with rap's evolution, and so far Nelly has. Overall, "Hot in Here" is a great summer anthem sure to keep anyone moving. Regardless of the song's critics it remains one of 2002's best jams.
