We are (checks watch) 37 weeks into the year, and this is the first R&B tune to make it as single of the week. Not that I have anything against that style of music, so long as it's done well, but a) it's far too rarely done well, and b) there's always something slightly better just coming over the horizon. Enough apologies already.
Audiences in the US have been quick to embrace a good-humoured rapper who can hold a tune and not sound as though he's barking like a mutt. With the pop phenomenon running out of steam, it's been the turn of that soul-meets-rap style to fill the void at the top of the popular consciousness. Nelly has been the right man at the right time, with a little cussing and a lot of heart.
Britain hasn't remained immune to these charms, but neither has it succumbed as far as the other side of the pond. Tracks like Country Grammar
and Ride With Me
were major hits, but didn't quite break through to become Premier League Real Hits. They were big, but I don't think they'll be remembered in twenty years' time.
All changed with the first single from Nelly's second album, though. Hot In Here
took itself to the top end of the sales chart, and remained there for a goodly six weeks. In this day and age, that signifies huge public acceptance - it's not unusual for a chart-topper one week to be scraping a place in the top 40 sellers a month later. Indeed, the lead single is still ranked highly after three months on release - a feat indeed.
In the US, of course, this has been magnified hugely. Nelly took himself to the top of the Hot 100 listings in early May, and didn't let go for three months. When he did, he dropped off in favour of - himself. This track did it.
The female vocal is provided by Kelly Rowlands, one of the members of Destiny's Child who is not the self-obsessed one. Indeed, if this was justly labelled, the record would be Kelly and Nelly - it's her chorus and sighing that drives the track more than the titular artiste's mumblings.
There are lots of mixes about. The one that is doing the business at UK radio is one of the softest around, working in 8/8 time with Kelly's chorus high in the mix, and Nelly's rapped verses low down. The result is something that reminds me of The Crossroads
, and might just pass as Enya with a drum beat and rapper.
Dilemma
is scheduled for UK release in October. Watch it fly.
The album Nellyville
is in good stores now, and in UK ones shortly.