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Song Stories

“Hot In Herre”

Nelly | 2002

This No. 1 hit, produced by The Neptunes, uses a sample of Chuck Brown's 1979 funk classic "Bustin' Loose." It became a summer anthem, and won a Grammy for Best Male Rap Solo Performance. Nelly explained the lyrics focusing on overindulgence and a too-hot-to-handle dancefloor to Rolling Stone, saying, "People have enough to think about right now. I'm just trying to free their minds and have a little fun with it. I know you got your own problems; I got my own problems. Let's think of something else for a change."

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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