About Hot Like Fire

"Hot Like Fire" is a song by American singer Aaliyah from her second studio album One in a Million. The song was written by both Missy Elliot and Timbaland with the latter producing the song. Musically the song has a "jeep-friendly" bouncing beat and it also features ad-libs from Timbaland. Lyrically the song is very suggestive with Aaliyah promising that she is worth the wait and that it will be worth it if her potential lover waits until she is ready. The song was re-recorded and released as the album's fifth single by Blackground and Atlantic records on September 16, 1997. Upon its release the song was met with generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising both Aaliyah's delivery and the song's production. In the US, "Hot Like Fire" barely charted on any of the major Billboard charts, largely overshadowed by the success of its other A-side "The One I Gave My Heart To". On the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart the song within the top 40 at number 31. Internationally the song performed better in the UK where it peaked within the top 40 at number 30 on the official charts. On the UK official dance charts the song also peaked within the top 40 at number 25 on November 16, 1997.

"Hot like Fire" is described as a "panting minimalist controlled-blaze baby-maker" with suggestive lyrics.n The production of the song has been described as being a "jeep-friendly beat". According to Emily Manning from i-D "Hot Like Fire features a sizzling, soulful, and bouncing beat (plus an ad-lib Tim ripped from Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner")". On "Hot Like Fire" Aaliyah "hums and moans promises to her new bae that his patience will be rewarded". "Delivering the lines "I know you've been wait, you've been waitin a long time for me/But if you wait a little while longer, this is how it'll be", Aaliyah promises to be hot and ready for her patient lover on this enticing opening offering". According to Bob Waliszewski's Plugged In review on the website Focus on the Family, the song "celebrates passionate sex-without suggesting a marital context".