BET’s new web series explores the experiences one hit wonders.
If you were a conscious human being in 2007, you are all-too-familiar with Mims’ “This Is Why I’m Hot”. The song took over radio and trickled out flip phones in poor quality as it became one the most popular ringtones the era. Unfortunately, Mims experienced one those quick rise and falls that have occurred throughout the history the music industry. BET’s new web series FindingBET explores hip hop’s one-hit wonders, allowing the artists to tell their side the story.
After having J-Kwon discuss life after “Tipsy” and Chingy discuss life after “Right Thurr”, BET enlisted Mims to discuss life after “This Is Why I’m Hot”. In the new 20-minute episode, the Washington Heights rapper details his signing and subsequent relationship with Capitol Records around the time he released that hit. While Mims compliments some the people he dealt with at the label, he also describes a classic instance a label exerting too much control over their rising artists and ultimately steering them wrong. He remembers being forced into featuring his face on the cover his debut album next to a building from The Projects. He didn’t feel this image suited his identity, but went along with it anyway.
Watch the video below to hear Mims’ piece together the “fastest period his] life”, during which “everything was a blur.”