In August 2017, a man in a winter coat sat in a radio studio and rapped that he never got hot. Within weeks, “Man’s Not Hot” was one of the most shared videos in the world.
The performer was Michael Dapaah, a British comedian and actor of Ghanaian heritage, born in London in 1991. He had built a following with online comedy, including the mockumentary series SWLDN, released on YouTube, about life in south-west London.
Big Shaq
Big Shaq was one of Dapaah’s characters, a parody of the tough-talking rappers of the UK road rap, grime and drill scenes. Big Shaq wore a puffer jacket in all weather and delivered absurd lines with a straight face.
Fire in the Booth
Dapaah performed as Big Shaq on Charlie Sloth’s Fire in the Booth segment on BBC Radio 1Xtra. The freestyle included lines such as “Man’s not hot, never hot”, “Two plus two is four, minus one that’s three, quick maths” and the sound effect “the ting goes skrrrahh”. The clip went viral within days, shared by millions who had never heard of Fire in the Booth.
A hit single
Released as a single, “Man’s Not Hot” reached the top ten of the UK Singles Chart and charted in other countries, including the United States. Its phrases became memes, and people around the world recited them.
Dapaah performed the song at major events and appeared on television shows. Other artists and celebrities referenced it, and remixes and covers multiplied online.
Ghanaian roots
Dapaah has spoken about his Ghanaian family, and Big Shaq’s catchphrases travelled quickly among young people in Ghana too. His success is part of the wider influence of British-Ghanaian creatives in music, comedy and film.
After Big Shaq
Dapaah continued acting and comedy, including roles in British films and television, and he has spoken about wanting to be known for more than one character.
The joke
The song worked because it was affectionate as well as funny. It exaggerated the clichés of the genre without mocking the people who loved it, and many grime and drill artists enjoyed it.
He went into the studio to make a comedy sketch. He came out with a chart hit, and millions of people who still cannot explain why two plus two minus one is “quick maths”.
