The song was Kamoze's only song to reach the top 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking atop the chart on 17 December 1994 and remaining there for two weeks. It also became a number-one hit in Denmark, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe and a top-10 hit in 13 other countries. Irish DJ John Gibbons made a remix of the song in 2018.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic noted that the song "lifts a line from "Land of 1000 Dances", and places it on an infectious dancehall beat – it's a great single that deserved to be a huge hit."[2]Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Reggae-splashed pop/hip-hopper is fueled by a prominent sample of Taana Gardner's disco chestnut "Heartbeat". Already getting active attention, infectious party jam percolates with innocuous but appealing rapping and familiar chants. Don't be surprised if this sleeper soars past the expected hits to the top of the Hot 100."[3] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton stated that the "infectious dance track owes much of its success to the 'Na Na Na Na Na' hook".[4] A reviewer from Music & Media commented, "Let's go "funkin' for Jamaica" again. Included on the OST Prêt-à-Porter, the veteran reggae man unexpectedly sees himself in the US top 10 with a chunk of '80s fatback funk."[5]
British magazine Music Week'sRM Dance Update complimented the song as a "catchy funk anthem doing the business in the US".[6] An editor, James Hamilton, described it as a "lyrical gangster's madly infectious US smash reggae jiggler using the 'naa na-na-naa' chant from 'Land of a 1000 Dances'".[7]Charles Aaron from Spin viewed it as a "seamless, nonsensical string of ragamuffin hip-hop clichés." He added further, "Rivaling Joey Gardner's sample constructions for K7 [with "Come Baby Come"], producer Salaam Remi drops in the bass line from Taana Gardner's 1981 club classic [...], and next thing you know, you're humming "murderer" against your will. Kamoze is a Kingston native, a vet of four supposedly respectable albums, an author and playwright, but on this Top Ten hit, he could be Jah Blatt from down the block. Deeply disposable."[8] Steve Pick from St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote, "With this cut, he's distilled most of the stylistic variants of his competitors, sweetened them with some goof hooks and come up with a breakthrough pop record that threatens to keep folks dancing for the next several years. I'm not sure what's "Heartical" about this version, but this is the mix you want."[9]
"Here Comes the Hotstepper" remains Kamoze's biggest hit to date. It went to number one on the US BillboardHot 100 and on the Canadian RPMDance/Urban chart,[10][11] while peaking at number two at the US Cash Box Top 100. In Europe, it peaked at number one in Denmark as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100.[12][13] The single climbed into the top 10 in Austria, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.[14][15][16][17][18] In the latter nation, it peaked at number four during its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on 15 January 1995, and spent four weeks at that position, topping the UK R&B Chart in the process.[19][20] Elsewhere, "Here Comes the Hotstepper" topped the charts in New Zealand and Zimbabwe and peaked at number two in Australia.[14][21] The single was awarded with a gold record in France and Germany and a platinum record in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the US.[22][23][24][25][26][27]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Blender listed the song at number 492 in their ranking of "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" in 2005.[81]BuzzFeed listed it at number 46 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90s" in 2017.[82]Billboard placed "Here Comes the Hotstepper" at number 126 in their ranking of "Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s" in 2019.[83]
In 2021, Philadelphia-based musician and social media personality Pat Finnerty enlisted Dr. Dog to cover the track for the "Hey, Soul Sister" episode of his YouTube series, What Makes This Song Stink.[88]
^Here Comes the Hotstepper (US cassette single sleeve). Ini Kamoze. Columbia Records. 1994. 38T 77614.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Here Comes the Hotstepper (European CD single liner notes). Ini Kamoze. Columbia Records. 1994. COL 661047 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Here Comes the Hotstepper (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Ini Kamoze. Columbia Records. 1994. 44 77602.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Here Comes the Hotstepper (US maxi-cassette single sleeve). Ini Kamoze. Columbia Records. 1994. 44T77602.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Here Comes the Hotstepper (UK CD single liner notes). Ini Kamoze. Columbia Records. 1994. 661047 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Here Comes the Hotstepper (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Ini Kamoze. Columbia Records. 1994. 661047 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Here Comes the Hotstepper (Australian CD single liner notes). Ini Kamoze. Columbia Records. 1994. 660973 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Here Comes the Hotstepper (Australian cassette single sleeve). Ini Kamoze. Columbia Records. 1994. 660973 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Here Comes the Hotstepper (UK cassette single sleeve). Ini Kamoze. Columbia Records. 1994. 661047 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
