Q100’s Bert Show goes on campaign against the phrase ‘Hotlanta’
Loading ...I have noticed over the years that people who don’t live in Atlanta will often refer to our lovely city as “Hotlanta,” thinking they were cool. In fact, they always act as if they’re “in the know” by saying it. Truth is: we never say it. Ever. Except to make fun of folks who say “Hotlanta.”
Earlier this month, I heard actress, D.C. native and cohost Taraji Henson (left, with Terrence Howard) say it at the Soul Train Awards, airing Nov. 29 on BET and Centric. I mocked her in my blog.
Anyway, Q100’s Bert Show has decided to take this important issue head on. They are asking their listeners and celebrities to tell outsiders not to say that term on penalty of eye rolls and sighs.
The morning show already told part-time Atlantan Janet Jackson to spread the word and she agreed to pass it on to Jermaine Dupri. Jeff Dauler saw Jordan Knight (New Kids on the Block) referencing the city that way in a Tweet and plans to straighten him out Friday when he comes in studio. They hope to get former Atlantan John Mayer to tell his huge Twitter following (2.6 million) to back off.
There’s a Facebook page about it, too, if you’d like to join.
Here is a possible origin of the phrase, courtesy of an instrumental tune by the Allman Brothers dubbed “Hot’Lanta.”
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149 comments Add your comment
Levelhead
November 18th, 2009
8:47 am
Its now called FATlanta. Yes FATlanta
yo yo yo
November 18th, 2009
8:52 am
now that’s funny, for real
Slam
November 18th, 2009
9:32 am
Actually, when I’ve heard the term Hotlanta, it wasn’t that they were acting like they were in the know, it was a sarcastic thing to make fun of Atlanta.
Neil
November 18th, 2009
10:01 am
In honor of this blog and the RHOA, let’s call it Holanta!
JTesla
November 18th, 2009
10:08 am
On the west coast I’ve only seen one reference to Hotlanta, a hoody for an Atlanta area company. The irony of having it on a hoody was not lost on me. I second the Holanta thought.
Wink
November 18th, 2009
10:49 am
Running out ideas over there at Q100???
mark
November 18th, 2009
10:51 am
Rodney: Your constant kiss ass attitude of writing about every breath this station takes is betraying you.You have been fooled by their faking everything on air for years now,and its so sad your bosses don’t see it or sadly don’t care what you write about.
Michael
November 18th, 2009
11:12 am
I don’t like Hotlanta either, but it’s certainly no worse than the more frequently used “The ATL”.
Renee
November 18th, 2009
11:14 am
I find it that none of the host of Q100 are from Atlanta but want to ban it? Hotlanta is one of the things that we are known for so why is it so important to ban the phrase. I am a Georgia native and why change it.
mark's dad
November 18th, 2009
11:16 am
You are a douchebag mark.
Paula
November 18th, 2009
11:17 am
I’m a native Atlantan. The name Hotlanta is stupid. I agree – stop using it.
Ben
November 18th, 2009
11:18 am
I been in atlanta for 25yrs and it is hotlanta.Because it’s the hottest thing going.When you come you stay.When you vist you love it.so why not hotlanta.
Cuzzin Vinnie
November 18th, 2009
11:19 am
I like Hotlanta. It’s better than Nawleens, Frisco, Motor City, Chi-town, Windy City, Philly and several others. Lighten the crap up! I’m rolling my eyes at this whole blog.
Dood
November 18th, 2009
11:20 am
Just like New Orleans being called “Nawlins”…it’s stupid. Same with ATL or Hotlanta. Just call it what it is….Chocolate City.
Nick
November 18th, 2009
11:21 am
and another thing. People I hear using it don’t are not trying to act like they are in the know either. Really, some of these people need to get over themselves. I mean really, looking down your nose at someone bc they used the term Hotlanta.
mwk
November 18th, 2009
11:22 am
Looks like it’s spreading via Twitter:
@JeffDauler: Atlanta is NOT Hotlanta. We need to do away with that word. Forever! Please RT! #NoMoreHotlanta
Can't Believe I'm Replying
November 18th, 2009
11:23 am
…but the Allman Brothers have a song from the 70s entitled, “Hotlanta.” Doesn’t get more native than that.
profjock08
November 18th, 2009
11:23 am
I am told people in San Francisco hate being refered to as “Frisco” and in San Antonio it is bad form to say “San Antone”.
Hubiep
November 18th, 2009
11:24 am
“Hotlanta” is a hip term. Outsiders who use it are using it as a compliment and friendly gesture the same way they use “The ATL”. Don’t hate, appreciate!!
find something meaningful
November 18th, 2009
11:24 am
this is a waste of time
Ryno
November 18th, 2009
11:28 am
This is the smartest idea that has ever been developed on The Bert Show.
NSS
November 18th, 2009
11:29 am
Gag…not interested in this urban “hip” made up lingo.
Chris
November 18th, 2009
11:32 am
This is the only smart idea that has ever been developed on The Bert Show.
Nick
November 18th, 2009
11:33 am
Renee, its called them having way too much time on their hands. I still cant get over Ho thinking people are trying to be cool when they say it. He is evidently someone who spends his most of his time trying to look and sound cool. People probably just say it bc it is something they have heard the city called b4. Yeah, everybody is trying to impress you Rodney…lmao.
Class of '98
November 18th, 2009
11:34 am
Speak for yourself. I’m a native Atlantan and say “Hotlanta” all the time.
What I NEVER do is listen to the Bert Show.
Heather
November 18th, 2009
11:35 am
LAME! I totally agree with banning the term. It is a disease among the natives…
Mark's Mom
November 18th, 2009
11:38 am
I agree with your father, Mark, you ARE a douchebag!
Jack Sprat
November 18th, 2009
11:42 am
I am a 60-year old native Atlantan, grew up downtown during the ’60s and ’70s, followed the local music, etc., and Hotlanta was what WE Atlantans called it back then and is how we still remember the city. You “newcomers” or “transplants” or younger natives can call it what you like, but it will still be referred to as Hotlanta by people who have been attached to the city for decades. I don’t know where Rodney Ho is from, but obviously he doesn’t have roots back too far. And as far as calling it the “ATL”, it sickens me to think this great city has been reduced to being compared to a luggage tag at the airport. And while I’m on my soapbox, Shirley can take her “official song” and stick it where the sun don’t shine.
YAWN
November 18th, 2009
11:52 am
Wow…The Bert Show finally stopped being the Jerry Springer Show of radio with all their slutty relationship bits to conquer the terrible act of saying “HOTlanta”?!?!?!?!
I’m surprised. Usually all they do is have fame-wannabe women call in for advice on irrelevant and obvious relationship crap or family/friend drama. LIKE! TOTALLY! AND! OMG!!!
steverino
November 18th, 2009
11:52 am
What, as opposed to the ghetto and way-overused “the ATL?” Actually, Hotlanta is a throwback from the early ’70s and a little dittie from Little Feat called “Oh, Atlanta.”
“We make a day and how just you and me
But the music plays all night
They got the boogie band blowin’ that’s bound for hell
And when they get to movin’ they never stop
They just keep on playin’ that down home beat
They just keep on layin’ it down hot.”
And the audience would sing along “Yeah! Yeah! YEAH! Hotlanta! Got to get back you.”
Man, those were the days.
Ray Pugh
November 18th, 2009
11:55 am
Each member of the Bert Show should do the world a favor and A) slit their wrists, followed by B) jumping off Buford Dam…
Stu
November 18th, 2009
12:01 pm
Hotlanta it is
JimboDawg
November 18th, 2009
12:01 pm
should be called DAWG Atlanta or Mark Richt, Joe Cox Atlanta
LOL
November 18th, 2009
12:03 pm
None of them are from here… (california, NY, Florida and Tenn)..Hilarious how they try to speak for all Atlantns.. i don’t care about the Hotlanta term but they look stupid talking to Janet Jackson and celebrities about it.
ChopFan
November 18th, 2009
12:03 pm
I wish I got paid as much as Bert and his sidekicks to do something so meaningless. Who the hell cares?
devildawg
November 18th, 2009
12:03 pm
I use ‘the dirty’ or ‘the dirty dirty’ to describe Atlanta. Because with all the damn homeless people and thugs roamin around downtown, it is just that: Dirty.
thrustonhowell
November 18th, 2009
12:04 pm
Just get it over with and call it Blacklanta already.
brian
November 18th, 2009
12:04 pm
bert needs to get a life and stop acting like hes a somebody
Kelly
November 18th, 2009
12:09 pm
Hotlanta has been around for years. I remember buying a t-shirt in high school, probably around 91/92 at Stone Mountain with the phrase Hotlanta on it. However, that t-shirt was talking about the temps here. It even had a pin attached to it that was a thermometer. Fast forward to today…and it’s a word that is almost degrading to Atlanta. Let’s not use it a a gangsta or thug word of we have to keep it.
mike
November 18th, 2009
12:14 pm
the ppl on the bert show are not from atlanta.. they have been here like 6 or 7 years or something.. why are they our ambassador?
Nada
November 18th, 2009
12:15 pm
I call it MYLANTA.
BubbaDaBaller
November 18th, 2009
12:23 pm
Try the “Truthful” approach…the City “formerly know as Hotlanta, ATL, Terminus etc” shall now be know as “Corrupt, Decayed Infrastructure, Polluted, Inconsiderate (Cell Phone Call Delays AirTran Flt) and slow to answer 911 Calls”…it has a ring to it….”Atlanta 911, please hold”…
chellbell
November 18th, 2009
12:24 pm
This is the dumbest discussion.
Linda
November 18th, 2009
12:25 pm
Only rednecks use the term seriously!
Spacey
November 18th, 2009
12:26 pm
I never listen to that morning show and would not consider them an authority on anything Atlanta.
I met one of them at a bar in the Highlands several years ago. He hates this city and filled our table in on his opinion of the “ugly city” during his drunken rant.
What’s wrong with Hotlanta or ATL? Much better than that “Opening Day” stuff the city came up with several years ago.
WTH?
November 18th, 2009
12:28 pm
Jack Sprat first she has to pull that stick out!
just thinking...
November 18th, 2009
12:29 pm
Who is Bert? Does he have a show?
atlpaddy
November 18th, 2009
12:32 pm
I say we go back to calling it Marthasville, or Terminus for that matter. And yes, I am over 114 years old.
Annoyed
November 18th, 2009
12:32 pm
Bert Weiss is the most annoying “wannabe” in the city…….wait…Jimmy Barron is back on the air. Bert Weiss is the second most annoying person in Atalnta.
WTH?
November 18th, 2009
12:34 pm
NSS…isn’t GAG urban “hip”? you could’ve said vomit or gagging? hmmm. I guess you ment to say you don’t like “THAT” particular urban “hip’ lingo???
2Cents
November 18th, 2009
12:35 pm
I like the term Hotlanta. I’ve noticed recently that the AJC has been promoting the term “Big A” – and that sounds totally stupid. It’s Hotlanta to me.
RC Cola and a Moon Pie
November 18th, 2009
12:35 pm
as any true NOTlanta native would say, it’s not the heat, its the humidity.
so, let’s call it Muglanta…
Long Live ATLANTA
November 18th, 2009
12:36 pm
South of I-20 = THUGlanta
North of I-20 = North Metro Atlanta
5 Miles Outside I-285 = Georgia
Downtown Atlanta = Cesspool
As far as that “other” ghetto-trash nickname for our city…
Burn in H – E – L , A T L !!!
Huh???
November 18th, 2009
12:36 pm
I always thought Hotlanta was a compliment.
MMANTOD
November 18th, 2009
12:44 pm
Hotlanta is better than The ATL.
Now if we could stop Bert (and everyone else) from calling Virginia-Highlands “The Highlands”…
Godeacsbd
November 18th, 2009
12:48 pm
Hotlanta is a great Allman Bros tune.
It will always be Hotlanta to me. I don’t care what the yankees on the Bert Show say.
fes
November 18th, 2009
12:50 pm
the term is stupid. however, the bert show is far more stupid. most of us don’t care in the least what they have to say or what their agenda is.
JSF
November 18th, 2009
12:51 pm
I’m from Boston, now living here in Atlanta and I will take the name Hotlanta over Beantown anyday…
Heather
November 18th, 2009
12:59 pm
Such haters here, and for no reason. If you don’t like the show, don’t listen. If you don’t like the term, don’t use it. No reason to be so rude.
Lloyd Braun
November 18th, 2009
1:00 pm
I second: fAtlanta
yes, fAtlanta.
Mazel tov,
Brauny
Michael
November 18th, 2009
1:01 pm
No member of The Bert Show is even from Atlanta and they’re all stupid as hell. Who cares what they attempt to do? I hope Jeff rots in hell.
Tyrone Biggums
November 18th, 2009
1:03 pm
It’s not nearly as bad as people who call Nashville “Nashvegas”. I’ve even seen Tshirts.
HOTLANTA 4LIFE
November 18th, 2009
1:03 pm
I am a native from this great city we call the ATL. The name ‘HOTLANTA’ is nothing to be ashamed of. It is not a term referencing the temperature, although some believe that it is, and yes, it can get HOT in ATLANTA. My friends and I often use the term to refer to the Lovely, Beautiful, and HOT Sistas that you see in Atlanta. Just because Q100 don’t like the term, and might I add, they are probably transplants anyway, does not mean they have the right to tell everyone else to stop using it. I LOVE HOTLANTA!!!!
Sheree
November 18th, 2009
1:04 pm
Let your haters be your motivators, Hotlanta!
HOTLANTA 4LIFE
November 18th, 2009
1:05 pm
And another thing, Q100 need to stay in there own space, this is an urban term.
Rosie Perez
November 18th, 2009
1:05 pm
Allow me to summarize all of the above comments for you:
You stupid!
No, you stupid!
No, YOU stupid!
Atl Hawk
November 18th, 2009
1:08 pm
Dont holla at me, holla atlanta
Skins
November 18th, 2009
1:17 pm
We sure could use a great band like the Allman Bros to come around again. A 2010 version.
I know Austin gets all the attention these days, but the history here is undeniable.
Can’t wait to see who steps up and melts our faces off!
k
November 18th, 2009
1:17 pm
Virginia-Highland has typically been called ‘the Highlands’ – certainly better than VaHi as I’ve heard it referred to. I’ve lived in Atlanta since ‘81 (as well as being a native Georgian), and I’ve always heard it called Hotlanta, which I’ve always thought was silly, ‘ATL’ or ‘The ATL’ being a close second. I think the newer residents here seem more likely to call it as such. Atlanta is still fairly new on the radar as a place to live, really since the Olympics. We have ages to go before we’re truly as metropolitan as Chicago, New York, or other older cities in the country. Using a slang term in a certain manner to make it sound cool or hip is merely superficial, and doesn’t get the job done. It is simply – Atlanta.
Nina (The Real One0
November 18th, 2009
1:17 pm
This has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Really, trying to ban people from saying “Hotlanta” and “ATL”. Have you ever heard of free speech knucklehead. It is a term that was used during Atlanta’s hey dey in the mid 90’s after the Olympics. People referred to Atlanta as being “hot”, the place to be. I think the only reason why Q100 and people like this blogger want to stop it is because it has a hip hop urban connotation, along with ATL. I moved to Atlanta, because it was hip and hot. What shall we call it Lanta Gawga? Please, Q100 get over yourselves. Should we also ban, Spaghetti Junction, Brookwood Exchange, and others. I’ve never seen a sign that says Spaghetti Junction or Brookwood Exchange, nor have I seen a sign that say’s May-etta, but that’s what natives call Marrietta and Decatur is often refereed to as the “DEK”. And how the hell do you get Huston out of Houston, or La-Faye-ett and Buc-cannon. Get a life people, its Hotlanta to me, its hip and it can get awfully hot here in the summer time.:-)
Edward
November 18th, 2009
1:23 pm
OK, Whats wrong with Hotlanta. It has been called that for years for many reasons from the climate to the nightlife. During the Olympics when temps sored everyone talked about “HOTLANTA”…Leave it alone…Now what needs to stop is the friggin uneducated idiots who say “THE A-T-L” That is a retarded term with nothing but negative thuggish conotations. Oh yeah and by the way Q100 SUX
DogGoneGaDawg
November 18th, 2009
1:33 pm
I do believe that the term was once embraced by the city. But you may have been in diapers at the time. Back in the early 70’s there was a night spot which garnered the name “Hotlanta.” And the term was used quite often on rock radio stations back then. This may have been where the Allman Brothers Band hooked on. After all, Hotlanta was a favorite venue for the Brothers who played for money and for free with unannounced performances in city parks.
mark's' penis
November 18th, 2009
1:35 pm
I think Mark is a pretty cool guy.
eh gets embarrassed by mom and dad on the blogs and fears naught but fear itself.
k
November 18th, 2009
1:37 pm
To Nina(TheRealOne) -
Actually, Marietta natives call it May-Retta; you left out the R . . . While we’re at it, let’s not forget that Ponce de Leon is Ponce DE LEon, not Ponce de LeON; southerners can have a way of twisting things around sometimes!
WW
November 18th, 2009
1:46 pm
The summer of 1979 or 1980 was extremely dry and hot. “Hotlanta” was suppose to describe that summer, not anything current. Today it is like saying “Jinx” after someone farts.
Miss Smarty Pants
November 18th, 2009
1:50 pm
The AJC really sucks. What happened to journalism? Every time you open it there’s some glaring typo or a story copied from another major metro newspaper. The AJC is total trash.
DogGoneGaDawg
November 18th, 2009
1:50 pm
Oh, and by the way, the instrumental tune Hot Lanta, by the Allman Brothers was originally recorded live at the Filmore, New York. Why don’t you ask New Yorkers what they think of the name. It is obvious that they liked the song.
DogGoneGaDawg
November 18th, 2009
1:54 pm
Hey WW, if the term originated in 1979 how do you explain the term being used by a local night spot as early as 1972 and the Allman Brothers album by the same name circa 1971?
Jeff Chandler
November 18th, 2009
2:05 pm
The city spend money several years ago on a marketing tactic that worked! Leave it alone!
Lil
November 18th, 2009
2:08 pm
Ok well by effing with Jordan Knight you are effing with the entire NK army… really? we are a force to be reckoned with.
jkwhoa
November 18th, 2009
2:14 pm
LOL, I feel the same way about people who call San Francisco “Frisco”. Jordan Knight, please don’t ever do that.
Us crazy “frisco” hippies will come after you.
JDaveO
November 18th, 2009
2:15 pm
Wait, I missed something. This is interesting, amusing, or newsworthy WHY?
duke
November 18th, 2009
2:15 pm
As a native of Middle Georgia who is a little bit older than the Allman Brothers, I am pretty sure that I heard the term “Hotlanta” before anybody heard of the Allman Brothers. I graduated from High
School in 1964, and we used the term in that era. It is definitely a Georgia idiom. It is used in all sorts of senses, whichever way the speaker intends to refer to Atlanta. “I am going to Hotlanta” can be an enthusiastic announcement or invitation; but the term can also be sarcastic, an attitude often found in the less urban areas of the state.
LoriiB
November 18th, 2009
2:16 pm
Thanks to Jordan Knight I’ve discovered this article. I’ll use it for my English American Lessons :d
Gorgeous, really gorgeous.
Lori from Italy
Rochester
November 18th, 2009
2:16 pm
Where you bee’se stay at anyhow?
HottieMcHottieTot
November 18th, 2009
2:16 pm
YO Ho you need to get a grip on funky self! Ya little turd !
Vote For Pedro
November 18th, 2009
2:17 pm
ITS SHOTLANTA NOW BABY!
ZZZZZZZZ
November 18th, 2009
2:21 pm
Who cares!!
LoriiB
November 18th, 2009
2:22 pm
I do care!! go on guys..I love this post.
Fiddycent's twin white brother
November 18th, 2009
2:23 pm
This is important? Hey Bert, why not raise the issue of why our armed forces still don’t have the right equipment they need to be successful in the middle east!
Who really gives a rats patuty about the name Hotlanta? Really!
Mike
November 18th, 2009
2:28 pm
The last time I heard the term used, it was by someone who thought he was being clever by scheduling business trips to coincide with circuit parties. We were in Chicago and he said that he’d be coming down to “Hotlanta.” I replied, “oh, that IS the same weekend you’ll be there, isn’t it?”
Another one that’s just as bad is referring to the area around Augusta as “Georgia-Lina.” Is that the sister of the pouty-lipped flight attendant who does the Delta safety video?
ChippersLoveChild
November 18th, 2009
2:40 pm
Sigh…. I wish I hadn’t wasted my time reading this…
Monica
November 18th, 2009
2:43 pm
Hotlanta, Hotlanta, Hotlanta! So, why is it you sell souvenirs that say Hotlanta? Who really cares!?! I think there are worse problems in this world! And lay off Jordan Knight! =)
Horsetoothedjackass
November 18th, 2009
2:54 pm
Further proof of how relevant local radio is. Nothing more than a look at me publicity stunt.
Rich
November 18th, 2009
3:01 pm
Dumb publicity stunt by the radio station.
lkweugf
November 18th, 2009
3:03 pm
q100 and the bert show should be shut down. that would get rid of 2 more stupid things in the ATL
Jason
November 18th, 2009
3:07 pm
The comments are priceless. Thanks for the laugh, and congrats Q100 on generating all the buzz.
jg
November 18th, 2009
3:10 pm
I like MYLANTA – that is funny but in all honesty who cares ya know!? Tell Bert to go back to Ernie and just play with his paperclips and pigeons and he will find happiness in Atlanta-Hotlanta-Shotlanta-ROTlanta-RACElanta
Uncle Tom
November 18th, 2009
3:21 pm
“Hotlanta” is about as old as Freaknik. Hoody or Hoodie?
Usher
November 18th, 2009
3:27 pm
Hot Lanta is da place 2 be! It’s da shizzle in da fizzle!! Get wit it!