The 'Smooth' meme originates from the 1999 hit single by Santana featuring Rob Thomas, which dominated the airwaves and won multiple Grammys. The meme specifically targets the song's opening line, 'Man, it's a hot one,' often used to describe literal heatwaves, spicy food, or controversial opinions known as 'hot takes.' Over the years, the song's enduring popularity and Rob Thomas's distinct vocal delivery have turned the track into a symbol of late-90s nostalgia and peak 'smoothness.' It is frequently used in image macros where someone looks particularly suave or when a situation is escalating in intensity, mirroring the song's sultry, Latin-rock energy.