Cold Rock a Party explained

Cold Rock a Party
Cover:Cold Rock a Party.jpg
Type:single
Artist:MC Lyte featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
Album:Bad As I Wanna B
B-Side:
  • "Have U Ever"
  • "Paper Thin"
Length:4:17
Label:EastWest
Producer:
  • Rashad "Ringo" Smith (original)
  • Sean "Puffy" Combs (remix)
Chronology:MC Lyte
Prev Title:Keep On, Keepin' On
Prev Year:1996
Next Title:Everyday
Next Year:1997

"Cold Rock a Party" is the lead single released from American rapper MC Lyte's fifth studio album, Bad As I Wanna B (1996). While the original version of the song that appears on the album was produced by Rashad Smith and samples Audio Two's "Top Billin", the single version features Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, was produced by Sean Combs, and samples Diana Ross' 1980 hit "Upside Down".[1]

The song became MC Lyte's second-highest-charting single in the United States (after her previous single "Keep On, Keepin' On"), peaking at 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over 600,000 units by the end of 1997. It is MC Lyte's last single to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. "Cold Rock a Party" also became a hit in several other countries, including New Zealand, where it reached No. 1 for two weeks.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described "Cold Rock a Party" as "a classic party rocker", noting that it is combining "Lyte's melodic flow" with the high-powered instrumental to "Upside Down".[2] Peter Miro from Cash Box declared it a "gem" of the Bad As I Wanna B album.[3] A reviewer from Music Week rated the song five out of five, adding that the veteran female rapper "returns with a hip hop biggie", that is "already receiving big club and media exposure. A good bet for the charts."[4]

Track listings

  1. "Cold Rock a Party" (Bad Boy remix—main version) – 4:37
  2. "Cold Rock a Party" (Bad Boy remix—MC Lyte main version) – 4:37
  3. "Cold Rock a Party" (original album version) – 4:17
  4. "Have U Ever" (album version) – 3:33
  5. "Cold Rock a Party" (Milk remix) – 3:19
  6. "Paper Thin" (album version) – 5:14
  1. "Cold Rock a Party" (Bad Boy remix—clean radio edit) – 4:05
  2. "Have U Ever" (LP version) – 3:33
  1. "Cold Rock a Party" (Bad Boy remix—clean radio edit) – 4:11
  2. "Cold Rock a Party" (original version—clean) – 4:17
  1. "Cold Rock a Party" (Bad Boy remix—clean radio edit) – 4:05
  2. "Cold Rock a Party" (Bad Boy remix—main version) – 4:37
  3. "Cold Rock a Party" (original version—clean) – 4:17
  4. "Cold Rock a Party" (Milk remix) – 3:19
  5. "Cold Rock a Party" (Bad Boy remix—a cappella) – 4:17

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996–1997)Peak
position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[9] 11
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 38
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[11] 15

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)Position
Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 95
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 93
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 61
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[16] 34
US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[17] 3
US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[18] 16
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[19] 52

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesNovember 12, 1996EastWest[20] [21]
November 19, 1996Rhythmic contemporary radio[22]
United KingdomJanuary 6, 1997[23]

Notes and References

  1. Nile by Numbers: A Life on the Charts. Caulfield. Kevin. Billboard. 112. 6. 64. 5 February 2000. 0006-2510.
  2. Single Reviews. Flick. Larry. Larry Flick. Billboard. 108. 45. 68. November 9, 1996. February 5, 2020.
  3. Peter. Miro. Urban. Cash Box. September 14, 1996. 11. November 15, 2022.
  4. Reviews: Singles . . December 21, 1996 . 12 . October 6, 2021.
  5. Cold Rock a Party. MC Lyte. 1996. US CD single liner notes. EastWest Records. 63985-2.
  6. Cold Rock a Party. MC Lyte. 1996. US cassette single sleeve. EastWest Records. 64212-4.
  7. Cold Rock a Party. MC Lyte. 1996. European cassette single sleeve. EastWest Records. 7559-64203-4.
  8. Cold Rock a Party. MC Lyte. 1996. European & Australian maxi-CD single liner notes. EastWest Records. A 3975CD, 7559 63975-2.
  9. MC Lyte Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs). Billboard. November 30, 2018.
  10. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 14. 12. 17. March 22, 1997. March 3, 2020.
  11. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 206 Vikuna 30.1. '97 – 5.2. '97). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 16. January 31, 1997. July 11, 2018.
  12. Web site: Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997. GfK Entertainment. de. April 17, 2018.
  13. Web site: End of Year Charts 1997. Recorded Music NZ. May 12, 2020.
  14. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 1997. Sverigetopplistan. sv. May 12, 2020.
  15. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1997. May 19, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090611194337/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1997. June 11, 2009.
  16. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1997. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20210725010648/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1997/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs. July 25, 2021. May 15, 2020.
  17. 1997 The Year in Music: Hot Rap Singles. Billboard. 109. 52. YE-42. December 27, 1997.
  18. 1997 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales. Billboard. 109. 52. YE-45. December 27, 1997.
  19. Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles. Airplay Monitor. 5. 52. 42. December 26, 1997.
  20. Web site: Cold Rock a Party / Have You Ever > MC Lyte. Amazon.com. April 5, 2013.
  21. Web site: Cold Rock a Party. Amazon.com. August 24, 2021.
  22. New Releases. Radio & Records. 1172. 42. November 15, 1996. August 24, 2021.
  23. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 19. December 28, 1996. August 24, 2021.

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