"Cold Rock a Party"
Single by MC Lyte featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
from the album Bad As I Wanna B
B-side
  • "Have U Ever"
  • "Paper Thin"
ReleasedNovember 12, 1996 (1996-11-12)
Length4:17
LabelEastWest
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
MC Lyte singles chronology
"Keep On, Keepin' On"
(1996) 		"Cold Rock a Party"
(1996) 		"Everyday"
(1997)
Missy Elliott singles chronology
"You Don't Have to Worry"
(1996) 		"Cold Rock a Party"
(1996) 		"Can We"
(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 No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of more than 500,000 copies. To date, 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

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] Platinum 10,000*
United States (RIAA)[40] Gold 600,000[39]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States November 12, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
 EastWest [41][42]
November 19, 1996 Rhythmic contemporary radio [43]
United Kingdom January 6, 1997
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [44]

References

  1. ^ Caulfield, Kevin (5 February 2000). "Nile by Numbers: A Life on the Charts". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 6. p. 64. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (November 9, 1996). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 45. p. 68. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  3. ^ Miro, Peter (September 14, 1996). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 21, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Cold Rock a Party (US CD single liner notes). MC Lyte. EastWest Records. 1996. 63985-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Cold Rock a Party (US cassette single sleeve). MC Lyte. EastWest Records. 1996. 64212-4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Cold Rock a Party (European cassette single sleeve). MC Lyte. EastWest Records. 1996. 7559-64203-4.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Cold Rock a Party (European & Australian maxi-single liner notes). MC Lyte. EastWest Records. 1996. A 3975CD, 7559 63975-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  10. ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 12. March 22, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "MC Lyte: Cold Rock a Party" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  13. ^ "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party" (in French). Les classement single.
  14. ^ "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 206 Vikuna 30.1. '97 – 5.2. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 31, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  17. ^ "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  18. ^ "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  20. ^ "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party". Singles Top 100.
  21. ^ "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party". Swiss Singles Chart.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  23. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  24. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  25. ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  26. ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  27. ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  28. ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  29. ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  30. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  31. ^ "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  32. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1997" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  33. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
  34. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  35. ^ "1997 The Year in Music: Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-42.
  36. ^ "1997 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-45.
  37. ^ "Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 42.
  38. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party". Recorded Music NZ.
  39. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 5. January 31, 1998. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  40. ^ "American single certifications – MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party". Recording Industry Association of America.
  41. ^ "Cold Rock a Party / Have You Ever > MC Lyte". Amazon.com. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  42. ^ "Cold Rock a Party". Amazon.com. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  43. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1172. November 15, 1996. p. 42. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  44. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 28, 1996. p. 19. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
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