"Throw It Back"
Single by Missy Elliott
from the EP Iconology
ReleasedAugust 23, 2019 (2019-08-23)
GenreHip hop
Length3:13
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
  • Michael Aristotle
  • William Jared Buggs
  • Missy Elliott
  • Quintin Ernest Talbert
Producer(s)Willi Hendrix
Missy Elliott singles chronology
"Tempo"
(2019) 		"Throw It Back"
(2019) 		"DripDemeanor"
(2019)

"Throw It Back" is a song recorded by American rapper Missy Elliott for her first extended play Iconology (2019). The song was released as EP's lead single on August 23, 2019.[1][2]

Composition

"Throw It Back" was written by Elliott, Quintin Ernest Talbet, Michael Aristotle, and William Jared Buggs, while production was handled by Willi Hendrix.[3] Musically, "Throw It Back" has been described as a "woozy, futuristic romp" containing "distorted bass lines", frenetic production",[4] and trap snares.[5] Lyrically, "Throw It Back" contains references to Elliott's history, as well as previous collaborators Tweet and Heavy D,[5] and Elliott's 2002 single "Work It".[6]

Critical reception

Jordan Darville of The Fader, named "Throw It Back" "the standout track" from Iconology.[7]

Music video

A music video for "Throw It Back" was released alongside Iconology. It contains a guest appearance from Teyana Taylor.[8] The video begins with a young girl waking up in a museum with paintings of the rapper. After entering a foggy room, Elliott appears with several dancers and cheerleaders in colorful outfits and afros.[6] The video also contains references to Elliott's career, similar to the lyrical content.[9] Anika Reed of USA Today described the video as "[shwoing] Elliott's unwavering authenticity" and "celebrating blackness".[10] Katherine J. Igoe, writing for Marie Claire, called the video "a complete return to form" for Elliott.[9]

Personnel

Adapted from Iconology's liner notes.[3]

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Canadian Hot Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[11] 34
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[12] 37
Scotland (OCC)[13] 83
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[14] 57
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[15] 1
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[16] 24
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 37

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, and reference
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States August 23, 2019 Digital download Atlantic [1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b "First Stream: New Music From Taylor Swift, Missy Elliott, Brockhampton & More". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Missy Elliott drops surprise 'Iconology' EP and new single 'Throw It Back'". ABC News. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Iconology (liner notes). Atlantic Records. 2019.
  4. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (August 22, 2019). "Missy Elliott's Iconology Marks the Triumphant Return of a Hip-Hop Visionary". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Johnson, Maura (August 23, 2019). "On Iconography, Missy Elliott Is Still Blazing a Trail for Pop Weirdness". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Penrose, Nerisha. "Cancel All Music Videos Today Because Missy Elliott's 'Throw It Back' Is the Only One That Matters". Elle. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  7. ^ Darville, Jordan. "Missy Elliott's "Throw It Back" video is instantly iconic, obviously". The Fader. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  8. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (August 23, 2019). "Missy Elliott Drops 'ICONOLOGY' Project and 'Throw It Back' Video". Yahoo! News. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Igoe, Katherine. "Missy Elliott's New Music Video for "Throw It Back" Is a Visual Feast". Marie Claire. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  10. ^ Reed, Anika. "Missy Elliott claims her icon status with new 'Iconology' EP, 'Throw It Back' music video". USA Today. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  11. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  12. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  13. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  16. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  17. ^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
Categories