"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]
"Cold Rock a Party" | ||||
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Single by MC Lyte featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott | ||||
from the album Bad As I Wanna B | ||||
B-side |
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Released | November 12, 1996 | |||
Length | 4:17 | |||
Label | EastWest | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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MC Lyte singles chronology | ||||
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Missy Elliott singles chronology | ||||
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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), 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.
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]
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] | Platinum | 10,000* |
United States (RIAA)[40] | Gold | 600,000[39] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
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United States | November 12, 1996 |
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EastWest | [41][42] |
November 19, 1996 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | [43] | ||
United Kingdom | January 6, 1997 |
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[44] |
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