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"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"
Released	November 12, 1996 (1996-11-12)
Length	4:17
Label	EastWest
Songwriter(s)	Lana Moorer Melissa Elliott Nile Rodgers Bernard Edwards
Producer(s)	Rashad "Ringo" Smith (original) Sean "Puffy" Combs (remix)
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". It was released in November 1996 by East West Records.

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.

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". Peter Miro from Cash Box named it a "gem" of the Bad As I Wanna B album. A reviewer from Music Week gave the song a top score of five out of five, writing 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." Also DJ Freshy-D from Smash Hits gave "Cold Rock a Party" five out of five, naming it "one of the most kickin' hip hop tracks since ooh, The Fugees' last one." He added that Lyte "adds a sassy girls' kick-ass vibe that makes the choon so wicked. 'All the laydees, all the laydees, all the laydees in the house say, HO!'"

Track listings

• US CD single

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

• US cassette single

1. "Cold Rock a Party" (Bad Boy remix—clean radio edit) – 4:05
2. "Have U Ever" (LP version) – 3:33

• European cassette single

1. "Cold Rock a Party" (Bad Boy remix—clean radio edit) – 4:11
2. "Cold Rock a Party" (original version—clean) – 4:17

• European and Australian maxi-CD single

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

Release history

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. "Bangin' Choons". Smash Hits. January 1, 1997. p. 59. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
6. 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)
7. 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)
8. 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)
9. Cold Rock a Party (European & Australian maxi-CD 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)
10. "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
11. "MC Lyte Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
12. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 12. March 22, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
13. "MC Lyte: Cold Rock a Party" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
14. "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party" (in French). Les classement single.
15. "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
16. "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.
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18. "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
19. "MC Lyte – Cold Rock a Party". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
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23. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
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26. "MC Lyte Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
27. "MC Lyte Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
28. "MC Lyte Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
29. "MC Lyte Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
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31. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
32. "End of Year Charts 1997". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
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36. "1997 The Year in Music: Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-42.
37. "1997 The Year in Music: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-45.
38. "Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 42.
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• 1995 songs
• 1996 singles
• East West Records singles
• MC Lyte songs
• Missy Elliott songs
• Number-one singles in New Zealand
• Songs written by Bernard Edwards
• Songs written by Missy Elliott
• Songs written by Nile Rodgers
• Songs written by MC Lyte