Party Like a Rockstar

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"Party Like a Rockstar"
PartyLikeARockstar.JPG
Single by Shop Boyz
from the album Rockstar Mentality
B-side"They Like Me"
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2007 (U.S.)
Recorded2007
GenreHip hop, rap rock
Length4:13 (Album Version), 4:08 (Short Edit)
LabelOn Deck, Universal Motown
Songwriter(s)Demetrius "Meany" Hardin, Rasheed "Sheed" Hightower, Jason Vories Pittman, Richard "Fat" Stephens, Brian D Ward, William Whedbee
Producer(s)Jason “Pit” Pittman[1]
Shop Boyz singles chronology
"Party Like a Rockstar"
(2007) 		"They Like Me"
(2007)

"Party Like a Rockstar" is a song by American hip hop group Shop Boyz. It was released as their commercial debut single and also served as the lead single from their debut album Rockstar Mentality (2007). It reached huge success during the summer of 2007, namely in the United States, peaking in the top five of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, and Hot 100 charts. The song was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 50th Grammy Awards.[2]

For a time, "Party Like a Rockstar" was the most played rhythmic, and rap song in the United States, according to Radio & Records.[3] The song also gained airplay in the UK on BBC Radio 1, and was added to the B-List on its playlist.[citation needed]

Music and lyrics[]

The rap rock song was produced by Jason “Pit” Pittman. Lyrically the song makes references to prominent rock music figures such as Marilyn Manson, The Osbournes, Kiss, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Travis Barker.

Music video[]

The music video for the song opens with a clip of the group performing doughnuts in a black 1968 Pontiac GTO. It then progresses to show the group performing at a crowded concert, with inter-spliced clips of an actual rock band playing and clips of the group performing in a hotel room reminiscent of Avenged Sevenfold's hit song "Bat Country", both of which were directed by Marc Klasfeld. Cristal Athena Steverson from VH1's Flavor of Love and Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, as well as LaLa Brown make cameo appearances in the video.

Chart performance[]

"Party Like a Rockstar" was a mid-charting hit in the United States as an airplay-only single. Confusion ensued, however, when a similarly titled song by hip hop artist Freak Nasty (who had his own hit a years earlier with Da' Dip) titled "Do It Just Like a Rock Star", was erroneously listed in the U.S. iTunes Store with the title "Party Like a Rockstar". This led to Freak Nasty's song, recorded in 2005, selling approximately 30,000 digital downloads even though his track was completely different.[4] In the Billboard issue dated May 26, 2007, the Shop Boyz were at number 54 on the Hot 100 due to strong airplay while Freak Nasty was number 56 due to strong sales. The following week, after the Shop Boyz had an official digital release of their single, "Party Like a Rockstar" shot to number two while Freak Nasty dropped completely off the chart. After its jump, "Party Like a Rockstar" managed to remain in the runner-up spot for a total of six weeks, being held from the top spot by Rihanna's song "Umbrella" (featuring Jay-Z).[5]

Critical performance[]

Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club stated that the song was "one of my favorite guilty pleasures of the past few years: “Party Like A Rockstar” by Shop Boyz, a hip-hop group whose conception of the rock-star mentality—which not so coincidentally is also the name of its debut album—began and ended with smashing guitars, staying up late, and saying “totally” or “dude” every other sentence."[6]

Amid accusations of Freak Nasty taking advantage of the popularity of the Shop Boyz song, he responded in Billboard magazine's letters to the editor, stating in part, "I expect any artist that's signed to a major to do far better than any independent artist. Unlike Shop Boyz, I don't have a video. I also don't have any radio play or marketing. They do. My song sounds totally different from theirs, and our names are distinctly different. So how can consumers be confused? I have much love and respect for Shop Boyz, and I would never do anything to block their shine."[7]

Remixes[]

The song was officially remixed featuring verses from fellow American rappers Lil Wayne, Jim Jones and Chamillionaire, with more guitar riffs included. Jones' verse however does not appear on the official iTunes release of the remix.[citation needed] A unofficial remix was produced by crunk music legend Lil Jon. Additionally there were also “freestyles” released by American rappers J. R. Writer of Dipset, Trina and Bow Wow.[citation needed]

In media[]

The song was featured in the video game NBA Live 08.[8]

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] 23
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 2
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 3
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[12] 10
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[13] 1
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[14] 1

End of year charts[]

Charts (2007) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 14
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 27
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[17] 10

References[]

  1. ^ "Jason 'Pit' Pittman Credits". Artistdirect. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  2. ^ "Recording Guitar on Party Like A Rockstar and The Rockman" – via www.youtube.com.
  3. ^ R&R - Radio & Records, Inc Archived 2009-06-02 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Garrity, Brian (2007-05-18). "Shop Boyz Track Has Surprise Rival On Hot 100". Billboard magazine. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  5. ^ "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Volume 16 (July 2004)". Music.
  7. ^ Timmons, Eric (2007-06-02). "Freak Nasty Responds". Billboard magazine.
  8. ^ DX Staff (October 14, 2008). "Party Like A Rockstar Producer Forms 'The Haters'". HipHop DX. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  9. ^ "Shop Boyz Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  10. ^ "Shop Boyz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  11. ^ "Shop Boyz Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  12. ^ "Shop Boyz Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  13. ^ "Shop Boyz Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  14. ^ "Shop Boyz Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  15. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 Year-End 2007". Retrieved 2012-04-15.
  16. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  17. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.

External links[]

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