Party Like a Rockstar

"Party Like a Rockstar" is a song by American hip hop group Shop Boyz. It was released as the lead single from their debut album Rockstar Mentality (2007). It reached high success during summer 2007 and was successful in the United States, peaking in the top five on 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.

"Party Like a Rockstar"
Single by Shop Boyz
from the album Rockstar Mentality
B-side"They Like Me"
ReleasedMay 11, 2007 (U.S.)
FormatCD single, 12" Single
Recorded2007
GenreSouthern hip 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 Stephens, 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)

The song is based around two electric guitar riffs (taken from "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne).[2] It also makes references to certain rock figures such as Marilyn Manson, The Osbournes, Kiss, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Travis Barker.

For a time, "Party Like a Rockstar" was the most played rhythmic, and rap song in the United States, according to Radio & Records.[3] It was featured in the video game NBA Live 08.[4]

The official remix features Lil Wayne, Jim Jones and Chamillionaire with more guitar riffs included. Jones' verse didn't make it to iTunes' remix, although Lil Wayne's verse and Chamillionaire's verse did. Another unofficial remix has been produced by Lil Jon and Swedish composer Jay Orpin, who also wrote the first remix. There is also a freestyle version by J. R. Writer of Dipset as well as a remix by Trina and another one by rapper Bow Wow.

The song gained some airplay in the UK on BBC Radio 1, and was added to the B-List on its playlist.

Music video

The video 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-mixed 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 appears in the song's music 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 decade 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.[5] 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).[6]

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."[7]

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."[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. DX Staff (October 14, 2008). "Party Like A Rockstar Producer Forms 'The Haters'". HipHop DX. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  5. Garrity, Brian (2007-05-18). "Shop Boyz Track Has Surprise Rival On Hot 100". Billboard magazine. Retrieved 2007-06-21.
  6. "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
  7. "Volume 16 (July 2004)". Music.
  8. Timmons, Eric (2007-06-02). "Freak Nasty Responds". Billboard magazine.
  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.
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