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".[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]
^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)
^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)
^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)
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".[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]
^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)
^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)
^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)