It's a Party (Busta Rhymes song)

"It's a Party"
Single by Busta Rhymes featuring Zhané
from the album The Coming
A-side
  • It's a Party (AllStar Remix)
B-side
ReleasedJune 4, 1996
RecordedSummer 1995
StudioSoundtrack Studios, New York City
Genre
Length
  • 5:53
  • 4:38 (single)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Busta Rhymes singles chronology
"Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check (The World Wide Remix)"
(1996) 		"It's a Party"
(1996) 		"Wild for da Night"
(1996)
Zhané singles chronology
"Vibe"
(1994) 		"It's a Party"
(1996) 		"4 More"
(1997)
Music video
"It's a Party" on YouTube

"It's a Party" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes featuring American R&B duo Zhané. It was released as the second single from Rhymes' debut studio album The Coming on June 4, 1996, by Flipmode Entertainment and Elektra Records. The song was written by Rhymes and Zhané member Rene Neufville, and produced by Easy Mo Bee. Peaking at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100, it was a moderate success. The song was released as a double A-side single with several remixes and the album cut "Ill Vibe" featuring fellow rapper Q-Tip, which also appears on The Coming, as its B-side.

Background

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After former group Leaders of the New School broke up, Rhymes had problems with recording a full album on his own. Rhymes called up A Tribe Called Quest-member and mentor Q-Tip asking for help. After seven months of frustration, he finally came up with the idea that would become the skit after "It's a Party".[1]

"It's a Party" marks the second collaboration between Busta Rhymes and producer Easy Mo Bee after he previously produced the remix to Craig Mack's "Flava in Ya Ear" and 1995 single "The Points". The song precessed Rhymes' collaborations with Janet Jackson on "What's It Gonna Be?!" and Mariah Carey on "I Know What You Want".[2]

Composition

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"It's a Party" was composed in 4
4 time and the key of F minor, with a tempo of 178 beats per minute.[3] It has a duration time of five minutes and fifty-three seconds.

Critical reception

[edit]

Daryl McIntosh of Albumism noted that the song shows that Busta Rhymes "could entertain more than just the 'hard-knocks' at the party [and] now captur[es] the ladies' attention". He added that "the late-night gem added a new chapter to the growing legend of Busta Rhymes".[4]

Music video

[edit]

The official music video for "It's a Party" was directed by Marcus Raboy and depicts Busta Rhymes and Zhané at a party. Flipmode-members Spliff Star and Rampage make cameo appearances.

Track listing

[edit]

United States 12" single

[edit]
Side A[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."It's a Party" (LP Version featuring Zhané)
4:38
2."It's a Party (AllStar Remix)" (featuring SWV)
4:10
3."It's a Party (The Ummah Remix)" (featuring Zhané)
4:17
4."It's a Party" (LP Version Instrumental) 
4:40
5."It's a Party (AllStar Remix)" (Instrumental) 
4:32
6."It's a Party (AllStar Remix)" (Acapella featuring SWV)
 4:03
Side B[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ill Vibe" (LP Version featuring Q-Tip)
3:40
2."Ill Vibe (The Ummah Remix)" (featuring Q-Tip)
3:38
3."Ill Vibe" (LP Version Instrumental) 
3:41
4."Ill Vibe (The Ummah Remix)" (Instrumental) 
4:17
5."Ill Vibe" (Acapella featuring Q-Tip)
 3:05
Total length:44:41

United Kingdom 12" single

[edit]
Side A[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."It's a Party (Soul Inside Radio Mix)" (featuring Zhané)
  • Dodge
4:24[7]
2."It's a Party (Soul Inside Work Permit Mix)" (featuring Zhané)
  • Dodge
4:24[7]
Side B[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."It's a Party (AllStar Remix)" (featuring SWV)
4:10[7]
2."It's a Party (The Ummah Remix)" (featuring Zhané)
4:16[7]
Total length:17:14

United Kingdom CD single

[edit]
[7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."It's a Party (Soul Inside Radio Mix)" (featuring Zhané)
  • Dodge
4:24
2."It's a Party" (LP Radio Edit featuring Zhané)
4:26
3."It's a Party (Soul Inside Work Permit Mix)" (featuring Zhané)
  • Dodge
4:24
4."It's a Party (The Ummah Remix)" (featuring Zhané)
4:16
5."It's a Party" (Acapella Clean Version featuring Zhané)
 4:27
6."It's a Party (AllStar Remix)" (featuring SWV)
4:10
Total length:26:07

Charts

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Chart (1996) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 34
Scotland (OCC)[9] 75
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[10] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 23
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 52
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[13] 7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] 27
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[15] 7

References

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  1. ^ "Talib Kweli & Busta Rhymes Talk ELE: 2, J Dilla, Q-Tip, Kendrick, 5% & Chuck D | People's Party Full". YouTube. December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Bell, Max (March 25, 2021). "How Busta Rhymes Harnessed the Dungeon Dragon on His Classic Debut". The Ringer. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  3. ^ "Key & BPM for It's a Party". Tunebat. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  4. ^ McIntosh, Daryl (March 24, 2021). "Busta Rhymes' Debut Solo Album 'The Coming' Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Busta Rhymes – It's a Party (United States 12" single)". Discogs. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Busta Rhymes – It's a Party (United Kingdom 12" single)". Discogs. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Busta Rhymes – It's a Party (United Kingdom CD single)". Discogs. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  8. ^ "Busta Rhymes feat. Zhane – It's A Party". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  10. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  11. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  12. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  13. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  14. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  15. ^ "Busta Rhymes Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
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