Party Like a Rockstar

"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 mid-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]

"Party Like a Rockstar"
Single by Shop Boyz
from the album Rockstar Mentality
B-side	"They Like Me"
Released	February 19, 2007 (US)
Recorded	2007
Genre	Hip hop, rap rock
Length	4:13 (album version) 4:08 (short edit)
Label	On 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)

For a time, "Party Like a Rockstar" was the most played rhythmic, and rap song in the United States, according to Radio & Records.^[3] In foreign countries, the song also gained airplay in the UK on BBC Radio 1, and was added to the B-List on its playlist.^[4]

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 intercut 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 American 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 dissimilar.^[5] In the Billboard issue dated May 26, 2007, the Shop Boyz were at number 54 on the Hot 100 due to heavy 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.^[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]

Remixes

The song was officially remixed featuring verses from fellow hip hop 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 line from Lil Wayne's verse in this remix was later used in The Game's 2011 single "Martians vs. Goblins", with Lil Wayne being officially credited as a feature on the Game's track.

A unofficial remix was produced by crunk music legend Lil Jon. Additionally there were also "freestyles" recorded by hip hop 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.^[9] The song was covered by Kidz Bop, but also featured in the 13th album.

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Party Like a Rockstar"

Chart (2007)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[10]	81
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[11]	23
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	151
US Billboard Hot 100^[13]	2
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[14]	3
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[15]	10
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)^[16]	1
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[17]	1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Party Like a Rockstar"

Chart (2007)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100^[18]	14
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[19]	27
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[20]	10

Certifications

Certifications for "Party Like a Rockstar"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[21] digital	Platinum	1,000,000^*
United States (RIAA)^[22] Mastertone	3× Platinum	3,000,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Jason 'Pit' Pittman Credits". Artistdirect. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
2. "Recording Guitar on Party Like A Rockstar and The Rockman". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
3. R&R - Radio & Records, Inc June 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
4. "Upfront – Radio Playlists" (PDF). Music Week. August 18, 2007. p. 14. Retrieved November 29, 2022. See page 20 in the PDF.
5. Garrity, Brian (May 18, 2007). "Shop Boyz Track Has Surprise Rival On Hot 100". Billboard magazine. Retrieved June 21, 2007.
6. "Top 100 Songs | Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
7. "Volume 16 (July 2004)". Music.
8. Timmons, Eric (June 2, 2007). "Freak Nasty Responds". Billboard magazine.
9. DX Staff (October 14, 2008). "Party Like A Rockstar Producer Forms 'The Haters'". HipHop DX. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
10. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 251.
11. "Shop Boyz Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
12. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: DJ S - The System Of Life". Zobbel.de. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
13. "Shop Boyz Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
14. "Shop Boyz Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
15. "Shop Boyz Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
16. "Shop Boyz Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
17. "Shop Boyz Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
18. "Billboard Hot 100 Year-End 2007". Retrieved April 15, 2012.
19. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
20. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
21. "American single certifications – Shop Boyz – Party Like A Rockstar". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
22. "American ringtone certifications – Shop Boyz – Party Like A Rockstar". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 4, 2022.