Did The Shop Boyz Change The Game With “Party Like A Rockstar?” No, But It’s Still A Classic. By: Nick Zablocki

Did The Shop Boyz Change The Game With “Party Like A Rockstar?” No, But It’s Still A Classic.

By: Nick Zablocki

            Hey folks, Happy Monday. I know I usually handle the Friday article, but, do to some “annoying circumstances” I’m filling in today as well. You can still expect Part 3 of my deep dive into Eminem’s discography later in the week on my usual Friday post. But, today I wanted to focus on a cult classic, diamond in the rough track from the mid-2000s. By all metrics, this track is a one hit wonder, but, that title diminishes the impact that this song had during it’s run in 2007. I, OF COURSE, am talking about Shop Boyz’ infamous hit, “Party Like A Rockstar.”

            Flashback with me, if you will, to the summer of 2007. Barack Obama hasn’t became the first black president yet. Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em hasn’t released “Crank That” yet. It was a different era. Dominating the airwaves was “Party Like A Rockstar.” Radio stations couldn’t stop playing this infectious track, and can you blame them, what more could you want? There were radical guitar riffs, grandiose claims by rap-nobodies, a sick, old school youtube lyric video with lightning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYDTbdX1qt4 This song had a peak performance like few others. Some of my favorite claims include “Shop Boyz, rock stars/yeah we ‘bout to change the game.” and “I’m on a yacht with Marilyn Manson, gettin’ a tan maaan!” My response to both of those is “No. No you’re not.” As hip-hop fans, I’m sure you know that the Shop Boyz did not change the game, literally at all. And, I find it extremely doubtful that they were important enough to ever end up on a yacht, or with Marilyn Manson, let alone having both happen.

            Still, this song was nominated for best rap performance by a duo or group at the 50th Grammy Awards. You think I’m shitting you, but, I’m totally not. Go look it up. It’s incredible. Not only that, it got the ultimate blessing a song could receive from 2006-2009, it got a remix with Lil Wayne. Jim Jones and Chamillionaire were also on the remix. Chamillionaire has the best verse, by far. Shop Boyz really showed out in 2007 with this remix. Fuck man, this shit still bangs to this day.

            It’s a shame the Shop Boyz never amounted to anything after this, but, maybe they didn’t have to. This track is a masterpiece. Some artists take years, even decades to make their magnum opus, Shop Boyz did it with their first hit. There’s something to be said about that.