I Go On
{{short description|1993 single by MC Lyte}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I Go On
| cover = File:I Go On MC Lyte.jpg
| caption = Side A of the US 12-inch vinyl
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = MC Lyte
| album = Ain't No Other
| B-side = Ruffneck (Beatnut Remix)
| released = November 4, 1993{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/i-go-on-vinyl-single-mr0001280360|title=MC Lyte - I Go On [Vinyl Single] (12 inch Vinyl Single - Atlantic #95995)|website=AllMusic}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 4:47
| label =
| writer =
- Lana Moorer
- Aqil Davidson
- Tyrone Fyffe
- Franklin Grant{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/390529150|title=ASCAP Repertory entry for this song |work=ASCAP|accessdate=April 14, 2021 }}
| producer =
- Markell Riley
- Tyrone Fyffe
- Franklin Grant
| prev_title = Ruffneck
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = Keep On Keepin' On
| next_year = 1996
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Cover in cassette format
| type = single
| cover = I Go On Single.webp
| caption =
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|h0HwI_B4MM0|"I Go On"}}}}
}}
"I Go On" is the second and final single from MC Lyte's fourth album Ain't No Other. Produced by Tyrone Fyffe, Franklin Grant and Wreckx-n-Effect's Markell Riley, it was released on November 4, 1993.
As in her previous single, the lyrics focus on talking about her sexuality although now as part of a smooth production.{{cite web|url=https://www.albumism.com/features/lest-we-forget-mc-lyte-aint-no-other |website=Albumism |date=January 3, 2019 |accessdate=June 16, 2021 |title= LEST WE FORGET: Revisiting MC Lyte's 'Ain't No Other' (1993)}}{{cite web|url=https://theboombox.com/5-times-mc-lyte-got-raw-real-and-raunchy-wit-it/|title='I Ain't Afraid of the Sweat': 5 Times MC Lyte Got Raw, Real and Raunchy Wit' It |date=May 22, 2017 |accessdate=June 19, 2021}}
"I Go On" peaked at {{Abbr|No.|number}} 68 on the Billboard's Hot R&B Singles in January 1994.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mc-lyte/chart-history/bsi/|title=MC Lyte Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=2021-06-16}} It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at {{Abbr|No.|number}} 16 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 extension chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mc-lyte/chart-history/rbm/ |title=Bubbling Under Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2021-06-16}} This would be the last work of Lyte published under First Priority Music, since it would later sign with East West Records.
Content
The song has a softer production than the hardcore sound that predominates on the album. In it, Lyte talks about casually having sex with men whom she later "refuse to call 'em back", in addition to responding to those who are upset about it "It ain't worth it for the moment or the minute/You was in it then you want it but, no, now ya done, kid." In the third verse it seeks to convey a message anti-violence against women "I only here for the righten night/To be hit not smack not slapped or kicked/So if you coming my way you gotta be strong/Strong enough to know that hitting a women is wrong."
In a review from May 2017, the website dedicated to hip hop music The Boombox considered I Go On as "the best examples of Lyte flipping the gender script."
= Samples =
The song contains a riff sample from "Been So Long" by Anita Baker and the hook is based on interpolations from "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, in which Lyte says "I go on and on and on and on/Let it flow, ya don't stop" in reference to the lines "And on and on and on" and "To the tick tock ya don't stop". Also included in the single version of the song is a remix by Walter "Mucho" Scott titled "I Go on (Gangsta Mix)", which in turn samples the riff of "Young, Gifted and Black" by Aretha Franklin.
Single track listing
= 12" Vinyl=
==A-Side==
- "I Go On" (LP Version) (4:47)
- "I Go On" (Midnight Mix) (4:05)
- *Produced by Chris Smith
- "I Go On" (Midnightstrumental) (7:20)
- *Produced by Chris Smith
==B-Side==
- "I Go On" (Gangsta Mix) (5:15)
- *Produced by Walter "Mucho" Scott
- "I Go On" (Accapella) (4:53)
- "Ruffneck" (Beatnut Remix) (3:26)
- *Remixed by The Beatnuts
= Cassette =
==A-Side==
- "I Go On" (LP Version) (4:47)
- "I Go On" (Midnight Mix) (4:05)
- *Produced by Chris Smith and Teddy Riley
==B-Side==
- "I Go On" (LP Version) (4:47)
- "I Go On" (Midnight Mix) (4:05)
- *Produced by Chris Smith and Teddy Riley
= Cassette Maxi-Single =
==A-Side==
- "I Go On" (LP Version) (4:47)
- "I Go On" (Midnight Mix) (4:05)
- *Produced by Chris Smith
- "I Go On" (Midnightstrumental) (7:20)
- *Produced by Chris Smith
==B-Side==
- "I Go On" (Gangsta Mix) (5:15)
- *Produced by Walter "Mucho" Scott
- "I Go On" (Accapella) (4:53)
- "Ruffneck" (Beatnut Remix) (3:26)
- *Remixed by The Beatnuts
Personnel
Credits are taken from the liner notes.{{cite AV media notes | others=MC Lyte | date=1993 | title=I Go On | type=track listing | publisher=First Priority Music, Atlantic Street | id=0-95995}}
- Lyrics By – Lyte
- Producer, Engineer, Music By – Franklyn Grant
- Producer, Music By – Markell Riley, Tyrone Fyffe
- Engineer [Additional] – George Mayers, John Haynes
- Mastered By – Amelia Moore, Jose Rodriguez
- Executive Producer – Nat Robinson
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1993–1994)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|16|artist=MC Lyte|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2021}} |
| scope="row"|US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mc-lyte/chart-history/dsa/|title=MC Lyte Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 20, 2021}}
|38 |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|68|artist=MC Lyte|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrapsongs|27|artist=MC Lyte|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2021}} |