Throw It Back
{{short description|2019 song by Missy Elliott}}
{{about|the Missy Elliott song|the Breland song|Throw It Back (Breland song)|the Chris Brown song|Indigo (Chris Brown album)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Throw It Back
| cover =
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Missy Elliott
| EP = Iconology
| released = {{Start date|2019|8|23}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 3:13
| writer = *Michael Aristotle
- William Jared Buggs
- Missy Elliott
- Quintin Ernest Talbert
| label = Atlantic
| producer = Willi Hendrix
| prev_title = I'm Better
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = DripDemeanor
| next_year = 2019
}}
"Throw It Back" is a song recorded by American rapper Missy Elliott for her first extended play Iconology (2019). The song was released as EP's lead single on August 23, 2019.
Composition
"Throw It Back" was written by Elliott, Quintin Ernest Talbet, Michael Aristotle, and William Jared Buggs, while production was handled by Willi Hendrix.{{Cite AV media notes |title=Iconology |year=2019 |type=liner notes |publisher=Atlantic Records}} Musically, "Throw It Back" has been described as a "woozy, futuristic romp" containing "distorted bass lines", frenetic production",{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-08-23/missy-elliott-iconology-review |title=Missy Elliott's Iconology Marks the Triumphant Return of a Hip-Hop Visionary |date=August 22, 2019 |accessdate=August 23, 2019 |last=Kennedy |first=Gerrick D. |work=The Los Angeles Times}} and trap snares.{{Cite web |url=https://ew.com/music-reviews/2019/08/23/missy-elliott-iconography-review/ |last=Johnson |first=Maura |title=On Iconography, Missy Elliott Is Still Blazing a Trail for Pop Weirdness |work=Entertainment Weekly |accessdate=August 23, 2019 |date=August 23, 2019}} Lyrically, "Throw It Back" contains references to Elliott's history, as well as previous collaborators Tweet and Heavy D, and Elliott's 2002 single "Work It".{{cite web |last1=Penrose |first1=Nerisha |title=Cancel All Music Videos Today Because Missy Elliott's 'Throw It Back' Is the Only One That Matters |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a28796875/missy-elliott-throw-it-back-video-iconology/ |website=Elle |accessdate=September 3, 2019}}
Critical reception
Jordan Darville of The Fader, named "Throw It Back" "the standout track" from Iconology.{{cite web |last1=Darville |first1=Jordan |title=Missy Elliott's "Throw It Back" video is instantly iconic, obviously |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/08/23/missy-elliotts-throw-it-back-video-is-instantly-iconic-obviously |website=The Fader |accessdate=September 3, 2019}}
Music video
A music video for "Throw It Back" was released alongside Iconology. It contains a guest appearance from Teyana Taylor.{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/missy-elliott-drops-iconology-project-040319068.html |title=Missy Elliott Drops 'ICONOLOGY' Project and 'Throw It Back' Video |last=Espinoza |first=Joshua |date=August 23, 2019 |accessdate=August 23, 2019 |website=Yahoo! News}} The video begins with a young girl waking up in a museum with paintings of the rapper. After entering a foggy room, Elliott appears with several dancers and cheerleaders in colorful outfits and afros. The video also contains references to Elliott's career, similar to the lyrical content.{{cite web |last1=Igoe |first1=Katherine |url=https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a28795096/missy-elliott-new-music-video-throw-it-back/|title=Missy Elliott's New Music Video for "Throw It Back" Is a Visual Feast |website=Marie Claire |accessdate=September 3, 2019}} Anika Reed of USA Today described the video as "[showing] Elliott's unwavering authenticity" and "celebrating blackness".{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Anika |title=Missy Elliott claims her icon status with new 'Iconology' EP, 'Throw It Back' music video |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/08/23/missy-elliott-surprise-new-music-iconology-throw-it-back-video/2094258001/ |website=USA Today |accessdate=September 3, 2019}} Katherine J. Igoe, writing for Marie Claire, called the video "a complete return to form" for Elliott.
Personnel
Adapted from Iconology's liner notes.
- Missy Elliott – lead artist, songwriter
- Michael Aristotle – songwriter
- Quintin Ernest Talbert – songwriter
- Wili Hendrix – production
- Chris Godbey – engineering
- Glenn Schick – mastering
- Finis "KY" White – mixing
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2019) !Peak |
| scope="row"| Canadian Hot Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{cite web |title=Missy Elliott Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs Sales) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/missy-elliott/chart-history/cns/ |website=Billboard |accessdate=September 3, 2019}}
| 34 |
|---|
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2019-08-30|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|website=Recorded Music NZ|date=September 2, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2019}}
| 37 |
| {{single chart|Scotland|83|date=20190830|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 4, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|UKdownload|57|date=20190830|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 4, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|1|artist=Missy Elliott|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 4, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddigitalsongs|24|artist=Missy Elliott|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 3, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|37|artist=Missy Elliott|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 3, 2019}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, and reference ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|References}} |
| scope="row"| United States
| August 23, 2019 | Atlantic | {{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8528182/first-stream-taylor-swift-missy-elliott-brockhampton-charlie-puth|title=First Stream: New Music From Taylor Swift, Missy Elliott, Brockhampton & More|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=February 14, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/missy-elliott-drops-surprise-iconology-ep-single-throw/story?id=65147027|title=Missy Elliott drops surprise 'Iconology' EP and new single 'Throw It Back'|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=February 14, 2020}} |
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