Let It Go (Keyshia Cole song)
"Let It Go" is a song by American R&B singer Keyshia Cole featuring American rappers Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim. It was written by Cole, Jack Knight, Cainon Lamb, Lil' Kim, and Missy Elliott for her second album Just Like You (2007) and samples "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume, and "Don't Stop the Music" by Yarbrough and Peoples, while also interpolating "Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G., who also sampled "Juicy Fruit." An uptempo song written by all three artists with Jack Knight, Cainon Lamb and James Mtume and produced by Lamb and Elliott, it marked the first collaboration between any of the three artists with one another.
"Let It Go"
June 19, 2007
- 3:58 (album version/radio edit)
- 5:15 (single version)
- Imani
- Geffen
- Keyshia Cole
- Kimberly Jones
- Melissa Elliott
- Jack Knight
- Cainon Lamb
- James Mtume
Released as the album's lead single, it debuted at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue date of July 7, 2007, and peaked at number 7, becoming Cole's third top ten hit single altogether and first top ten Billboard Hot 100 single as a lead artist. It also became Cole's first number-one hit on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 50th annual ceremony, held in February 2008. "Let It Go" was ranked 59th on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.[1] The single sold over two million copies in the US and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[2]
Background[edit]
"Let It Go" was written and produced by rapper Missy Elliott and originally intended for singer Fantasia Barrino's self-titled second album (2007).[3] A song about female empowerment and failed relationships that talks about "letting go" of a relationship if one partner is not there for the other, and is not interested in showing love or respect,[4] it failed to make the final tracklisting.[4] After Elliott played the song to Cole she decided she wanted to record it for her sophomore album. On their collaboration, Elliott later said: "I tried to hurry up past it cause I felt Keyshia wouldn't want it. She said she wanted to work with me and I really didn't know what kind of direction she wanted to go in. But as soon as the chords came on she was like, 'Wait-wait-wait stop! Stop!' She was like all, who record is that? I was like, well [Fantasia] had too many records on her album so I couldn't take it. And she wanted it."[4]
Rapper 50 Cent disclosed in an interview with radio station Hot 97 that "Let It Go" was also offered to R&B singer Olivia who picked "Cherry Pop", another track written by Elliotinstead.[4] Lil' Kim appears on the record to pay homage to Biggie, as the song is similar to his 1994 hit single "Juicy" which also contains excerpts from Mtume's 1983 song "Juicy Fruit."[5] Elliott also produced the official "Let It Go" remix that features vocals by rappers T.I. and Young Dro instead of Lil' Kim.[3] It was also included on the Just Like You album as the final track.[3] Another remix featuring rapper Busta Rhymes and extended verses by Lil' Kim leaked in 2011.[6] An extended version of the song that runs for 5 minutes and 15 seconds which has Lil Kim's full verse was released on the single. This version was not used for the album or video.
Chart performance[edit]
Upon its release, "Let It Go" became Cole's highest-charting single as a lead artist.[8] Her only solo top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number 7.[8] "Let It Go" also reached number one the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming Cole's first song to do so, and entered the top three of the Rhythmic Songs chart.[8] Billboard ranked the song 65th on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart and twelfth on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year-end chart in 2007.[9][10] On December 6, 2007, "Let It Go" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[2]
Sample credits
Notes