Throw It Back

"Throw It Back"
"Throw It Back"
Single by Missy Elliott
from the EP Iconology
Released	August 23, 2019
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:13
Label	Atlantic
Songwriters	Michael Aristotle; William Jared Buggs; Missy Elliott; Quintin Ernest Talbert;
Producer	Willi Hendrix
Missy Elliott singles chronology

"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.^[1]^[2]

Composition

"Throw It Back" was written by Elliott, Quintin Ernest Talbert, Michael Aristotle, and William Jared Buggs, while production was handled by Willi Hendrix.^[3] Musically, "Throw It Back" has been described as a "woozy, futuristic romp" containing "distorted bass lines", frenetic production",^[4] and trap snares.^[5] Lyrically, "Throw It Back" contains references to Elliott's history, as well as previous collaborators Tweet and Heavy D,^[5] and Elliott's 2002 single "Work It".^[6]

Critical reception

Jordan Darville of The Fader, named "Throw It Back" "the standout track" from Iconology.^[7]

Music video

A music video for "Throw It Back" was released alongside Iconology. It contains a guest appearance from Teyana Taylor.^[8] 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.^[6] The video also contains references to Elliott's career, similar to the lyrical content.^[9] Anika Reed of USA Today described the video as "[showing] Elliott's unwavering authenticity" and "celebrating blackness".^[10] Katherine J. Igoe, writing for Marie Claire, called the video "a complete return to form" for Elliott.^[9]

Personnel

Adapted from Iconology's liner notes.^[3]

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

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Canadian Hot Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[11]	34
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[12]	37
Scotland (OCC)^[13]	83
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)^[14]	57
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)^[15]	1
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)^[16]	24
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[17]	37

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, and reference
Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
United States	August 23, 2019	Digital download	Atlantic	^[1]^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b "First Stream: New Music From Taylor Swift, Missy Elliott, Brockhampton & More". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Missy Elliott drops surprise 'Iconology' EP and new single 'Throw It Back'". ABC News. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Iconology (liner notes). Atlantic Records. 2019.
^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (August 22, 2019). "Missy Elliott's Iconology Marks the Triumphant Return of a Hip-Hop Visionary". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Johnson, Maura (August 23, 2019). "On Iconography, Missy Elliott Is Still Blazing a Trail for Pop Weirdness". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Penrose, Nerisha. "Cancel All Music Videos Today Because Missy Elliott's 'Throw It Back' Is the Only One That Matters". Elle. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
^ Darville, Jordan. "Missy Elliott's "Throw It Back" video is instantly iconic, obviously". The Fader. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
^ Espinoza, Joshua (August 23, 2019). "Missy Elliott Drops 'ICONOLOGY' Project and 'Throw It Back' Video". Yahoo! News. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Igoe, Katherine. "Missy Elliott's New Music Video for "Throw It Back" Is a Visual Feast". Marie Claire. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
^ Reed, Anika. "Missy Elliott claims her icon status with new 'Iconology' EP, 'Throw It Back' music video". USA Today. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
^ "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.

[throw1-1] "First Stream: New Music From Taylor Swift, Missy Elliott, Brockhampton & More". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.

[throw2-2] "Missy Elliott drops surprise 'Iconology' EP and new single 'Throw It Back'". ABC News. Retrieved February 14, 2020.

[ln-3] Iconology (liner notes). Atlantic Records. 2019.

[latrev-4] Kennedy, Gerrick D. (August 22, 2019). "Missy Elliott's Iconology Marks the Triumphant Return of a Hip-Hop Visionary". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 23, 2019.

[ewrev-5] Johnson, Maura (August 23, 2019). "On Iconography, Missy Elliott Is Still Blazing a Trail for Pop Weirdness". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 23, 2019.

[Elle-6] Penrose, Nerisha. "Cancel All Music Videos Today Because Missy Elliott's 'Throw It Back' Is the Only One That Matters". Elle. Retrieved September 3, 2019.

[7] Darville, Jordan. "Missy Elliott's "Throw It Back" video is instantly iconic, obviously". The Fader. Retrieved September 3, 2019.

[y!-8] Espinoza, Joshua (August 23, 2019). "Missy Elliott Drops 'ICONOLOGY' Project and 'Throw It Back' Video". Yahoo! News. Retrieved August 23, 2019.

[MC-9] Igoe, Katherine. "Missy Elliott's New Music Video for "Throw It Back" Is a Visual Feast". Marie Claire. Retrieved September 3, 2019.

[10] Reed, Anika. "Missy Elliott claims her icon status with new 'Iconology' EP, 'Throw It Back' music video". USA Today. Retrieved September 3, 2019.

[11] "Missy Elliott Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.

[12] "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.

[sc_Scotland_-13] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2019.

[sc_UKdownload_-14] "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2019.

[sc_Billboardbubbling100_Missy_Elliott-15] "Missy Elliott Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2019.

[sc_Billboarddigitalsongs_Missy_Elliott-16] "Missy Elliott Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Missy_Elliott-17] "Missy Elliott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.

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v t e Missy Elliott
Discography Production discography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Supa Dupa Fly Da Real World Miss E... So Addictive Under Construction This Is Not a Test! The Cookbook
Compilations	Respect M.E.
Extended plays	Iconology
Singles	"The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" "Sock It 2 Me" "Beep Me 911" "Hit Em wit da Hee" "She's a Bitch" "All n My Grill" "Hot Boyz" "Get Ur Freak On" "Lick Shots" "One Minute Man" "Take Away" "4 My People" "Work It" "Gossip Folks" "Fighting Temptation" "Pass That Dutch" "I'm Really Hot" "Lose Control" "Teary Eyed" "We Run This" "Ching-a-Ling" "Shake Your Pom Pom" "WTF (Where They From)" "I'm Better" "Throw It Back"
Featured singles	"That's What Little Girls Are Made Of" "Brand New" "Ooh, Ooh Baby" "The Things That You Do" (Bad Boy Remix) "Steelo" "Do Thangz" (Main Pass Remix) "You Don't Have to Worry" (Remix) "Cold Rock a Party" "Can We" "Not Tonight" (Remix) "Up Jumps Da Boogie" "What About Us?" "Make It Hot" "5 Minutes" "Trippin'" "I Want You Back" "Here We Come" "I Like Control" "Ya Di Ya" "Take That" "Is That Yo Chick" "Son of a Gun" "Bootylicious" (Rockwilder Remix) "Oops (Oh My)" "The Knoc" "Burnin' Up" (Remix) "Crew Deep" "Honk Your Horn" "Cop That Shit" "Party to Damascus" "Tush" "Turn da Lights Off" "1, 2 Step" "Car Wash" "Touch It" (Remix) "Love Me or Hate Me" (Remix) "Let It Go" "Do It" (Remix) "Bad Girl" "Need U Bad" "Whatcha Think About That" "Let's Just Do It" "Work" "Fakin' It" "Get Involved" "Nobody's Perfect" "Bad Girls" (N.A.R.S & Switch Remixes) "How Ya Doin'?" "Without Me" "Niliria" "I Deserve It" "Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid)" "Tempo" "Levitating" "Fly Girl"
Promotional singles	"Back in the Day" "Best, Best" "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" (Remix) "9th Inning" "Triple Threat" "Burnitup!" "Pep Rally"
Related articles	4 All the Sistas Around da World Verizon Ladies First Tour The Goldmind Inc. "Boulevard of Broken Songs"

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