Beyoncé

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Lore & Background

Beyoncé worked with Kanye West on the song "Party" for her fourth studio album, 4 (2011). West co-wrote the track alongside Jeff Bhasker, Beyoncé, Dexter Mills, Douglas Davis, and Ricky Walters, and co-produced it with Beyoncé, with additional co-production by Bhasker. Beyoncé told Gabriel Alvarez of Complex magazine that she was very happy and keen to work with West, because his single "Runaway" (2010) drove her to the edge of tears the first time she heard it. She said: "The fact that he's belting out his pain, his confusion, and his anger, with no pre-written lyrics, was so moving. He's singing his heart out for five minutes. He is so vulnerable. I love when an artist can be so honest." "Party" was the first song on which Beyoncé worked for 4. On May 25, 2011, Rap-Up revealed that André 3000 would appear as a featuring artist on the track. The song samples "La Di Da Di" (1985) by Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew featuring MC Ricky D., written by Douglas Davis and Ricky Walters. On June 6, 2011, "Party" leaked on the internet, three weeks before the album's official release on June 28, 2011. The song was added to US urban contemporary radio by Columbia Records on August 30, 2011.

In Their Own Story

In May 2010, Jordan Young (aka DJ Swivel) started working with Beyoncé at Rock The Mic Studio in New York City. They initially recorded the beginning stages of "Party" to see what kind of working relationship might form. Young was introduced to Beyoncé by Omar Grant, an A&R at Epic Records who used to work with Destiny's Child. Beyoncé was satisfied with Young's work and commended him for being "a fast engineer," then decided to give him the opportunity to work with her through the whole production and recording processes of her album. Speaking of his collaboration with Beyoncé, André 3000 said: "I've always felt Beyoncé was one of the best performers of our time, so to collaborate with her was an honor and a pleasure."

Reader's Guide

Within the context of Kanye West's career, Beyoncé appears as a collaborator on the song "Party" from her 2011 album 4. West co-wrote and co-produced the track, which also features André 3000 and background vocals from West and Consequence. The song is a midtempo R&B track that exhibits elements of 1980s funk and soul music, sampling the 1985 song "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and MC Ricky D. It was built on an 808-retro beat, multi-tracked harmonies, and a smooth groove, with instrumentation including slow-bouncing synthesizers, keyboard tones, and drums. Lyrically, West rhymes about "swag sauce" and "swagu" in the introductory lines: "You a bad girl, your friends bad too / You got the swag sauce, you're drippin' Swagu." The song was acclaimed by critics, who praised André 3000's verses and West's production, and was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 54th Grammy Awards. "Party" charted at number 2 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for three consecutive weeks and reached number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Did You Know?

• Beyoncé told Complex magazine that Kanye West's single 'Runaway' (2010) drove her to the edge of tears the first time she heard it.
• 'Party' was the first song Beyoncé worked on for her album 4, beginning in May 2010 at Rock The Mic Studio in New York City.
• The song samples 'La Di Da Di' (1985) by Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew featuring MC Ricky D.
• André 3000's verse on 'Party' includes references to milk and philosophical reflections on his own career.
• 'Party' was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 54th Grammy Awards.