Cha Cha Cha (MC Lyte song)

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Cha Cha Cha is the lead single from MC Lyte’s second album Eyes on This. It was produced by King Of Chill and released on September 8, 1989. The song stayed 18 weeks on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart and reached No. 1 for two weeks in December 1989, making Lyte the first woman to top the rap chart as a lead artist. It also reached No. 35 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.

Although King Of Chill is listed as the songwriter, Lyte says they co-wrote the song and she made sure she had her stamp on it. The track includes a memorable line that fans love to shout along with: “Well, well, well, I’ll be damned.”

Cha Cha Cha uses several samples, including the bass from Four Tops’ I Can’t Live Without You, the lead synth from Kraftwerk’s The Man-Machine, Funkadelic’s Good Old Music drums, Cerrone’s Rocket in the Pocket drums, and The Fearless Four’s Rockin’ It hook. It also features a vocal interpolation of Lyte herself from Kickin’ 4 Brooklyn.

The music video, directed by Tamra Davis, was filmed in August 1989 on Randall’s Island, New York City. It’s mostly black and white and features Lyte with her bodyguard, DJ K-Rock, and dancers Leg One and Leg Two. The video is included on the Lyte Years video compilation (1991).

Cha Cha Cha appears on several MC Lyte compilation albums and best-of collections. It was performed live at Sisters In The Name of Rap (1991) and was later performed by Da Brat and Remy Ma at the MC Lyte tribute during VH1 Hip Hop Honors (2006). The song is also on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack on The Classics 104.1 station. Lyte performed it at the BET Hip Hop Awards in 2008 and for President Barack Obama in 2014 at the NEH/NEA anniversary celebration.

Critics describe Cha Cha Cha as an early example of Lyte competing as an MC rather than just a female rapper, using audience participation in her battle style. PopMatters praised her precise delivery and the song’s strong bass line. The track has influenced other artists too; Jack White said Cha Cha Cha inspired his 2014 song Lazaretto. In 2019, Albumism called Eyes on This one of Lyte’s best records, noting that Cha Cha Cha remains a standout track.