Knock Knock (Monica song)
"Knock Knock" is a song by American R&B recording artist Monica. It was written and produced by rappers Missy Elliott and Kanye West for her fourth studio album After the Storm (2003). Commissioned following the delay and subsequent reconstruction of Monica's third album All Eyez on Me (2002), the song is built around excerpts of the composition "It's a Terrible Thing to Waste Your Love" (1976) by American vocal group The Masqueraders. Due to the sample, Lee Hatim is also credited as a songwriter. On breezy, summer-tinged "Knock Knock," a blending of 1970s-style soul and hip hop set against steely keyboards and a stony bass, the protagonist warns a cheating boyfriend not to come calling. J Records released "Knock Knock" alongside fellow Elliott production "Get It Off" as one of two singles that followed leading single "So Gone" during the third quarter of 2003. The song was lauded by critics, who praised its streetwise production and Monica's rap part on the track. A moderate success at the charts, it peaked at number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 24 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Its accompanying music video, directed by Chris Robinson, was filmed as a two-part story with "So Gone". A demo version of the song, featuring vocals from West, titled "Apologize" would later be found on an unofficial 2005 mixtape Freshmen Adjustment, while Tyler, the Creator sampled it on his single "Potato Salad" (2018). Writing and recording "Knock Knock" was written and produced by Missy Elliott for Mass Confusion Productions, with additional production by Kanye West. The song contains excerpts from the opening piano riff of The Masqueraders' "tearful" 1977 single "It's a Terrible Thing to Waste Your Love." Due to this band member and original writer Lee Hatim is also credited as a songwriter. West previously sampled the track in his own demo recording, "Apologize", which was recorded during the sessions for West’s debut studio album, The College Dropout. The song was ultimately not used. "Knock Knock" was recorded by Carlos Bedoya at The Hit Factory Criteria in Miami, Florida with further assistance from Marcella Araica. Scott Kieklak mixed the song, while mastering was overseen by Tom Coyne. Elliott also provided additional vocals. Musically, "Knock Knock" is a "cool and contemptuous" mid-tempo track with "steely keyboards and stony bass" that servas as a gloating kiss-off to an inattentive partner." The song is one out of three Elliott-produced records on After the Storm, commissioned by J Records head and executive producer Clive Davis after the release of Elliott's acclaimed studio album Under Construction (2002) and the delay of Monica's original third studio album All Eyez on Me the year before. It was conceived during a studio session week in Miami in early 2003, and was produced as a sequel to "So Gone," another Elliott track. In an interview with MTV News at the 2003 BET Awards, Monica stated that "'Knock Knock' is [...] like a follow-up to 'So Gone,' just saying that, 'All right,