Paper Thin

The song contains samples of Prince's "17 Days" guitar riff,[7] Al Green's "I'm Glad You're Mine"'s drum,[8] and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star" hook.[9] The song also has a chorus interpolation from Ray Charles' "Hit the Road Jack", in which Lyte changes "Jack" to "Sam."[10]

In 1999, Ego Trip's editors ranked Paper Thin No. 29 in their list Hip Hop's 40 Greatest Singles by Year 1988 in Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists.[12]

In the book That's the Joint !: The Hip Hop Study Reader (2003),[13] sociologist Tricia Rose commented on the song:

MC Lyte's underground hit, "Paper Thin",is one of the most scathing raps about male dishonesty/infidelity and the tensions between trust and vulnerability. Lyte has been burned by Sam, but she has turned her experience into a black woman's anthem that sustains an uncomfortable balance between brutal cynicism and honest vulnerability (...) Lyte's public acknowledgment that Sam's expressions of love were paper thin is not a source of embarrassment for her, but a means of empowerment. Lyte presents commitment, vulnerability and sensitivity as assets, not indicators of female weakness.[14]

In 2003, The Source placed Paper Thin No. 24 in their list "Top 151 Rap Songs of All-Time".[2]

In June 2012, WQHT's Peter Rosenberg placed it No. 2 on his list of the 25 best female rapper songs ever.[15]

In April 2013, the song was included No. 21 on Complex's "The 50 Best Rap Songs by Women" list, in which Rob Kenner reviewed "MC Lyte is one of the greatest rappers of any gender in hip-hop history ( ...) Aside from the battle rap "10% Dis," the album's standout track was this song, in which Lyte puts a two-timing loverboy in check. Unconcerned with inflaming her listeners' sexual urges, Lyte was always confident that her lyrics were more than enough."[16]

In December 2018, "Paper Thin" was ranked No. 23 on About.com's "The 100 Best Rap Songs of All Time" list, on which they commented

"Paper Thin," MC Lyte's tough talk on this song solidified her status as the new queen in town. [3]

In 2018, thirty years after its publication, Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone magazine reviewed "Paper Thin", calling it an "iconic hip-hop hit" and "Machismo-slaying anthem."[4]

• In 1992, X-Clan sampled the song on "Holy Rum Swig" from their album Xodus.[17]

• In early 1993, English boyband Take That sampled "Paper Thin" on their single "Why Can't I Wake Up with You".[18] Also that year De La Soul interpolated the song in "Area" on their album Buhloone Mindstate. In the third verse, Posdnuos sings "A-hah, a-hah, a-hah/Sucker you missed, I put all feelings aside, I know who I am" changing it to "A-hah, a-hah, a-hah/(We whooped that ass) And put the feelings aside, I know who I am".[19]

• In 1996, Bahamadia recorded a cover of the song.[20]

• In 1999 was sampled by Puff Daddy on his song with Redman "Fake Thugs Dedication" from his album Forever.[21]

• In 2003, Missy Elliott rewrote "Paper Thin" for her verse in her collaboration with Timbaland & Magoo on the single "Cop That Shit".[22]

• MF Doom has made a remix of the song on his album Special Blends Volume 1 & 2 (2004).[23]

1. "Paper Thin" (Radio Version) (5:00)
2. "Paper Thin" (Remix) (2:55)
   • Produced by Audio Two
3. "Paper Thin" (Remix) (3:25)
   • Produced by Alliance

1. "Paper Thin" (Instrumental) (2:53)
2. "Paper Thin" (Acapella) (2:25)
3. "Spare The Rod" (4:26)