High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! "The Roof (Back in Time)" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, taken from her sixth studio album, Butterfly (1997). It was released as the third single from the album in Europe, on March 20, 1998 by Columbia Records. Like "Butterfly" and "Breakdown", "The Roof" received a limited worldwide release due to Carey`s conflict at the time with Columbia. The song was written and produced by Carey and the Trackmasters, and is built around a sample from "Shook Ones part II" by Mobb Deep. The song`s lyrics recount an intimate roof-top encounter between lovers, and how the memory affects the protagonist. The extended remix features a rap verse by Mobb Deep; both versions were well-received by contemporary music critics.