"Live Fast, Die Young" is the third single by American rapper Rick Ross from his fourth studio album '' Teflon Don'' (2010). It features

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...

, who also stood as the sole producer. The song samples three tracks in its composition. A

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...

was announced by Ross, but never saw an official release.

Background

The song leaked online on July 1, 2010, twelve days before being released as a single. On July 21, Ross announced that the

would be directed by

Hype Williams Harold Williams (born August 1, 1970) is an American music video director, film director, film producer, and screenwriter. Early life Williams was born in Queens, New York. He is of mixed African-American and Honduran descent. He attended Adel ...

, but the video was never officially released. The song was supposed to be a solo

song called "Hard Horn Nightmare" meant for his album "Good Ass Job", which became his November 2010 release "

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy ''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released by Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records on November 22, 2010, following a period of public controversy for West. Re ...

Composition

The track samples a total of three songs. The songs sampled are: "If This World Were Mine" by

The Bar-Kays The Bar-Kays are an American funk band formed in 1964. The band had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" (US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number 17, R&B number 3) in 1967, "Son of Shaft" (R&B number 10) i ...

, "Uphill Peace Of Mind" by Kid Dynamite and "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown. It was viewed by Phil Miter of '' Noisey Vice'' as being among West's 2010 productions that: 'depict unreal wealth and power in the process of decay, melting into unrecognizable, disturbing shapes'.

Commercial performance

"Live Fast, Die Young" debuted at number 89 on the US '' Billboard'' on the week of its release as a single.

Charts

Release history

References

{{authority control 2010 singles 2010 songs Kanye West songs Maybach Music Group singles Music videos directed by Hype Williams Rick Ross songs Song recordings produced by Kanye West Songs written by Frederick Knight (singer) Songs written by Kanye West Songs written by Marvin Gaye Songs written by Rick Ross