"Lighters Up" is a single written and recorded by

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

Lil' Kim Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after ...

appearing as the first single off her fourth album, The Naked Truth. It was produced by her ex-boyfriend, record producer

Scott Storch Scott Spencer Storch (born December 16, 1973) is an American record producer and songwriter. Storch began his career as part of Philadelphia-based hip hop band the Roots, which he joined as a keyboardist prior to the release of their 1993 debut a ...

. The song has a similar tone to

Damian Marley Damian Robert Nesta “Jr. Gong” Marley (born 21 July 1978) is a Jamaican reggae musician. The second youngest child of Bob Marley, he is the recipient of four Grammy Awards. Early life, education and family Marley is the youngest son of leg ...

's "

Welcome to Jamrock ''Welcome to Jamrock'' is the third studio album by Jamaican reggae/dancehall artist Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley. The album was released on September 12, 2005, in the United Kingdom, and one day later in the United States. Marley won two 2006 Gram ...

". It was released on August 30, 2005. The album was originally due to be released September 13, but was delayed until September 27 because Queen Bee Entertainment felt that sales would not hold with the single "Lighters Up". The single debuted at number 100 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, then quickly climbed up to number 31. The single had a moderate chart performance in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2013, the song was voted the best Brooklyn anthem by

MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

Background

As the first single from the ''Naked Truth'', the single did reasonably well, creating hype for the album. However, due to the late follow-up, along with little promotions, the single performed less well than previous singles by Lil' Kim. The song is about Kim cautioning people about the dangers and conditions of certain parts of

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

. The video features cameo appearances by

Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Qu ...

Freddie Foxxx James Campbell (born March 27, 1969), is an American rapper and record producer, better known by his stage names Freddie Foxxx and Bumpy Knuckles. Biography Foxxx started rapping in the early 1980s. In 1986, he recorded "You Gotta Come Out Fre ...

, her brother Chris and Maino. There was also an official remix of the song featuring

Tego Calderón Tegui Calderón Rosario (born February 1, 1972) is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer and actor. He began his musical career in 1996 (as Tego Tec) and was supported by the famous Puerto Rican rapper Eddie Dee, who invited him on his second studio a ...

. The song featured a new verse and ad-libs from Calderon, as well as a new intro from Kim, but no new verses from Kim. A limited edition CD single featuring this remix was given away with purchases of "The Naked Truth" album exclusively at

Target Target may refer to: Warfare and shooting * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artille ...

. The music video of the song starts with the chorus of the clean version of "Shut Up Bitch", which they say "Shut Up, Chick" instead. The video was directed by Kirk Fraser in New York City, peaked at #1 on

BET Black Entertainment Television (BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting Black American audiences. It is the flagship channel of the BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group. Originally launched ...

106 & Park ''106 & Park'' is an American hip hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that was broadcast on weekdays at 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT on BET; it aired on a one-day delay on BET International. It was the network's highest- rated ...

. Two versions of the song were released. The original, which features cities throughout the US and overseas during the hook, and another version titled "Lighters Up (Welcome To Brooklyn)", which features spots throughout Brooklyn during the hook.

Lauryn Hill Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American musician. She is celebrated as one of the most influential musical artists of her generation. Hill is credited with breaking barriers for female rappers, contributing to the popular music, m ...

wanted to feature on the song but due to label issues it never happened.

Formats and track listings

* UK Promo CD # "Lighters Up" (Radio Edit) – 3:28 * European Promo CD # "Lighters Up" (Explicit Version) – 4:26 # "Lighters Up" (Clean Radio Edit) – 3:28 # "My Ni*#@s" (Bonus) – 4:14 * US Promo CD # Lighters Up (Amended) 4:06 # Lighters Up (Explicit) 4:29 # Lighters Up (Instrumental) 4:30 # Lighters Up (Welcome To Brooklyn) (Amended) 4:30 # Lighters Up (Welcome To Brooklyn) (Explicit) 4:28 * US Remix Promo CD # "Lighters Up" (Remix) (Radio Version) – 3:44 # "Lighters Up" (Remix) (Explicit Version) – 3:44 # "Lighters Up" (Remix) (Instrumental) – 3:39 # "Lighters Up" (Remix) (Acapella) – 3:44 * Europe CD single # "Lighters Up" (Album Version) 4:22 # "Lighters Up" (Remix) (Radio Version) – 3:44 * UK CD single # "Lighters Up" (Album Version) – 4:22 # "Lighters Up" (Edit) – 3:30 * US Remix CD single # "Lighters Up" (Remix) (featuring Tego Calderon) – 3:44 * Maxi CD # "Lighters Up" (Radio Edit) (Explicit Version) – 3:28 # "Lighters Up" (Remix) (Explicit Version) – 3:44 # "Lighters Up" (Instrumental) – 3:28 # "Came Back For You" (Non Album Track) – 4:20 # Enhanced Video

Credits and personnel

Credits for "Lighters Up" are taken from the singles liner notes.

Original

Recording * Recorded at Hit Factory Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FL & Sony Music Recording Studios, New York, NY * Recorded by Wayne "The Brain" Allison and Dan The Man, Personnel * Vocals by Lil' Kim * Written by K. Jones, S. Storch * Produced by Scott Storch * Bass and Guitar by Aaron Fishbein * Mixed by Glen Marchese

Remix

Recording * Recorded at Hit Factory Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FL & Sony Music Recording Studios, New York, NY * Recorded by Dan The Man * Additional Recording at Circle House Studios, Miami, FL by Dominigo Ramon Personnel * Vocals by Lil' Kim, Tego Calderon * Written by K. Jones, S. Storch, V. Carraway, T. Calderon * Percussion by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson * Bass and Guitar by Aaron Fishbein * Mixed by Glen Marchese * Additional mixing by Dan The Man

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{authority control 2005 singles Lil' Kim songs Tego Calderón songs Songs about New York City Song recordings produced by Scott Storch 2005 songs Songs written by Lil' Kim Atlantic Records singles Reggae fusion songs Songs written by Scott Storch