Light Up
DrakeUh, I've been up for four days, gettin' money both ways
Dirty and clean, I could use a glass of cold Spades
Rolexes, chauffers and low fades
I keep thinkin', how young can you die from old age?
They always tell me: "Nobody's workin' as hard as you"
And even though I laugh it off, man, it's probably true
'Cause while all of my closest friends out partyin'
I'm just here makin' all the music that they party to
But party on, party on all night, nigga
I got these new rappers nervous: prom night, nigga
I grow tired of these fuckin' grown man liars
Storytellers, they ain't even need a campfire
Uh, but I just want to tell the truth
Before one of these haters load a couple shells and shoot
The shit feel like when Fredro Starr
Was in Sunset Park stuntin' hard in his yellow goose - yeah!
And I'm a motherfuckin' missed target
But a target nonetheless, and I just started
Was that directed at moi? Can't be
They must be talkin' to themselves, Hov: hands free
Yeah, and I'm just fillin' up this daily planner
Gettin' busy 'cause I'm a star: no spangled banner
Jealous dudes get to talkin' in they music
And I just say I wrote it for your girlfriends: Kelsey Grammer
Yeah, that's what life becomes when you're doin' you
Welcome to Hollywood, don't let this town ruin you
And if you pillow-talkin' with the women that are screwin' you
Just know that she gon' tell another nigga
When she through with you
Don't get impatient when it takes too long
Drink it all, even when it tastes too strong
Yeah, I got to feel alive, even if it kills me
Promise to always give you me, the real me
Who would've thought I'd be caught in this life?
Let's celebrate with a toast and get lost in tonight
And make it all light up
(Ay Guru tell, tell homegirl to open that Ace right there...)
Wait until the sun goes down
We gon' make this bitch light up
Even when the sun goes down I'ma make it go
[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
Oww, hoes turn they heads like owls
I'm the man of the hour
Triple entendre, don't even ask me how
Con Edison flow, I'm connected to a higher power
Bright lights'll make your whole city light up
A trillion-watt light bulb when I'm in the night club
I just landed in that G450
Caught the Mayweather fight 'cause the satellite was crispy, uhh
Y'all can miss me with the money talk
The smart money's on Hov', fuck what the dummies talk, uhh
I don't do too much bloggin'
I just run the town, I don't do too much joggin'
Mm, I ain't got a scar yet
'Cause you fuckin' around with me and my dogs is far-fetched
Drake, here's how they gon' come at you
With silly rap feuds, tryin' to distract you
In disguise, in the form of a favor
The Barzini meeting, watch for the traitors, uhh
I done seen it all, done it all
That's why none of these dum-dums could done him off
The summer's ours, the winter too
Top down in the winter, that's what winners do
And to these niggas I'm like Windows 7
You let them tell it, they swear that they invented you
And since no good deed go unpunished
I'm not as cool with niggas as I once was
I once was cool as the Fonz was
But these bright lights turned me to a monster
Sorry, mama, I promised it wouldn't change me
But I would have went insane had I remained the same me
Fuck niggas! Bitches, too!
All I got is this money — this'll do
Who would've thought I'd be caught in this life?
Let's celebrate with a toast and get lost in tonight
And make it all light up
Wait until the sun goes down
We gon' make this bitch light up
Even when the sun goes down I'ma make it go
About
On “Light Up,” Drake talk about his career, his riches and how he celebrates his success. Jay-Z, on the other hand, sticks to the same topics while also giving Drake advice about the rap game.
According to Songfacts, Drake explained to MTV News:
It’s just me and Jay both rapping on it for an extended period of time,“ It’s real rap. I do sing on it, but it’s just on the hook – but it’s rap. It’s great. The perspective, the dynamic on the track – it’s me and Jay’s relationship on the song, basically. When you hear it, people will be like, ‘Oh man.’ That’s how we are – just the two. He definitely has guided me a lot, as far as his words and his advice. We have a real funny rapport. I always enjoy my conversations with Jay. It’s good.
He also developed the musical process:
When I heard that beat, the drums that they had come up with, it was like, ‘Man, this is a moment,’ “ he said. "This sounds like where I’m at in my life.‘ So, we took it and 40 did what he does to pieces of music that I see potential in – he took it to the next spot. Jay-Z’s on it. The song is phenomenal. It’s done now.
"Light Up” really came from, Jay had a busy year, obviously, with The Blueprint 3 and the success of that and the tour. So we didn’t do it in the same room. But me and Jay have a lot of great conversations, man. So it would never just be like, 'I’m gonna send you something, and we’re not gonna talk about it, and you send it back. We really talked about it.
And Jay’s joint on the album is so important on the album, because it’s another turning point. Whereas “Over” is a turning point for me, “Light Up,” I think it’s one of my favorite Jay verses. Jay not only gave me a great verse, but a life lesson. And I think he’s gonna give everybody a life lesson just about this business. It’s incredible.
- 1.Fireworks
- 2.Karaoke
- 4.Over
- 6.Up All Night
- 7.Fancy
- 8.Shut It Down
- 10.Light Up
- 11.Miss Me
- 12.Cece’s Interlude
- 13.Find Your Love
- 14.Thank Me Now
- 15.9AM in Dallas
