Fire Flame

"Fire Flame"
Single by Birdman featuring Lil Wayne
from the album Bigga Than Life
Released November 22, 2010 (digital download)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2010; The Hit Factory
(Miami, Florida)
Genre Hip hop
Length 4:20
Label Cash Money, Universal Motown
Writer(s) Bryan Williams, Dwayne Carter
Producer(s) Kill Will[1]
Birdman singles chronology
"Loyalty"
(2010)		 "Fire Flame"
(2010)		 "Y.U. Mad"
(2011)
Lil Wayne chronology
"No Love"
(2010)		 "Fire Flame"
(2010)		 "6 Foot 7 Foot"
(2010)

"Fire Flame" is a song by American rapper Birdman, released as the second single from his fifth studio album, Bigga Than Life (2013). The song features a guest appearance from fellow rapper Lil Wayne, who was not originally intended to appear on the song: however, his vocals were added following his release from prison. The rappers wrote the song, along with record producer Kill Will, who also handled the song's production.

"Fire Flame" achieved success on various music charts, peaking at number sixty-four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also charting well on various component charts. The song's music video, directed by Gil Green, premiered on January 16, 2011.[2][3] It is produced by Kill Will. The song is featured along with Wayne's 2011 single "John", featuring Rick Ross, on the Tap Tap Revenge 4 game.

Background and development

"Fire Flame" was written by Birdman, Lil Wayne and Kill Will, with the latter also handling the song's production. The song originally leaked onto the internet as a Birdman solo song, with no vocals from Wayne: Wayne's vocals were later recorded at The Hit Factory, a recording studio in Miami, during his first recording session since being released from Rikers Island following a nine-month prison sentence for illegal possession of a weapon.[4][5][6]

On November 15, American rapper and producer DJ Khaled leaked the new version of "Fire Flame" onto the internet through his blog, called "We the Best TV".[5] Khaled claimed that the song would appear on a sequel to Birdman and Wayne's 2006 collaborative album Like Father, Like Son:[5] however, other reports have confirmed that the song will appear on Birdman's upcoming fifth studio album, titled Bigga Than Life.[7] The song was released for digital paid download in the United States on November 22, 2011.[8]

Composition

"Fire Flame" is a "synth-heavy" rap song featuring a guest appearance from fellow American rapper Lil Wayne.[5] Wayne performs the first and last verses of the song, and Birdman's vocals are placed in between.[5]

Music video

The music video for "Fire Flame" premiered on January 16, 2011, and is directed by Gil Green.[7] The video is set in a warehouse, and whilst Birdman and Wayne perform their sections of the song, flames continuously shoot out from behind them, as part of the literal meaning of the song.[9][10]

Remixes

The official remix features a verse by Cash Money rapper Yo Gotti. Joell Ortiz also remixed the song. Chamillionaire released a freestyle to the track titled "Rubber Bands".[11]

Track listing

Digital single[8]
  1. "Fire Flame" (featuring Lil Wayne) - 4:20

Chart performance

The song peaked on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at #28.[12] It debuted at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 64 in its fourth week. "Fire Flame" is Birdman's first song to chart on the Canadian Hot 100, peaking at #71.

Charts

Chart (2010–2011) Peak
position
scope="row"Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] 71
scope="row"US Billboard Hot 100[14] 64
scope="row"US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 28
scope="row"US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[16] 14

Release and radio add history

Country Date Format Label
United States November 22, 2010[8] Digital download Cash Money, Universal Motown
January 11, 2011[17] Urban contemporary radio
January 25, 2011[18] Urban airplay

References

  1. ↑ http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/birdman-fire-flame-rmx
  2. ↑ Latifah Muhammad (Dec 9, 2010). "BIRDMAN SAYS PRISON CHANGED LIL WAYNE'S RAP STYLE". The BoomBox. AOL Inc. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  3. ↑ Leah Collins (November 16, 2010). "Lil Wayne's Back; Hear His New Song With Birdman". Dose.ca (Canada.com). Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  4. ↑ Rodriguez, Jayson (November 15, 2010). "Lil Wayne Released From Prison". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Rodriguez, Jayson (November 15, 2010). "Lil Wayne's First Post-Prison Rhymes Hit The Web". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  6. ↑ Kaufman, Gil; Dukes, Rahman (November 9, 2010). "Exclusive: Lil Wayne Logs '15-Hour' Post-Prison Studio Session". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Video: Birdman f/ Lil Wayne - 'Fire Flame (Remix)'". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. January 16, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Fire Flame - Single by Birdman". iTunes. Apple. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Behind the Video: Birdman f/ Lil Wayne - 'Fire Flame (Remix)'". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. January 10, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  10. ↑ Breihan, Tom (January 17, 2011). "Lil Wayne Does Birdman Video, Nicki Minaj Remix". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  11. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpz9md0LBW0
  12. ↑ "Fire Flame [Edited Version] - Birdman". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  13. ↑ "Birdman Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Birdman. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Birdman Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Birdman. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Birdman Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Birdman. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Birdman Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Rap Songs for Birdman. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  17. ↑ http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16691
  18. ↑ http://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases