Fire Flame Explained

Fire Flame (Remix)
Cover:fireflame-Birdman-cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Birdman featuring Lil Wayne
Released:November 22, 2010 (digital download)
Recorded:2010
Studio:The Hit Factory
(Miami, Florida)
Genre:Hip hop
Length:5:00 (Explicit)
4:55 (Edited)
Label:Cash Money, Universal Motown
Producer:Mr. Beatz, Kill Will[1]
Chronology:Birdman
Prev Title:Loyalty
Prev Year:2010
Next Title:Y.U. Mad
Next Year:2011

"Fire Flame" is a song by American rapper Birdman. 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 producers Mr. Beatz and 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 Mr. Beatz and 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, Mr Beatz 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". Khaled claimed that the song would appear on a sequel to Birdman and Wayne's 2006 collaborative album Like Father, Like Son: however, other reports have confirmed that the song will appear on Birdman's upcoming fifth studio album, titled Bigga Than Life. The song was released for digital paid download in the United States on November 22, 2010.

Composition

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

Chart performance

The song peaked on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at #28.[7] 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.

Music video

The music video for "Fire Flame" premiered on January 16, 2011, and is directed by Gil Green.[8] 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

  1. "Fire Flame" (featuring Lil Wayne) – 4:20

Charts

Year-end charts

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
United StatesNovember 22, 2010Digital downloadCash Money, Universal Motown
January 11, 2011[14] Urban contemporary radio
January 25, 2011[15] Urban airplay

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Birdman ft. Lil Wayne - Fire Flame (Remix).
  2. Web site: BIRDMAN SAYS PRISON CHANGED LIL WAYNE'S RAP STYLE. The BoomBox. AOL Inc.. December 27, 2010. Latifah Muhammad. December 9, 2010.
  3. Web site: Lil Wayne's Back; Hear His New Song With Birdman. Dose.ca (Canada.com). Postmedia Network Inc. December 27, 2010. Leah Collins. November 16, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101221233235/http://www.dose.ca/Wayne+Back+Hear+Song+With+Birdman/3837657/story.html. December 21, 2010. dead.
  4. Web site: Rodriguez. Jayson. Lil Wayne Released From Prison. https://archive.today/20120519161722/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651483/lil-wayne-released-from-prison.jhtml. dead. May 19, 2012. MTV News. MTV Networks. November 15, 2011. November 15, 2010.
  5. Web site: Rodriguez. Jayson. Lil Wayne's First Post-Prison Rhymes Hit The Web. https://archive.today/20130129102944/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652322/lil-waynes-first-postprison-rhymes-hit-web.jhtml. dead. January 29, 2013. MTV News. MTV Networks. November 15, 2011. November 15, 2010.
  6. Web site: Kaufman. Gil. Exclusive: Lil Wayne Logs '15-Hour' Post-Prison Studio Session. https://web.archive.org/web/20110120221722/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651905/exclusive-lil-wayne-logs-15hour-postprison-studio-session.jhtml. dead. January 20, 2011. MTV News. MTV Networks. November 15, 2011. Dukes, Rahman. November 9, 2010.
  7. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=birdman|chart=all}} Fire Flame [Edited Version] – Birdman]. Billboard. Billboard. December 27, 2010.
  8. Web site: Video: Birdman f/ Lil Wayne – 'Fire Flame (Remix)'. Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. November 15, 2011. January 16, 2011.
  9. Web site: Behind the Video: Birdman f/ Lil Wayne – 'Fire Flame (Remix)'. Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. November 15, 2011. January 10, 2011.
  10. Web site: Breihan. Tom. Lil Wayne Does Birdman Video, Nicki Minaj Remix. Pitchfork Media. November 15, 2011. January 17, 2011.
  11. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: CHAMILLIONAIRE-RUBBER BANDS FREESTYLE . YouTube.
  12. Web site: Fire Flame – Single by Birdman. iTunes. January 2010. Apple. November 15, 2011.
  13. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2011. Billboard. August 25, 2021.
  14. Web site: FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Nielsen Ratings, Music News and more! . May 4, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140628011329/http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=16691 . June 28, 2014 .
  15. Web site: Urban/R&B Future Releases | R&B, Hip Hop, Release Schedule and Street Dates |.