Light 'Em Up (RIP Doe B)
by T.I.

Album: Paperwork (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • T.I. penned this song after the untimely passing of his rising protégé Doe B., who was murdered in his hometown Montgomery, Alabama in December 2013. The young rapper was actually on his way to record with T.I. and Pharrell the day he was shot. "The night we made 'Paperwork,' I was telling Pharrell about Doe and he immediately said, 'Get him down here, let's work.'"

    So, T.I. called Doe B two days after Christmas. "I told him Pharrell wanted to work with him and he immediately said he was on the way," he recalled. "He just had a stop to make at a club that some DJs were doing a party at and they was looking forward to him showing up. He felt obligated, he had to go do that."

    "Before that morning came, he died," T.I. added. "Pharrell was expecting him. [I had to tell him], "Man lil' bruh died last night."

    Pharrell insisted that the Atlanta rapper document his feelings immediately, while the pain was fresh. "That record was recorded the day he died, so the feeling was very surreal and it was extremely heavy on my heart," T.I. said.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.