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Let It Burn (song)

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This article is about the Jazmine Sullivan song. For other songs, see Let It Burn.
"Let It Burn"
Single by Jazmine Sullivan
from the album Reality Show
ReleasedMarch 17, 2015
Length3:43
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Key Wane
Jazmine Sullivan singles chronology
"Forever Don't Last"
(2014) 		"Let It Burn"
(2015) 		"Insecure"
(2017)

"Let It Burn" is a song by American singer Jazmine Sullivan. It was written by Sullivan and Key Wane for her third studio album Reality Show (2015), while production was helmed by the latter. The song is built around a sample of "Ready or Not" (1989) by American R&B group After 7. Due to the inclusion of the sample, its writer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds is also credited as songwriter.

The song was released as the album's third single and became Reality Show' highest-charting offering, reaching number four on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[1] At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, the song — along with its parent album — received two nominations in the categories for Best R&B Song and Best Traditional R&B Performance.[2] After 7 and Sullivan performed a mashup of "Let It Burn" and "Ready or Not" at the 2015 Soul Train Music Awards, celebrating fellow honoree Babyface.

Background

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"Let It Burn" was written by Sullivan and producer Key Wane for her third studio album Reality Show (2015) and samples from "Ready or Not" (1989) by American R&B group After 7 as written by Kenneth "Babyace" Edmonds.[3] A throw-back to 1980s music,[4] the song is a dreamy, simmering late-night ballad,[4] that is built upon a synth-heavy instrumentation.[5] Lyrically, "Let It Burn" was inspired by a previous relationship during which Sullivan felt that she was not acting like an ideal girlfriend.[6] In 2019, she revealed that she almost failed to finish the song.[6]

Sullivan recorded her vocals on the song in one take.[4] Pre-produced by frequent collaborator Wane, she initially recognized the melody of "Let It Burn" as something she had heard before, but was not aware of the sample until months after she recorded it.[7] When asked about the sample, she commented: "I don’t mind samples if the feel is there. With “Let it Burn” the track felt so good that I couldn't imagine it without the sample, but I think it helped that I didn't know the original song."[7] Sullivan further described "Let It Burn" as a "classic song, a timeless R&B song."[8]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[3]

  • Gleyder "Gee" Disla – recording
  • Kenneth Edmonds – writer (sample)
  • Joe Gallagher – vocal recording
  • Gary Noble – mixing
  • Jazmine Sullivan – vocals, writer
  • Key Wane – producer, writer

Charts

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Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[1] 4

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Jazmine Sullivan Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  2. ^ "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Reality Show (booklet). RCA Records. 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Augustin, Camille (August 22, 2017). "Views From The Studio: Producer Key Wane Dissects Jazmine Sullivan And Bryson Tiller's "Insecure"". Vibe. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  5. ^ Roberts, Randall (February 11, 2016). "Essential Tracks: The under-the-radar nominees who deserve a listen". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Folk, Antwane (January 8, 2019). "Jazmine Sullivan Performs 'Let It Burn' and 'Insecure' for Issa Rae's 'Pieces' Series". ratedrnb.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Davis, Justin (January 12, 2016). "Meet the Grammy Class: Jazmine Sullivan". hitsdailydouble.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  8. ^ Falcone, Dana Rose. "Jazmine Sullivan talks 2016 Grammys". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "American single certifications – Jazmine Sullivan – Let It Burn". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
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