"Gimme the Light" is the first single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 from Jamaica

Jamaica

Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...

n artist Sean Paul

Sean Paul

Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques , who performs under stage name Sean Paul, is a Jamaican pop rap and reggae singer.-1973–1996: Early life:...

's 2002 album Dutty Rock

Dutty Rock

Dutty Rock is the second album by reggae/dancehall toaster Sean Paul. It was released on November 12, 2002. It features two U.S. #1 singles, "Get Busy" and "Baby Boy" with Beyoncé. It also features singles "Gimme the Light", "Like Glue" and "I'm Still in Love with You", which all charted in the top...

. It was his first hit single, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 and also becoming a top 20 hit in the Netherlands, UK and Canada. It is the most popular hit single off the "Buzz" rhythm, which was the debut hit production for Troyton Rami and Roger Mackenzie of Black Shadow Records in Miami, Florida.

Background and release

In 2001, a fledgling Miami-based Jamaican production team known as Black Shadow created a new Dancehall rhythm which they called "The Buzz". Of approximately 12 tracks that were vocalized by the latest stars and upcoming artists of Dancehall, four of them became hits in the following year -- Elephant Man's "Haters Wanna War", Cobra

Mad Cobra

Ewart Everton Brown , better known by his stage name of Mad Cobra or simply Cobra is a Jamaican reggae musician.-Biography:...

's "Press Trigger", Sizzla

Sizzla

Sizzla Kalonji, or simply Sizzla in are de reggae musician. He is one of the most commercially and critically successful contemporary reggae artists and is well-known for his above-average prolificacy...

's "Pump Up", and Sean Paul's "Gimme The Light", which became the most popular one because of its catchy chorus. "The Buzz" became the biggest Dancehall rhythm of 2002, followed by the Diwali

Diwali Riddim

Greensleeves Rhythm Album #27: Diwali, also known as the Diwali Riddim, is an album and popular dancehall riddim that came to prominence in 2002...

 rhythm by Steven "Lenky" Marsden

Steven "Lenky" Marsden

Steven "Lenky" Marsden is a Jamaican-born music producer and musician who specializes primarily in dancehall reggae music. He also arranges and remixes pop and hip hop songs. Marsden is the founder of the Jamaica-based label, 40/40 Records and was a former member of singjay Buju Banton's band.He is...

 later on, which was also his first hit production. Black Shadow followed up "The Buzz" with the "Surprise" rhythm in 2003.

The unedited version of "Gimme The Light", as is the case with many Sean Paul releases, makes direct reference to smoking marijuana

Cannabis (drug)

Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...

 (in this case, passing along hydroponicly grown marijuana, referred to as "the 'dro" in the song's chorus). The edited version of "Dutty Rock" contains the lyrics "Just gimme the light and start the show," instead of "pass the dro." Paul is also out clubbing and checking out women for a possible nightcap. References to marijuana were removed from the song for the edited version.

The official remix, "Gimme the Light (Pass the Dro-Voisier Remix)", was released featuring rapper Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes

Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...

. This version only the chorus from the original (the clean version also uses the unedited version's chorus), replaced by new lyrics from Paul and Busta, also of Jamaican heritage. The remix's name is referenced from Busta Rhymes' 2002 hit single, "Pass The Courvoisier, Part II".

The song's instrumental was used for the remaining of the remix of the next single, "Get Busy" featuring Fatman Scoop

Fatman Scoop

Isaac Freeman III, better known by his stage name Fatman Scoop is a hip hop promoter and radio personality famed for his on-stage rough, raw, loud voice....

.

Track listings

CD maxi - U.S.

1. "Gimme the Light" (Buzz Riddim)
2. "Gimme the Light" (Buzz Riddim instrumental)
3. "Can You Do The Work" (Liquid Riddim)

CD maxi - Europe

1. "Gimme the Light" (album version) – 3:46
2. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix) – 3:20
3. "Gimme the Light" (blackout remix) – 3:42
4. "Gimme the Light" (2Step Moabit relick remix) – 3:47

CD single

1. "Gimme the Light" (clean radio edit) – 3:47
2. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Voisier remix - clean radio edit) – 3:20

12" maxi - U.S.

1. "Gimme the Light" (original mix) – 3:46
2. "Gimme the Light" (instrumental version) – 2:50
3. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - album / street mix) – 3:20
4. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - clean radio edit) – 3:20

12" maxi - Europe

1. "Gimme the Light" (original mix) – 3:46
2. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix) – 3:20
3. "Gimme the Light" (heartless crew remix) – 4:45
4. "Gimme the Light" (heartless crew dub) – 4:45

CD maxi - Remixes

1. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - clean radio edit) – 3:20
2. "Gimme the Light" (original mix - clean "Start the Show" radio edit) – 3:47
3. "Gimme the Light" (Pass the Dro-Vosier remix - album / street version) – 3:20
4. "Gimme the Light" (original mix - album version) – 3:46
5. "Gimme the Light" (instrumental version) – 2:49

Charts

Chart (2002/03)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	89
Canadian Singles Chart	11
Dutch Mega Top 100	16
French SNEP Singles Chart	43
German Singles Chart	41
Swedish Singles Chart	34
Swiss Singles Chart	19
UK Singles Chart	5
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	7
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs	3
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40	4
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream	26