THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

943-DJ Snake and Lil Jon-Turn Down for What.

2014-Number 23 single.

Best Bit-At 2.15. The songs title is urban slang. To ‘Turn Up’ is to do something that you want to do, for example have a drink at a party. So to ‘Turn Down’ is to do the opposite, to not want to do something.

DJ Snake is the stage name of William Sami Etienne Grigahcine, who was born on June 13th, 1986, in Paris, France, in his youth he produced graffiti art, which earned him the name ‘snake’ as he consistently managed to evade the attentions of the police. DJ Snake has said,’When I started DJ-ing, everyone called me ‘Snake’ in my city first, I was like ‘DJ Snake, OK let’s go for it.’ The name sucks, but it’s too late now.” DJ Snake first came to international attention in 2011 when he was credited as one of the four producers of ‘Government Hooker,’ which is track 3 on ‘Born This Way,’ the second studio Album by Lady Gaga ( see also best songs 363.) The discography of DJ Snake includes two studio Albums released in 2016, and 2019, and 31 singles that have been issued between 2013-2022. In France eight of those singles have reached that top 40 with ‘Let Me Love You’ featuring Justin Bieber, making Number 1 in 2016. In the UK, he has charted on five occasions, with ‘Lean On Me’ with Major Lazer featuring MO, (2015) and ‘Let Me Love You,’ both reaching Number 2. While in America on Billboard, six of those singles have made the top 40, with the two aforementioned tracks, and ‘Turn Down for What,’ all peaking at Number 4.

Lil Jon was born Jonathan Howard Smith on January 17th, 1971, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, he was instrumental in the emergence of the ‘Hip-Hop’ sub-genre ‘Crunk,’ and is credited with bringing the genre into mainstream success (see also best songs 982.) To date Lil Jon has released seven studio Albums between 1997-2010, and 15 singles as lead artist between 1997-2019. In America on Billboard, five of those singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Get Low’ charting the highest at Number 2 in 2003. Lil Jon has also charted on Billboard as the featured artist on 10 occasions, with ‘Yeah!’ by Usher, which also features Ludacris, topping that chart in 2003.

‘Turn Down for What’ was co-written by DJ Snake, Lil Jon, Martin Bresso, and Steve Guess, who are both long term collaborators with DJ Snake, the song was produced by DJ Snake, Lil Jon, and Martin Bresso, under his working name of ‘Tchami.’ On the evolution of the song Lil Jon has said,’When DJ Snake sent me the track with a sample of ‘Redman’ saying ‘Bang the underground,’ he wanted me to redo it with my voice. When I heard the song I was like this beat is too crazy for that sample. I wanted to make it hip and current, and the first thing that came to mind was the phrase ‘Turn Down For What!’ Lil Jon has also gone on to say.’The genre of the song is dance, but it’s really a Hip-Hop beat.” ‘It captures a moment with people, they listen to the song, and no matter what they’re doing, it pushes them to do something. If you’re in the gym and it comes on, it’s like, why are you going to stop? Work out harder! If you’re out partying and the song comes on, it’s like, let’s have another shot!”

‘Turn Down for What’ is filed under the ‘EDM Trap’ music genre.’Trap’ is a sub-genre of ‘Hip-Hop’ music that originated in the Southern United States during the late 1980’s.The genre gets its name from the Atlanta slang word ‘Trap,’ meaning a house that is used exclusively to sell drugs. Trap music uses synthesised drums and is characterised by complex ‘hi-hat’ patterns, and tuned kick drums, which were originally provided from the ‘Roland TR-808 drum machine.’ The lyrical content of ‘Trap’ music often focuses on drug use, and urban violence.

‘Turn Down for What’ ended the year as the seventh best selling song in America in 2014, with sales just falling short of 3.5 million copies sold. The songs memorable video has been equally successful, surpassing one billion views in November 2020. The song has very few lyrics, and apart from Lil Jon speaking ‘Turn down for what, the only other words he utters are ‘Fire up that loud, another round of shots,’ which according to the urban slang dictionary means, keep the music blaring, keep drinking, keep the party going.’

‘Fire up that loud, another round of shots. Turn down for what?’