Marshmello, Tyga and Chris Brown Release Radio-Ready "Light It Up"

"Light It Up" sees Marshmello fully immersed in commercial hip-hop.

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"Light It Up" sees Marshmello fully immersed in commercial hip-hop.

If you're cueing up Marshmello's latest single hoping to hear his saccharine brand of main stage EDM, you might be taken aback. The masked DJ/producer has delivered a Tyga and Chris Brown collaboration titled "Light It Up" that sees him fully embrace top 40 rap.

That's not to say it's poorly executed. The beat he constructed won't leave a listener's thoughts after the first time they hear it while still leaving ample room for Tyga (real name Micheal Ray Stevenson) and Brown's alternating verses to shine. Accompanied by a flashy, engaging music video, the three artists' joint endeavor has all the makings of a crossover hit.

"Light It Up" is by no means Marshmello's first foray into hip-hop. The anonymous artist has recently teamed up with SOBxRBE and Roddy Ricch, and apparently still has a Cardi B collaboration on the way. The move towards hip-hop is likely part of a strategy put in place by Marshmello's manager, Moe Shalizi, to make his client's income rival that of Calvin Harris in 2019.