Don't Let Me Die

2004 single by Jay-Z and R. Kelly

"Don't Let Me Die"

Single by Jay-Z and R. Kelly

from the album Unfinished Business

Released

October 26, 2004

Studio

The Chocolate Factory and Rock Land Studios
(Chicago)
Baseline Recording Studios
(New York City)

Genre

Hip hop
R&B

Length

4:51

Label

Roc-A-Fella
Def Jam
Rockland

Songwriter(s)

Shawn Carter
Robert Kelly
Samuel Barnes
Jean-Claude Olivier
Alexander Mosley

Producer(s)

Tone
R. Kelly
Spanador (co.)

Jay-Z singles chronology

"Big Chips"
(2004)

"Don't Let Me Die"
(2004)

"Numb/Encore"
(2004)

R. Kelly singles chronology

"Big Chips"
(2004)

"Don't Let Me Die"
(2004)

"In the Kitchen"
(2005)

"Don't Let Me Die" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z and American singer R. Kelly. It is the second single from their collaboration album Unfinished Business (2004). The song was produced by Tone of the Trackmasters and Kelly, with co-production from Alexander "Spanador" Mosley.

Critical reception

Tom Breihan of Pitchfork wrote that the song's gospel choir, which he described as "bazonkers", was one of the better aspects of the Trackmasters' "clean" sound throughout Unfinished Business.^[1] Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club wrote the song "amplifies the disc's abundant cheese to operatic levels, complete with a choir and an unhinged Kelly vocal".^[2]

In popular culture

In the 2013 film G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Roadblock invokes Jay-Z's lyrics from the song: "Whatever deity guides my life / Dear Lord, don't let me die tonight".^[3]

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
U.S. Bubbling Under Hot 100^[4]	24
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs^[5]	58
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40^[6]	34

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	October 4, 2004 (2004-10-04)	Rhythmic contemporary · urban contemporary radio	Jive, Roc-A-Fella, IDJMG	^[7]

References

^ Breihan, Tom (October 27, 2004). "JAY-Z / R. Kelly: Unfinished Business Album Review". Pitchfork.
^ Rabin, Nathan (November 1, 2004). "R. Kelly & Jay-Z: Unfinished Business". The A.V. Club.
^ Jagernauth, Kevin (February 1, 2012). "The Rock Quotes Jay-Z In Horrible/Awesome Super Bowl Teaser For 'G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation'". IndieWire.
^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "R Kelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Rhythmic Top 40)". Billboard.
^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1575. October 1, 2004. p. 21. Retrieved July 6, 2022.

Jay-Z songs

Reasonable Doubt

"Can't Knock the Hustle"
"Dead Presidents"
"Feelin' It"
"Ain't No Nigga"

In My Lifetime, Vol. 1

"The City Is Mine"
"(Always Be My) Sunshine"
"Wishing on a Star"

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life

"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
"Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)"
"Money, Cash, Hoes"
"Can I Get A..."

Vol. 3...
Life and Times of S. Carter

"Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)"
"Things That U Do"
"Big Pimpin'"
"Jigga My Nigga"
"Girl's Best Friend"

The Dynasty: Roc La Familia

"Change the Game"
"I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)"
"Guilty Until Proven Innocent"

The Blueprint

"Takeover"
"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
"Girls, Girls, Girls"
"Jigga That Nigga"
"Song Cry"
"Renegade"

The Blueprint 2:
The Gift & The Curse

The Black Album

"What More Can I Say"
"Encore"
"Change Clothes"
"Dirt off Your Shoulder"
"99 Problems"
"Public Service Announcement"
"My 1st Song"

Unfinished Business
(with R. Kelly)

"Big Chips"
"Don't Let Me Die"

Kingdom Come

"Show Me What You Got"
"Lost One"
"Hollywood"

American Gangster

"Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..."
"I Know"
"Blue Magic"

The Blueprint 3

"D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"
"Run This Town"
"Empire State of Mind"
"On to the Next One"
"A Star Is Born"
"Young Forever"

Watch the Throne
(with Kanye West)

"No Church in the Wild"
"Lift Off"
"Niggas in Paris"
"Otis"
"Gotta Have It"
"Welcome to the Jungle"
"Who Gon Stop Me"
"Murder to Excellence"
"Made in America"
"Why I Love You"

Deluxe	"Illest Motherfucker Alive" "H•A•M"

Magna Carta Holy Grail

"Holy Grail"
"Picasso Baby"
"Tom Ford"
"FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt"
"Oceans"
"Heaven"
"Part II (On the Run)"

4:44

"The Story of O.J."
"4:44"
"Family Feud"
"Bam"

Other songs

"In My Lifetime"
"Who You Wit"
"It's Alright"
"Anything"
"Honey"
"La-La-La"
"Numb/Encore"
"Swagga Like Us"
"Jockin' Jay-Z (Dopeboy Fresh)"
"Brooklyn Go Hard"
"Lost!"
"Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)"
"Glory"
"Clique"
"All the Way Up" (Remix)
"Apeshit"
"What It Feels Like"

Featured songs

"Can I Get Open"
"Show & Prove"
"I'll Be"
"Be Alone No More" (Remix)
"Money Ain't a Thang"
"Ha" (Remix)
"Heartbreaker"
"Best of Me Part II"
"My Mind Right" (Remix)
"Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)"
"Do My..."
"Fiesta" (Remix)
"Welcome to New York City"
"Guess Who's Back"
"What We Do"
"Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke)"
"Back in the Day"
"Crazy in Love"
"Frontin'"
"Get By" (Remix)
"Never Let Me Down"
"Dear Summer"
"Diamonds from Sierra Leone" (Remix)
"Shake It Off" (Remix)
"Go Crazy"
"Get Throwed"
"Déjà Vu"
"Upgrade U"
"Umbrella"
"I Get Money (Forbes 1-2-3 Billion Dollar Remix)"
"Rehab" (Remix)
"Bye Bye" (Remix)
"Mr. Carter"
"Put On" (Remix)
"Go Hard" (Remix)
"My President (DC Mix)"
"I Wanna Rock (The Kings' G-Mix)"
"Hot Tottie"
"XXXO" (Remix)
"Power" (Remix)
"So Appalled"
"Monster"
"Shiny Suit Theory"
"I Do"
"Talk That Talk"
"Suit & Tie"
"Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (Remix)
"Pound Cake"
"Know Bout Me"
"Drunk in Love"
"The Devil Is a Lie"
"They Don't Love You No More"
"Jungle" (Remix)
"Seen It All"
"Pop Style"
"Drug Dealers Anonymous"
"I Got the Keys"
"Shining"
"Biking"
"Top Off"
"Talk Up"
"Sorry Not Sorry"
"Jail"
"Love All"
"Neck & Wrist"
"God Did"

Category

v t e R. Kelly singles
Discography Production Discography Videography Awards and nominations
Born into the 90's	"She's Got That Vibe" "Honey Love" "Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)" "Dedicated" "Hey Love (Can I Have a Word)"
12 Play	"Sex Me (Parts I and II)" "Bump N' Grind" "Your Body's Callin'" "Summer Bunnies" "It Seems Like You're Ready"
R. Kelly	"You Remind Me of Something" "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" "Thank God It's Friday" "I Can't Sleep Baby (If I)"
R.	"I Believe I Can Fly" "Gotham City" "Half on a Baby" "Home Alone" "I'm Your Angel" "When a Woman's Fed Up" "Did You Ever Think" "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" "Only the Loot Can Make Me Happy"
TP-2.com	"I Wish" "The Storm Is Over Now" "Fiesta (Remix)" "Feelin' on Yo Booty" "A Woman's Threat"
Chocolate Factory	"The World's Greatest" "Ignition (Remix)" "Snake" "Step in the Name of Love (Remix)"
The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1	"Thoia Thoing"
Happy People/U Saved Me	"Happy People" "U Saved Me"
TP.3 Reloaded	"In the Kitchen" "Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1)" "Playa's Only" "Slow Wind" "Burn It Up"
Double Up	"I'm a Flirt (Remix)" "Same Girl" "Double Up" "Rock Star"
Untitled	"Supaman High" "Number One" "Religious" "Echo"
Love Letter	"When a Woman Loves"
Write Me Back	"Share My Love" "Feelin' Single" "When a Man Lies"
Black Panties	"My Story" "Genius" "Cookie" "Legs Shakin'"
The Buffet	"Backyard Party" "Switch Up"
Other singles	"Soldier's Heart" "Honey" "Big Chips" "Hair Braider" "I Believe" "Sign of a Victory" "Platinum" "I Look to You" "Bump & Grind 2014" "Ignition (Viceroy Remix)" "I Admit"
Featured singles	"Down with the Clique" "Street Dreams (Remix)" "Be Careful" "Friend of Mine (Remix)" "Satisfy You" "Contagious" "We Thuggin'" "Gigolo" "Hotel" "Gangsta Girl" "Till the World Ends" "So Sexy" "So Sexy Chapter II (Like This)" "Wonderful" "That's That Shit" "Go Getta" "Speedin'" "Out of This Club" "All the Above" "Ms. Chocolate" "We Been On" "Do What U Want" "PYD" "Make The World Go Round" "It's Your World"
Soundtrack singles	"I Believe I Can Fly" "Gotham City" "Bad Man" "The World's Greatest" "I Believe" "Christmas, I'll Be Steppin'"
Other songs	"It Seems Like You're Ready" "Sadie" "G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T." "Heaven I Need a Hug" "I Need an Angel" "Real Talk" "You Are Not Alone" "Shut Up" "Betcha Gon' Know" "Marching Band" "Wake Up Everybody" "I Admit"
Category:R. Kelly songs Category:Songs written by R. Kelly