Bob Marley” classic collaboration with Lauryn Hill, “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” has officially been certified Silver.
According to the British Phonographic Industry 0n Friday, February 14, 2025, the song has surpassed sales and streaming equivalent units 200,000 as measured by the Official Charts Company.
It is Lauryn’s 6th Silver certification and Bob Marley’s 5th as a solo artist.
Originally released on Bob Marley & The Wailers’ iconic 1977 album Exodus, the track was the only song from the B-side that was not initially released as a single. The 1999 remix, produced by Stephen Marley and featuring Lauryn Hill, was released on Chant Down Babylon (Tuff Gong/Island Records) on October 19, 1999. The remix peaked at No. 1 on the UK R&B Chart and was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards.
It has surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify, marking a new milestone for both legendary artists.
The duet, which features a rap verse by Hill, has also earned significant sales certifications worldwide. It is Gold in France (250,000 units) and Sweden (15,000 units) and Platinum in New Zealand (20,000 units).
According to data provided to World Music Views by Luminate, Chant Down Babylon, released on October 16, 1999, has sold 1.7 million units in the U.S., including 800,000 in pure sales and 197 million on-demand streams as of May 31, 2024. The album, executive produced by Maxine Isis Stowe, is now eligible for Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has accumulated over 178 million streams on Spotify as of June 7, 2024.
In celebration of this milestone, a brand-new music video was released today, featuring never-before-seen footage from Tuff Gong Studios. The original video, directed by American filmmaker Francis Lawrence—who later directed I Am Legend and The Hunger Games franchise—remains an iconic visual representation of the song’s timeless appeal.
At the time of the song’s release, Lauryn Hill was signed to Columbia Records, and “Turn Your Lights Down Low” was featured on The Best Man movie soundtrack, distributed by Universal Pictures. The music video starred Rohan Marley, the father of Hill’s five children, as her love interest. In the video, Marley is seen riding a motorbike to pick up Hill as Bob Marley’s voice sings, “I want to give you some good, good loving.” The two then take trips to Tuff Gong Studios and a nightclub, holding hands. Hill captivates in various scenes, including one where she sings at a sound system while donning a deep-cut dress.
The enduring appeal of “Turn Your Lights Down Low” speaks to the timeless synergy between Bob Marley’s legendary catalog and Lauryn Hill’s powerful artistry. As the song continues to resonate with new listeners, it remains a cornerstone of both reggae and hip-hop collaborations.
