2011 single by Jay-Z and Kanye West featuring Beyoncé
"Lift Off" is a song by American rappers Kanye West and Jay-Z, featuring Jay-Z's wife Beyoncé. It was written by Kanye West, Jay-Z, Jeff Bhasker, Mike Dean, Bruno Mars and Seal, while production was handled by West, Bhasker, Mike Dean, Pharrell, Q-Tip, and Don Jazzy for Jay-Z's and West's collaboration album, Watch the Throne (2011). The song was rumored to be released as the lead single from the album containing additional vocals by Bruno Mars. However, Mars never appeared on the song and it was sent to urban contemporary radio on August 23, 2011.
Musically, "Lift Off" is a pop song which uses baroque strings. It contains a chorus sung by Beyoncé, while other verses are sung by West and Jay-Z in a rap style. The instrumentation of the song involves synthesizers, martial drums and horns. The song peaked at number one on the South Korea Gaon International Chart and number twenty one on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. "Lift Off" was performed live by Jay-Z and Kanye West during their tour in promotion of Watch the Throne titled Watch the Throne Tour (2011–12). The song's instrumental was used as the outro at the end of Jay-Z and Beyoncé's On the Run Tour (2014) and Beyoncé performed her part of the song during her Renaissance World Tour (2023).