"Can't Hold Us Down" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera and rapper Lil' Kim for the former's fourth studio album, Stripped (2002). It was released by RCA Records on July 8, 2003, as the fourth single from the album. The track was written and produced by Scott Storch, with additional songwriting by Aguilera and Matt Morris. An R&B and hip hop song with a dancehall outro, "Can't Hold Us Down" criticizes gender-related double standards.
Aguilera performing excerpts from "Can't Hold Us Down" in a medley with "Still Dirrty" on the Back to Basics Tour in Dublin, November 2006
The music video for the song was inspired by Lower East Side, Manhattan, in the 1980s.
Christina MarĂa Aguilera is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Referred to as the "Voice of a Generation", she is noted for her four-octave vocal range, musical reinventions, sustaining high notes including use of the whistle register, and a signature use of melisma throughout her music. Recognized as an influential figure in popular music, she also became known for incorporating controversial themes such as feminism, sexuality, LGBT culture and the sex-positive movement into her work. Aguilera was also honoured as a Disney Legend, for her contributions to The Walt Disney Company.
Aguilera performing on The Stripped Tour in 2003
Aguilera performing "Beautiful" at the Breakthrough Prize Scientist Awards, 2014
Aguilera performing on the Liberation Tour at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, 2018
Aguilera is known by her melismatic singing technique, yielding comparisons to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.