Light It Up is a 1999 film starring an ensemble cast that consists of R&B singer/actor Usher Raymond (in his first leading role), Forest Whitaker, Rosario Dawson, and Vanessa L. Williams.

In an urban Queens high school students, Lester DeWitt (Usher Raymond), who lost his father, his younger best friend, artist Zacharias 'Ziggy' Malone (Robert Ri'chard), hard-working Stephanie Williams (Rosario Dawson), criminal Rodney J. Templeton (Fredro Starr), rebellious pregnant Lynn Sabatini (Sara Gilbert), and hustler Robert Tremont a.k.a.

"Rivers" (Clifton Collins, Jr.), attend the history class of the caring Ken Knowles (Judd Nelson).

In response, Principal Armstrong suspends Rivers, Ziggy, Stephanie, and Lester from the school and calls in Officer Jackson to remove all of them.

Lester tells everybody, including Stephanie and Dante about how his father (Robert Lee Minor) was gunned down during a wrongful arrest.

"The Lincoln 6", are all becoming infamous across New York City, as they are exposed and identified on such networks such as BET, VH1, NBC, NY1 and CBS, as well as MTV, as well being announced on radio.

The comforting moment is short-lived when Rodney grabs Officer Jackson from behind to finish the job and Lester tries to talk him out of it.

Lynn was sentenced to one year in prison but was released earlier due to having her baby boy (named after Ziggy) and is never heard from again.

The end also shows Lester and Stephanie looking at a painting that was crafted by Ziggy, who is forever remembered as the next Jean-Michel Basquiat a.k.a.

The film was mostly shot at Calumet Career Prep High School in Chicago, Illinois, although set in New York City.

The website's consensus reads: "Soon after the student uprising, the story starts to feel like a warmed over after-school special.