Riot (XXXTentacion song)

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"Riot"
Single by XXXTentacion
ReleasedJune 1, 2020
Recorded2015
Genre
Length1:19
Label
  • Bad Vibes Forever
  • Empire
Songwriter(s)
  • Jahseh Onfroy
Producer(s)Luke White
XXXTentacion singles chronology
"Bad Vibes Forever"
(2019) 		"Riot"
(2020)

"Riot" is a song by American rapper XXXTentacion. It was originally released on SoundCloud in May 2015, before being re-released on June 1, 2020, amid protests of George Floyd's murder.[1] The re-released version is slightly shorter than the original, cutting a large portion of a speech from former Ku Klux Klan leader Jeff Berry.[1]

Background[]

The track was originally released in May 2015, after protests of the killing of Michael Brown.[1][2] The song was then released on streaming services in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed.[3]

Composition[]

On the song, XXXTentacion is critical of the practice of rioting, while also denouncing racist and homophobic rhetoric from the Ku Klux Klan.[4] Uproxx's Derick Rossignol noted how X expresses his belief that rioters often don't consider the consequences of their actions: "Look in all the stores you wreckin', nigga, I reckon / Think about the people who own it for 'bout a second / I know you got your problems, but brother, they got theirs / This is not a game, quit violence and grow a pair". However, XXXTentacion also sympathizes with the frustration of those rioting after instances of police brutality: "But I won't dare say that you should stop the fuckin' ignorance / Murder opps, killin' shit, I'd enjoy the thrill of it / Bathe in blood of officers, different corpses, offin' 'em". The song ends with dialogue from former KKK leader Jeff Berry's speech during a rally, which was featured in the 1998 documentary The Ku Klux Klan: A Secret History: "We see, I see, death before the children / White guys and white girls hanging from the buildings". The original song sampled more of the speech.[1]

Music video[]

The track was featured in the 2017 music video for X's 2014 track "Look at Me".[5][6][7]

Charts[]

Chart (2020) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[8] 1

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "XXXTentacion's 2015 Song 'Riot' Has Been Re-Released On Streaming Services In Light Of The Protests". Uproxx. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "XXXTentacion's Song "Riot" Added to Streaming Services". UrbanIslandz. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  3. ^ "XXXTentacion "Riot" Added To Streaming Services During Protests". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  4. ^ "XXXTentacion Starts 'F*ck the KKK!' Chant at Revenge Tour Show".
  5. ^ "XXXTENTACION - Look At Me! (Official Video) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  6. ^ "XXXTENTACION Gets Hung In The "Look At Me!" Video". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  7. ^ "Música "Riot" do XXXTentacion é disponibilizada oficialmente em serviços de streaming". Rap 24 Horas. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "Hot Singles Chart". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
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