Riot (XXXTentacion song)

"Riot" is a song by American rapper XXXTentacion. It was originally released on SoundCloud in May 2015, before being re-released posthumously for streaming services on June 1, 2020, amid the George Floyd protests.[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. It is the last single to be released by XXXTentacion since his death in 2018.[1]

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

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 2015 track "Look at Me".[5][6][7]

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

References
  1. "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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