"Anxiety" peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100,marking Doechii's first top ten hit in the United States. Outside of the United States,"Anxiety" topped the charts in Australia,Greece,Latvia,New Zealand,and Switzerland,and peaked within the top ten of the charts in various countries,including Romania,Austria,Germany,Ireland,Lithuania,France,Norway,and the United Kingdom,as well as on the Billboard Global 200.
Following its release,it was added as a bonus track on Alligator Bites Never Heal (2024),and it is the final track on the extended version. A music video for the song was released in April 2025.
Background and release
"Anxiety" was originally recorded by Doechii in 2019 during the sessions for her debut mixtape,Coven Music Sessions.[1] She originally self-released the song on her YouTube channel on November 10,2019.[2] The song prominently samples "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Belgian-Australian singer Gotye featuring New Zealand singer Kimbra.[3]
On September 15,2023,American rapper Sleepy Hallow released a song of the same title featuring Doechii as a single from his studio album,Boy Meets World,with the song's chorus containing a sample of Doechii's 2019 demo.[4] In early 2025,Doechii's original recording of the song went viral on the social media platform TikTok.[5] Subsequently,she posted a video to the platform to suggest that the formal release of "Anxiety" was forthcoming.[6] On March 4,2025,the official version of the song was released to streaming services,containing re-recorded vocals from the original demo she posted to YouTube.[7][8]
Robin Murray of Clash wrote that the song "crosses multiple lands",stressing the "soul vocal,some revelatory lyricism,and hard-hitting flows" for which "the bluntest lines shine out". Murray also wrote that in the lyrics,the listener could find Doechii "working towards self-forgiveness,embracing a rounded maturity that can be lost amid the brash glare of the spotlight".[12] Elias Andrews of HotNewHipHop wrote that in the 2025 version,the rapper "digs more into the nervy intensity of the single",appreciating the "irregular,somewhat goofy rhythm" from the sample because it "serves as a template for Doechii's vocal approach." Andrews also noted Doechii's versatility between rapping and singing,saying that "Anxiety" proves "that she do both masterfully".[13]Rolling Stone's editorial staff included it in their mid-year list of the best songs of 2025,labelling it "an especially clear testament to the potency of her creative instincts" that "finds Doechii deploying a dexterous yet playful flow as she navigates interior feelings surrounding the emotion in the song’s title."[14]Billboard followed suit,ranking it at 22,with Mackenzie Cummings-Grady regarding it as "one of 2025’s most adventurous pop songs" which "crosses multiple lands,from rap to pop to classical and back again," proclaiming "it encapsulates everything Doechii is a master at:slick pop melodies,fiery bars,and bringing oodles and oodles of charisma to the microphone."[15].
Commercial performance
"Anxiety" debuted at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. During its second week on the chart,"Anxiety" climbed to number 10,becoming her first top ten song and her highest charting song to date.[16]
In the United Kingdom,"Anxiety" debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart on March 14,2025 –for the week ending date March 20,2025 –becoming Doechii's highest-debuting song and first top ten song in Britain. The following week,"Anxiety" climbed one position to its peak of number three on the UK Singles Chart. Sleepy Hallow's version of "Anxiety" debuted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart,later peaking at number 15.[17]
In late March 2025,"Anxiety" topped the charts in Australia,Switzerland,New Zealand,and Latvia.
In France,the song debuted at number 17,becoming Doechii's first entry but the highest entry for a female rapper since "Fefe" by Nicki Minaj and 6ix9ine,who debuted at number 16 in 2018. The next week,the song entered in the top ten,at number 7,becoming Doechii's first top ten ever and the first since "Paint the Town Red" by Doja Cat. The song is currently certified platinum for 200,000 units gold,becoming the rapper's first gold certification.[18]
Music video
On April 18,2025,a music video for the song directed by James Mackel was released.[19] The video makes a reference to the music video for "Somebody That I Used to Know".[20]
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 22. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 12. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
↑ "מדיה פורסט – המצעד הבינלאומי השבועי – Week 14 – 30/03 – 05/04/2025"[Media Forest – International Weekly Chart – Week 14 – 30/03 – 05/04/2025] (Select the year 2025 and the option "14 30-03-25 05-04-25" from the stretched lists, then click "שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" to see the chart.) (in Hebrew). Media Forest. April 6, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
↑ "Media Forest – Weekly Charts". Media Forest. Retrieved June 12, 2025. Note: Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart.
↑ "Media Forest – Weekly Charts". Media Forest. Retrieved May 21, 2025. Note: Select 'Songs – TV'. Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 22. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 12. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
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