Falling Down (Lil Peep and XXXTentacion song)

Last updated • 7 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

"Falling Down"
Lil Peep XXXTENTACION Falling Down.jpg
Single by Lil Peep and XXXTentacion
from the album Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2
ReleasedSeptember 19, 2018 (2018-09-19)
Recorded2017–2018
Genre
Length3:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lil Peep singles chronology
"4 Gold Chains"
(2018)		"Falling Down"
(2018)		"Sunlight on Your Skin"
(2018)
XXXTentacion singles chronology
"Moonlight"
(2018)		"Falling Down"
(2018)		"Arms Around You"
(2018)

"Falling Down" is a song by American rappers and singers Lil Peep and XXXTentacion. It was included as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of the former's second studio album Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2 (2018). The song was posthumously released as the lead single from the album on September 19, 2018. The track was produced by IIVI, John Cunningham, and Mike Will Made It. "Falling Down" was originally a song by and written by Lil Peep and fellow American rapper and singer iLoveMakonnen under the title "Sunlight on Your Skin", with XXXTentacion also receiving a writing credit for the final version.

Contents

Following Peep's death from a Fentanyl–Xanax overdose, X encountered a snippet of the song on YouTube and contacted iLoveMakonnen to record a verse for it. This new version peaked at number thirteen on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Lil Peep's highest-charting single in the United States. The single has since been certified three-times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The song reached number one in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden. It reached the top ten in a total of 17 countries, including the United Kingdom.

Background

"Falling Down" was originally recorded as "Sunlight on Your Skin" during a London studio session between iLoveMakonnen and Lil Peep as part of the collaboration project Diamonds . [1] The producer claimed the lyrics "Let's watch the rain while it's falling down" was described that at the time Lil Peep recorded the song, it was pouring outside. On November 15, 2017, Lil Peep died from an accidental Fentanyl–Xanax overdose, leaving the project unfinished. [2] It was later omitted when the project released in 2018. The song was played on livestream by iLoveMakonnen following his death and then was uploaded to YouTube as a snippet, where XXXTentacion heard it. [3]

XXXTentacion had not met iLoveMakonnen in person, but he did once speak with him over the phone in late 2016 when he was in prison dealing with aggravated battery charges. [1] XXXTentacion contacted iLoveMakonnen and recorded a verse over Makonnen's in tribute of Lil Peep. X is quoted as saying that if he had seen the better side of Peep before he died then they would have been good friends. [4] XXXTentacion was murdered on June 18, 2018.

Release and promotion

ILoveMakonnen 2015 (crop).jpg
XXXTentacion February 2018.png
The original version of the collaborative song featured singer iLoveMakonnen (left). The final version featured rapper and singer XXXTentacion (right). [5] [6]

The song was released on September 19, 2018, after a long delay, being announced by Lil Peep's and XXXTentacion's mothers. [7] [8] XXXTentacion's mother, Cleopatra Bernard, uploaded the preview on Instagram, captioning it with "From Peep's mom and I" with Makonnen claiming it was the mothers' wishes. [1] [9]

Controversy

While the single became a commercial success, its initial announcement was met by controversy among some of Lil Peep's friends and fans, many of whom were upset regarding the inclusion of XXXTentacion. [10] Leading up to his own death, XXXTentacion had accrued an alleged history of violence. [5] [6] Morever, at the time of the posthumous collaboration, XXXTentacion was facing multiple domestic abuse charges. [6] This indicated to some that despite sharing similar musical tastes, his values ran counter to those lived by Lil Peep, though friends of Lil Peep said that he enjoyed XXXTentacion's music. [11] [12]

Lil Peep and XXXTentacion's attitudes towards each other while Lil Peep was alive have been described as murky. [13] Fish Narc, a producer who is part of GothBoiClique, opposed XXXTentacion's inclusion on the song. In August 2018, Fish Narc posted a story onto Instagram in which he disavowed the collaboration. He stated, "[Lil Peep] explicitly rejected Triple X for his abuse of women, spent time and money getting Triple X's songs removed from his Spotify playlists, and wouldn't have co-signed that song. Don't listen to it." Fish Narc's claims of Lil Peep rejecting associations with XXXTentacion have not been substantiated. [10] Likewise, one of Lil Peep's closest collaborators, Lil Tracy, said that the two artists were "never even friends [and] didn't even like each other.. RIP to both of them." [10] On the contrary, rapper Fat Nick, a mutual friend of Lil Peep and XXXTentacion, said on Twitter that right before Lil Peep died, he and Lil Peep had a conversation about XXXTentacion and had planned to meet up with him, and that XXXTentacion was "super happy about it". [14] Fat Nick also spoke about the matter on an Instagram livestream, where he dismissed the claims from Fish Narc and others about tension between XXXTentacion and Lil Peep, and confirmed that Lil Peep wanted to meet XXXTentacion once he was off tour. In the livestream, he also implied that members of GothBoiClique were responsible for Lil Peep's death, saying, "Some of y'all are siding with the people that took advantage of Peep. I don't get it... That's crazy. Y'all say shit about fucking X, but you're not saying shit about the people that killed [Lil Peep]... The people that gave him fentanyl. Y'all don't say shit to them." [15] After this, Fish Narc faced criticism for his initial statement condemning the song. Fish Narc responded on Twitter, "I feel that people think I am trying to insult X. But really I wish him rest. I protest a posthumous collab between unaffiliated artists," and clarified that he did not wish to attack XXXTentacion and that his comments were, "how I interpreted what Peep told me as a friend." [16] [17] Following the release of the song, Fish Narc and Lil Tracy retracted their initial statements, with Fish Narc stating that his original stance was "what [he] said in anger". [10]

During an interview with XXL , Makonnen defended his decision to include XXXTentacion, saying, "If Lil Peep was alive, and me and Peep are friends, and I guess I can speak for Lil Peep since it's our project together, I would say that we would be very open to talking with whoever and to making any sort of creative things happen." [10] Makonnen mentioned the role that Lil Peep and XXXTentacion's mothers had in conception of the song. He said, "I definitely think it was like the mothers' wish. [XXXTentacion] had just been tragically taken away and Peep passed away as well. I think it's something both the mothers have in common. The mothers have the final say because these are their children at the end of the day." [10] In August 2018, Lil Peep's mother, Liza Womack responded to a fan's concerns on Instagram, stating that releasing the song with XXXTentacion added onto to it was "Makonnen's choice" and not hers. [10] However, she later relented after speaking with XXXTentacion's mother, Cleopatra Bernard. [18] Womack also joined Bernard in receiving the Platinum plaques for "Falling Down" on Lil Peep and XXXTentacion's behalf. [19] The rights to Lil Peep's unreleased music are owned by Columbia Records. [10] One month following the release of "Falling Down," transcripts of XXXTentacion allegedly confessing to a some of his charges were revealed to the public. [20] [21] According to the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's office, the tape was considered a confession by both the prosecution and XXXTentacion's defense. [22] In an interview with The Fader , when Makonnen was asked if his perception of "Falling Down" had been changed by the news, he demurred by saying, "I don't know anything about that." [20]

Critical reception

Rolling Stone writer Charles Holmes stated, "Lil Peep and XXXTentacion's "Falling Down" ... is a controversial, convoluted and potentially cathartic release, depending on your vantage point." [23] Jami Tabberer of Gay Star News remarked, "the guest artist on wistful bonus track Falling Down will give some LGBTIs pause for thought. The late XXXTentacion, who was murdered in July [sic], [a] was of course flagrantly homophobic. Lil Peep brings something gentle and searching out in him on thus bonus track, as two lost souls struggle to decipher their pain ... Listening to it with hindsight is devastating." [24] Contradicting Tabberer's assertion, XXXTentacion had stated in interviews that he was not homophobic, and had previously declared his support for LGBT rights and condemned homophobia from hate groups. [25] [26] Writing for The New York Times , Jon Caramanica called the song "undercooked," describing it as "a light-touch recording he made over a snippet of Lil Peep's music." [27]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Falling Down"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [66] Platinum70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [67] 2× Platinum160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [68] Platinum90,000‡
France (SNEP) [69] Platinum200,000‡
Germany (BVMI) [70] Platinum400,000‡
Italy (FIMI) [71] Platinum100,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON) [72] Platinum+Gold90,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [73] 3× Platinum90,000‡
Poland (ZPAV) [74] Platinum50,000‡
Portugal (AFP) [75] Gold5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [76] Gold30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [77] Platinum600,000‡
United States (RIAA) [78] 4× Platinum4,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

"Sunlight on Your Skin"

"Sunlight on Your Skin"
Sunlight On Your Skin cover.jpg
Single by Lil Peep and iLoveMakonnen
from the album Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2 (Deluxe edition)
ReleasedSeptember 27, 2018 (2018-09-27)
Recorded2017
Length3:20
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lil Peep singles chronology
"Falling Down"
(2018)		"Sunlight on Your Skin"
(2018)		"Cry Alone"
(2018)
iLoveMakonnen singles chronology
"Love"
(2017)		"Sunlight on Your Skin"
(2018)		"I've Been Waiting"
(2019)

"Sunlight on Your Skin" is the original version of "Falling Down" recorded by American rappers Lil Peep and iLoveMakonnen. It was released as a single on September 27, 2018. [79]

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [80] 36

Notes

  1. ↑ XXXTentacion was murdered in June 2018. Tabberer incorrectly stated that it was in July.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Berry, Peter A. (September 19, 2018). "ILoveMakonnen Explains Lil Peep and XXXTentacion's "Falling Down"". XXL Mag. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  2. ↑ Sommerfeldt, Chris (December 8, 2017). "Lil Peep died from powerful drug overdose". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  3. ↑ Holmes, Charles (September 19, 2018). "How Lil Peep and XXXTentacion's Posthumous Collaboration 'Falling Down' Came Together". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  4. ↑ Moore, Sam (September 19, 2018). "Listen to posthumous Lil Peep and XXXTentacion song 'Falling Down'". NME. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Eloise, Marianne (October 22, 2018). "Lil Peep: how to handle the release of an album shrouded in tragedy". The Guardian. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Hitt, Tarley (June 5, 2018). "The Real Story of South Florida Rapper XXXTentacion" . Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  7. ↑ Yoo, Noah (September 18, 2018). "New Song From Lil Peep and XXXTentacion to Be Released Tomorrow". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ Ivey, Justin (September 19, 2018). "Lil Peep & XXXTENTACION's Posthumous Track "Falling Down" Arrives". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  9. ↑ Burks, Tosten (September 18, 2018). "Lil Peep and XXXTentacion "Falling Down" Snippet". XXL Mag. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Daramola, Israel (September 20, 2018). "What Would Lil Peep Think of His New Song With XXXTentacion?". Spin . Spin Media, LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  11. ↑ Eloise, Marianne (October 22, 2018). "Lil Peep: how to handle the release of an album shrouded in tragedy". The Guardian. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  12. ↑ D'Souza, Shaad (September 20, 2018). "Should This XXXTentacion and Lil Peep Song Exist?". Vice . Vice Media Group LLC.
  13. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTENTACION's "Falling Down" Explained". YouTube . October 11, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Fat Nick Announces XXXTentacion & Lil Peep Collab, Downplays "Beef"". HNHH. August 18, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Fat Nick Clears The Air On Lil Peep Song Falling Down Featuring XXXTENTACION". YouTube . August 17, 2018.
  16. ↑ "fish_narc on Twitter".
  17. ↑ "fish_narc on Twitter".
  18. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (October 31, 2018). "Lil Peep Died Before Becoming Pop Royalty. His New Music May Change That". The New York Times .
  19. ↑ "XXXTentacion's Mom Settles $10,000 Hospital Bill Over Rapper's Death". July 26, 2019.
  20. 1 2 Darville, Jordan (January 21, 2019). "ILoveMakonnen Speaks on the Controversy and Catharsis of Shepherding Lil Peep's Legacy". The Fader . Andy Cohn.
  21. ↑ Suarez, Gary (October 26, 2018). "Why XXXTentacion's Violent Confession Matters Even After His Death". The Guardian . Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  22. ↑ Hogan, Marc (October 23, 2018). "XXXTentacion Confessed to Domestic Abuse and Other Violent Crimes in Newly Obtained Secret Recording". Pitchfork . Condé Nast . Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  23. ↑ Holmes, Charles (September 19, 2018). "How Lil Peep and XXXTentacion's Posthumous Collaboration 'Falling Down' Came Together". Rolling Stone . Jann Wenner . Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  24. ↑ Tabberer, Jamie (December 10, 2018). "The 8 Best Albums of the Year Were All By LGBTI Pop Stars, Obviously". Gay Star News . Archived from the original on September 28, 2021.
  25. ↑ "The Xxxtentacion Interview". YouTube . April 27, 2016.
  26. ↑ "XXXTentacion Starts 'F*ck the KKK!' Chant at Revenge Tour Show". Complex Networks .
  27. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (December 10, 2018). "XXXTentacion Left Splinters Amid the Wreckage on 'Skins'". The New York Times .
  28. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Lil Peep Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  33. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 39. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  35. ↑ "EESTI TIPP-40 MUUSIKAS: surnud räpparid lõpetasid nublu ülemvõimu". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). October 1, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Lil Peep, XXXTentacion: Falling Down" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Lil Peep". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". Top Digital Download. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  43. ↑ "45.nedēļa - tuvojas Decembris un tuvojas arēna" (in Latvian). LAIPA. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  44. ↑ "2018 39-os SAVAITĖS (rugsėjo 21–27 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 28, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion - Falling Down". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". VG-lista. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Official Russia Top 100 Airplay Chart" (in Russian). Tophit . Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  51. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  52. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 38. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  53. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  54. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  56. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  57. ↑ "Lil Peep Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Lil Peep Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  59. ↑ "Lil Peep Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  60. ↑ "EESTI TIPP-100 MUUSIKAS: Neid artiste ja lugusid kuulati möödunud aastal Eestis kõige rohkem". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). January 16, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  61. ↑ "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 200 Singles 2018" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  62. ↑ "CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2019)". Tophit . Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  63. ↑ "Digitālās Mūzikas Tops 2019" (in Latvian). LAIPA . Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  64. ↑ "Top All Media Hits Russia Annual Chart 2019". Tophit . Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  65. ↑ "Russian Top Year-End Radio Hits (2019)". Tophit. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  66. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  67. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". Music Canada . Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  68. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  69. ↑ "French single certifications – Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  70. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Lil Pep & XXXTentacion; 'Falling Down')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  71. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  72. ↑ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas . Retrieved June 7, 2022.Type Lil Peep & XXXTentacion in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Falling Down in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  73. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Lil Peep and XXXTentacion – Falling Down". Radioscope. Retrieved February 13, 2025.Type Falling Down in the "Search:" field.
  74. ↑ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2022 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  75. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  76. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España . Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  77. ↑ "British single certifications – Lil Peep & Xxxtentacion – Falling Down". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  78. ↑ "American single certifications – Lil Peep & XXXTentacion – Falling Down". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  79. ↑ Darville, Jordan (September 27, 2018). "Listen to "Sunlight On Your Skin" by Lil Peep and iLoveMakonnen". The Fader. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  80. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.