Telekinesis (song)

Last updated
"Telekinesis"
Song by Travis Scott featuring SZA and Future
from the album Utopia
ReleasedJuly 28, 2023
Recorded2019–2023
Genre Hip hop
Length5:53
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Telekinesis" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper and singer Travis Scott featuring fellow American singer SZA and fellow American rapper Future, released on July 28, 2023, as the penultimate track from the former's fourth studio album Utopia . The song was produced by Scott and BoogzDaBeast, with additional production from Jahaan Sweet, Hudson Mohawke, and Kanye West, as the song was originally for the latter's Donda (2021).

Contents

Background

The song was originally a gospel song recorded for Kanye West's album Donda , first under the title of "Future Bounce", then renamed as "Future Sounds", and then renamed as "Ultrasounds". It previously also leaked and teased online. Changes in the final version include the production and exclusion of West's vocals. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Despite being given to Travis Scott, the track's chord progression ended up being repurposed into West's song "Heaven and Hell", which did make its way onto Donda.

On January 8, 2025, songwriter Victory Boyd filed a copyright infringement legal complaint against Scott, SZA and Future, alleging that "Telekinesis" utilized elements of her 2019 song "Like the Way It Sounds" [6] [7] – reportedly written during the studio sessions for West's album Jesus Is King – [8] without her permission. [6] [7] The suit alleged that Boyd, who is credited as a co-writer on the metadata for "Telekinesis", shared her original song with Kanye West, who then recorded a version titled "Ultrasounds"; West then shared the track with Scott without Boyd's "authorization, knowledge or consent". [6] [7] Boyd also sued watchmaker Audemars Piguet for using "Telekinesis" in a collaborative advertising campaign with Scott's Cactus Jack brand, despite her refusal to grant them a license. [7] [8]

Composition

Through most of the song, soft, wavy synthesizers are played in the production. During Travis Scott's chorus refrain, the instrumental uses "quick snare hits, deep bass, trill hi-hats, and industrial tones", [1] coming in when he proclaims "the future of the bounce". Future's lyrics revolve around isolation increasing his drug addiction, [9] [10] while SZA laments losing a past lover, referencing the song "Marvins Room" by Drake. [9] The track samples "Arena —- 83 bpm" by Wallis Lane. [11]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, with particular acclaim towards SZA's appearance. Complex's Stefan Breskin considered it the best song from Utopia, while Eric Skelton commented that the song "jumped out on first listen" and Mike Destefano called it a "close second" for him. Jessica McKinney and Destefano also regarded the song as having among the album's best features. [12] Gabriel Bras Nevares of HotNewHipHop said, "Out of all the gorgeous moments on this new LP, 'Telekinesis' with Future and SZA is one of the most ascendant." He further stated "SZA's beautiful vocal performance and rapping paired perfectly with rising synths and string arrangements" and compared the song to Travis Scott and Beyoncé's "Delresto (Echoes)" in that "'Telekinesis' opts for consistent and elevatory progressions rather than a big payoff. As a result, it might not gratify you on impact, but every melody and second of its journey will work its way into you." [1] Vivian Medithi of HipHopDX commented "Unlike the rest of Scott's leftovers, UTOPIA breathes new life into the track, if only by passing the baton to Future and SZA", before calling the song a "great example of why people bother with these records in the first place." [4] Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre wrote that "Future is strong over the orchestral beat of 'Telekinesis,' and I like when he raps, 'Countin' so much money till my skin peel.' SZA is here, too, sounding good and sounding like she's collecting a check." [13] Andre Gee of Rolling Stone commented that Scott had a "solid verse" in the song, and "When Future laments on 'Telekinesis' that he's 'takin' more drugs all alone in a mansion/Walkin' around tweakin' with the yop in my hands," you feel like someone's finally depicting what rich-nigga nihilism is supposed to sound like." [10] Ben Devlin of MusicOMH wrote that "Scott's match-making reaches its apex" in the song. [9]

Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of Billboard ranked it as the best song from Utopia. [14]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Telekinesis"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [37] Gold35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [38] Platinum40,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [39] 2× Platinum160,000‡
Italy (FIMI) [40] Gold50,000‡
Poland (ZPAV) [41] Gold25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [42] Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [43] Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Nevares, Gabriel Bras (July 30, 2023). "Travis Scott, Future & SZA Soar Through Space On "Utopia"'s "Telekinesis"". HotNewHipHop . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Galindo, Thomas (2023-07-29). "Review: Travis Scott's Return on 'Utopia' is Everything Rap Needed, and Then Some". American Songwriter . Archived from the original on July 30, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
  3. ↑ Leake, Desmond (August 1, 2023). "Travis Scott's Utopia: In With the Old and Out With the New". Paste . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 Medithi, Vivian- (2023-07-30). "'Utopia' Is More Boring Than Travis Scott". HipHopDX . Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  5. ↑ Kanye West (Ft. Travis Scott) – Ultrasounds , retrieved 2023-08-20
  6. 1 2 3 Paul, Larisha (January 9, 2025). "Songwriter Hits Travis Scott, SZA, Future With Copyright Suit Over 'Telekinesis'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Donahue, Bill (January 9, 2025). "Travis Scott, SZA & Future Face Copyright Suit Over 'Telekinesis'". Billboard . Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Boice, Ed (January 17, 2025). "Gospel Singer Victory Boyd Sues Travis Scott, SZA, & Future For Stealing Music". Rapzilla . Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Devlin, Ben (August 4, 2023). "Travis Scott – Utopia". MusicOMH . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  10. 1 2 Gee, Andre (July 31, 2023). "Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Is an Empty Paradise". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  11. ↑ 「UTOPIA」の背後に潜む「DONDA」の秘密: トラヴィス・スコットとカニエの交差点 [The secret of “DONDA” behind “UTOPIA”: The intersection of Travis Scott and Kanye]. note（ノート） (in Japanese). 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
  12. ↑ McKinney, Jessica; Caraballo, Ecleen Luzmila; Skelton, Eric; Rose, Jordan; Breskin, Stefan; Destefano, Mike; Felderstein, Ben (July 28, 2023). "First Impressions Of Travis Scott's New Album 'Utopia'". Complex . Retrieved 16 August 2023.
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  14. ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (July 28, 2023). "Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Album: All 19 Songs Ranked". Billboard . Retrieved 16 August 2023.
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  34. ↑ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Year-End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  37. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Travis Scott feat. SZA & Future – Telekinesis" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Travis Scott – Telekinesis". Music Canada . Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Travis Scott feat. SZA & Future – Telekinesis" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved November 29, 2024.
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