Thought I Was Dead

Last updated
"Thought I Was Dead"
Promotional single by Tyler, the Creator featuring Schoolboy Q and Santigold
from the album Chromakopia
ReleasedOctober 28, 2024
Genre Hip hop
Length3:27
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Tyler Okonma
Producer(s) Tyler, the Creator
Music video
"Thought I Was Dead" on YouTube

"Thought I Was Dead" is a song by American rapper Tyler, the Creator featuring American rapper Schoolboy Q and American singer Santigold, with physical releases of the album additionally featuring American rapper Playboi Carti. It was released through Columbia Records as the eleventh track from the former's studio album, Chromakopia , on October 28, 2024. The song was produced by Tyler, the Creator himself.

Contents

Composition

The song has been considered similar in style to the music of Tyler, the Creator's album Cherry Bomb (2015). [1] [2] It contains a horn-led beat with a "busy" drum pattern, while Tyler uses a "bassy" delivery. [1]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews. Elias Andrews of HotNewHipHop wrote of the song, "The chorus is simple and catchy. ScHoolboy Q, who also popped up on a stellar Cherry Bomb cut, brings his typical hybrid of menace and energy to the table. He's the perfect rapper to get on a beat this bizarre." [1] Matt Mitchell of Paste wrote "Tyler and Schoolboy Q go toe-to-toe in a sparring match of dick-swinging verses". [3] Fred Garratt-Stanley of NME commented the song has an "infectious hip-hop bite". [4] Reviewing Chromakopia for Pitchfork , Heven Haile stated "Tyler is an amazing rapper when he wants to be, even on cartoony beats like 'Balloon' and 'Thought I Was Dead.'" [2] Francis Buseko of The Quietus called the song "a powerful declaration of resilience that exudes Tyler's confidence, dismissing doubts and signalling his unapologetic survival." [5]

Controversy

In the lyrics, Tyler references his previous comments in an interview with marketer and media personality Maverick Carter ("White boys mockin' this shit, and y'all mad at me? Y'all can suck my dick / Pull up old tweets, pull up old t-shirts, all that; I moonwalk over that bitch") in which he criticized a "white kid" (allegedly rapper Ian) for mocking rappers like Future and Gucci Mane. [6] [7]

Music video

A music video for the song was released on October 26, 2024 in promotion of Chromakopia. It was directed by Tyler, the Creator and shot by Luis "Panch" Perez. [8] In it, Tyler is dressed in a military uniform [9] [10] as he dances, prances, marches and stands on the wing of a vintage airplane that appears to be delivering his Chromakopia shipping container in the middle of an airfield. [6] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] He is also shown inside the carrier, in a pitch-black background wearing a flesh-toned mask. [9] Men in suits stand guard around the aircraft. [6] The clip is mainly filmed in a sepia tone, [12] but Tyler's attire is revealed to be green in the end. [9]

Alternative version

An alternative version of the song featuring a guest verse from American rapper Playboi Carti appears on the vinyl version of Chromakopia as a bonus track. [13]

Charts

Chart performance for "Thought I Was Dead"
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [14] 58
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [15] 49
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [16] 41
US Billboard Hot 100 [17] 32
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [18] 11

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Andrews, Elias (October 29, 2024). "Tyler, The Creator And ScHoolboy Q Reunite For "Thought I Was Dead"". HotNewHipHop . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 Haile, Heven (October 31, 2024). "CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, the Creator". Pitchfork . Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  3. ↑ Mitchell, Matt (October 30, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator Finds Sanctuary On the Capricious, Limitless CHROMAKOPIA". Paste . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  4. ↑ Garratt-Stanley, Fred (October 30, 2024). "Tyler, The Creator – 'Chromakopia' review: a landscape of chaos that reflects his own psychological conflict". NME . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  5. ↑ Buseko, Francis (November 1, 2024). "Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia". The Quietus . Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 Trapp, Malcolm (October 26, 2024). "Tyler, The Creator Unloads "THOUGHT I WAS DEAD" Visuals Ahead Of 'CHROMAKOPIA'". Rap-Up . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  7. ↑ Pointer, Flisadam (October 27, 2024). "Tyler The Creator Has Been Accused Of Making 'Racist Sh*t' Following The Release Of His Latest Single 'Thought I Was Dead'". Uproxx . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  8. 1 2 Setaro, Shawn (October 27, 2024). "Tyler, The Creator Goes Martial In Video For 'Thought I Was Dead'". HipHopDX . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Velasquez, Angelina (October 26, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator unveils dystopian visual for "THOUGHT I WAS DEAD" ahead of 'CHROMAKOPIA' album release". Revolt . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  10. 1 2 Peters, Mitchell (October 27, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator Shares Video for 'Chromakopia' Song 'Thought I Was Dead': Watch". Billboard . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  11. ↑ Inman, Demicia (October 28, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator Shares "THOUGHT I WAS DEAD" Music Video". Vibe . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  12. 1 2 Hudson, Alex (October 26, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator Shares "Thought I Was Dead" Video". Exclaim! . Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  13. ↑ Moore, Sam (October 29, 2024). "Playboi Carti's Bonus Verse On Tyler, The Creator's 'Chromakopia' Surfaces: Listen". HipHopDX. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 November 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1809. Australian Recording Industry Association. November 4, 2024. p. 5.
  15. ↑ "Tyler the Creator Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Tyler the Creator Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Tyler the Creator Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Tyler the Creator Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
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