Riot (XXXTentacion song)

"Riot" is a song by American rapper and singer 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, which was used to point out the rising danger of racism, homophobia, and antisemitism in the United States.^[2]

"Riot"
Single by XXXTentacion
Released	May 1, 2015 (SoundCloud) June 1, 2020 (Empire re-release)
Recorded	2015
Genre	Political hip hop Boom bap
Length	1:19[a]
Label	Bad Vibes Forever Empire
Songwriter(s)	Jahseh Onfroy
Producer(s)	Luke White
XXXTentacion singles chronology
"Bad Vibes Forever" (2019) "Riot" (2020) "Vice City" (2022)

Background

The track was originally released in May 2015, after protests of the killing of Michael Brown.^[1][3] The song was then released on streaming services in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed.^[4]

Composition

On the song, XXXTentacion is critical of the practice of rioting, while also denouncing racist and homophobic rhetoric from hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.^[5] 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, X 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 Onfroy's 2015 track "Look at Me".^[6][7][8]

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[9]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[10]	Platinum	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[11]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

1. 2:05 for the original 2015 SoundCloud release.

References

1. "XXXTentacion's 2015 Song 'Riot' Has Been Re-Released On Streaming Services In Light Of The Protests". Uproxx. 5 June 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
2. "XXXTentacion Leads 'F— the KKK' Chant During Concert [VIDEO]".
3. "XXXTentacion's Song "Riot" Added to Streaming Services". UrbanIslandz. 9 June 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
4. "XXXTentacion "Riot" Added To Streaming Services During Protests". HotNewHipHop. 5 June 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
5. "XXXTentacion Starts 'F*ck the KKK!' Chant at Revenge Tour Show". Complex Networks.
6. "XXXTENTACION - Look At Me! (Official Video) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
7. "XXXTENTACION Gets Hung In The "Look At Me!" Video". HotNewHipHop. 12 September 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
8. "Música "Riot" do XXXTentacion é disponibilizada oficialmente em serviços de streaming". Rap 24 Horas. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
9. "Hot Singles Chart". The Official New Zealand Music Chart. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
10. "New Zealand single certifications – Xxxtentacion – Riot". Radioscope. Retrieved February 13, 2025. Type Riot in the "Search:" field.
11. "British single certifications – Xxxtentacion – Riot". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 5, 2025.