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Ego Death (song)

"Ego Death" is a song by American singer Ty Dolla Sign featuring American rapper Kanye West, English singer-songwriter FKA Twigs, and American DJ Skrillex, released for digital download and streaming through Atlantic Records on July 1, 2020, as the lead single from the former's third studio album, Featuring Ty Dolla Sign (2020). It contains additional vocals by Serpentwithfeet, Angela Davis, and Jariuce "Jehreeus" Banks. Ty Dolla Sign, Skrillex, and BoogzDaBeast produced the song. According to Ty, the song expands on West's "Fade", which he was featured on alongside Post Malone. Initially previewed after the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2019, the former experienced an internet leak in March 2020.

For other works of the same name, see Ego Death.

"Ego Death"

July 1, 2020

House

3:51

Atlantic

  • Ty Dolla Sign
  • Skrillex
  • BoogzDaBeast

A house number, "Ego Death" has electro-hop elements. The song samples Ralphi Rosario's "You Used to Hold Me", Ultra Naté's "Free", and Queen Latifah's "Dance for Me". Lyrically, it centers on ego death. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, most of whom praised West's verse. Some were appreciative of FKA Twigs' feature, while other critics complimented the chemistry of the four artists. The song reached number seven on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, published by Billboard, while peaking within the top 50 of the main charts in Ireland and the United Kingdom. An accompanying lyric video was released on July 20, 2020, which is animated and features the performers in cartoon form. They act out lyrics from the song in the video, being accompanied by varying tokens.

Release and promotion[edit]

"Ego Death" was released for digital download and streaming in various countries as the lead single from Featuring Ty Dolla Sign on July 1, 2020, a day after West released his own single "Wash Us in the Blood".[11][17][26] The song was later serviced to US rhythmic contemporary radio stations on July 28, 2020.[27] On October 23, 2020, "Ego Death" was included as the twenty-fifth and final track on Ty Dolla Sign's third studio album Featuring Ty Dolla Sign.[28] Simultaneously with the single release, an accompanying animated visualizer was shared.[29]


An animated lyric video for "Ego Death" was released on July 20, 2020, which was directed by motion graphics artist Emonee LaRussa.[16] The artist handled the animation alongside 10 animators, while three character designers also helped create the video.[30] It is a psychedelic aesthetic, which features cartoon versions of the song's performers and utilizes a kaleidoscope effect.[16][31][32] Different personalities are conveyed by them: Ty Dolla Sign appears blood-red and stoned, West is hyper and overly busy, FKA Twigs performs the martial arts that stage performances of hers were inspired by.[16] As the characters act them out, the lyrics are projected on a field of stars.[16] Tokens appear throughout the video, including ones that are connected to relationships, the Grammys, and internal struggles.[33] A woman slits Ty Dolla Sign's throat, symbolizing his ego being killed.[34] The characters can be seen licking neon blood off knives and tripping over magic mushrooms at points, and content that West raps about comes to life.[32][34]

Commercial performance[edit]

After its first full week of tracking, "Ego Death" debuted at number seven on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for the chart issue dated July 18, 2020, with 4.5 million on-demand streams.[37][38] The song lasted for one week on the chart, though earned 2.9 million on-demand streams in its second week of tracking.[37][38] In the same week as its Hot 100 debut, the song entered the Top Triller U.S. chart at number two, before rising to the summit of the chart for the issue date of July 25, 2020.[37] The song later reached number 29 on the US Rhythmic chart for the issue dated September 5, 2020.[39]


Elsewhere in North America, the song charted at number 69 on the Canadian Hot 100.[40] It remained on the chart for a total of two weeks.[41] "Ego Death" experienced similar performance in Australia, reaching number 68 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[42] In the United Kingdom, the song was most successful, entering the UK Singles Chart at number 34.[43] It spent nine weeks on the chart, the first four of which were within the top 40.[44] On June 11, 2021, the song was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for amassing 200,000 units in the UK.[45] The song performed similarly in Ireland, debuting at number 41 on the Irish Singles Chart.[46] It peaked at number 54 on both the Scottish Singles Chart and Swedish Sverigetopplistan chart, as well as debuting at number 57 on the Lithuanian Top 100.[47][48][49] "Ego Death" further opened at number two on the Top Triller Global chart, with the top video for the song accumulating 2.3 million plays on the app.[37]

on YouTube

Visualizer