Ego Death (song)

"Ego Death" is a song by American singer Ty Dolla Sign, featuring guest appearances by fellow American rapper Kanye West, British singer FKA Twigs, and American record producer Skrillex. It was released as the lead single from Ty's third studio album, Featuring Ty Dolla Sign, on July 1, 2020. It also features additional vocals by American singer Serpentwithfeet, political activist Angela Davis, and music composer Jariuce "Jehreeus" Banks. It was produced by Ty Dolla Sign, Skrillex, and BoogzDaBeast. The song was first previewed in April 2019 and leaked online in March 2020 before being released officially.

"Ego Death"
Single by Ty Dolla Sign featuring Kanye West, FKA Twigs and Skrillex
from the album Featuring Ty Dolla Sign
ReleasedJuly 1, 2020
Recorded2018–2019
GenreHouse[1]
Length3:51
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Ty Dolla Sign singles chronology
"All I Need"
(2020)		 "Ego Death"
(2020)		 "Yacht Club"
(2020)
Kanye West singles chronology
"Wash Us in the Blood"
(2020)		 "Ego Death"
(2020)		 "Nah Nah Nah"
(2020)
FKA Twigs singles chronology
"If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)"
(2020)		 "Ego Death"
(2020)		 "Sum Bout U"
(2020)
Skrillex singles chronology
"Midnight Hour"
(2019)		 "Ego Death"
(2020)		 "Selection"
(2020)

Background and recording
Upon release, Ty Dolla Sign described "Ego Death" as his "best work yet".[2]

Ty Dolla Sign and West have previously collaborated numerous times, including the songs "Only One", "Real Friends", and "Everything We Need". The former has collaborated with Skrillex on multiple songs, including "Midnight Hour", and with Serpentwithfeet on their track "Receipts".[2] Skrillex also collaborated with both FKA Twigs and West in the past.[3]

Ty Dolla Sign began producing the song after hearing women at a party discussing ego death. He included a sample of West walking down the streets of Chicago saying "Hold up. There's a train going by." after seeing it in an Instagram video. Ty Dolla Sign then went to Chicago to record for West's album Yandhi, which was later scrapped and became Jesus Is King (2019).[3][4] West "went crazy" after Ty Dolla Sign previewed the song for him. FKA Twigs later recorded her part in London and Skrillex worked on the track in Los Angeles.[3]

In April 2019, the song was played at a Coachella party in dedication to 420.[5] In August 2019, Spin reported that Ty Dolla Sign planned to release "Ego Death" as the lead single to his forthcoming album. It was compared to Ty Dolla Sign and West's previous collaboration, "Fade".[6] In March 2020, the song leaked online.[7]

Composition and lyrics

"Ego Death" is built on a four-note bass progression and has been compared to West and Ty Dolla Sign's previous house collaboration, "Fade". The song samples house records "You Used to Hold Me" by American producer Ralphi Rosario, and "Free" by American recording artist Ultra Naté.[1] The song also includes a sample of "Dance for Me" by Queen Latifah in the outro. Ty Dolla Sign partnered with the company Triller to create a "first-ever of its kind" 9D experience for the song.[8]

Ty Dolla Sign sings about a faltered relationship and ego death. West criticizes the Super Bowl and the Grammys, and compares birth control to voter suppression. The song ends with a short outro performed by FKA Twigs.[1][8]

Release

"Ego Death" was released on July 1, 2020, a day after West released his own single, "Wash Us in the Blood".[1][8] Ty Dolla Sign issued a press release calling the song "a very special record" and "my best work yet".[2]

Music video

The animated official music video, featuring each artist involved with the making of the song, was released on July 20, 2020. The psychedelic aesthetic depicts Ty Dolla Sign ingesting magic mushrooms while being hunted by an evil murderous female, as well as random various thought processes and unusual situations unfolding for the featured artists.[9]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[10]

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 68
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[12] 26
Germany (Official German Charts)[13] 92
Greece (IFPI)[14] 93
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 41
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[16] 33
Portugal (AFP)[17] 167
Scotland (OCC)[18] 54
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 54
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 95
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 34
UK R&B (OCC)[22] 25
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[23] 7
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[24] 29

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Ego Death"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various July 1, 2020
Atlantic [25]
United States July 28, 2020 Rhythmic contemporary radio [26]

References
  1. "Ty Dolla $ign, Kanye West Pay Tribute to Classic House Music on 'Ego Death'". Rolling Stone. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  2. Evan Minsker (July 1, 2020). "Ty Dolla Sign Shares "Ego Death," New Song With Kanye West, FKA twigs, Skrillex, and serpentwithfeet: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. Joe Price (July 1, 2020). "Ty Dolla Sign Shares Kanye West, Skrillex, and FKA twigs Collab "Ego Death"". Complex. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. Jessica McKinney (August 30, 2019). "Kanye West's Road From 'Yandhi' to 'Jesus Is King'". Complex. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. Heather Snowden (May 3, 2019). "An Unreleased Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign Collab Track Has Surfaced". Highsnobiety. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. Jordan Sargent (August 6, 2019). "Inside Music's Epicenter With Ty Dolla $ign". Spin. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. Viral MVP (March 5, 2020). "Ty Dolla $ign – Ego Death (feat. Kanye West, Skrillex & FKA Twigs)". OnSmash. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  8. Carl Lamarre (July 1, 2020). "Ty Dolla Sign Recruits a Super Team in Kanye West, Fka Twigs and Skrillex For 'Ego Death': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  9. "Ty Dolla $ign Drops "Ego Death" Video"". HighSnobiety. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  10. "Ego Death (feat. Kanye West, FKA Twigs, & Skrillex) - Ty Dolla Sign". Tidal. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  11. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 13 July 2020". No. 1584. Australian Recording Industry Association. July 13, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  12. "Ultratop.be – Ty Dolla $ign feat. Kanye West, FKA Twigs & Skrillex – Ego Death" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ty Dolla $ign feat. Kanye West, FKA Twigs & Skrillex – Ego Death". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  14. "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 28/2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  15. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  16. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 6, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  17. "Portuguesecharts.com – Ty Dolla $ign feat. Kanye West, FKA Twigs & Skrillex – Ego Death". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  19. "Swedishcharts.com – Ty Dolla $ign feat. Kanye West, FKA Twigs & Skrillex – Ego Death". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  20. "Swisscharts.com – Ty Dolla $ign feat. Kanye West, FKA Twigs & Skrillex – Ego Death". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  22. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  23. "Ty Dolla $ign Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  24. "Ty Dolla $ign Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  25. "Ego Death (feat. Kanye West, FKA twigs & Skrillex) by Ty Dolla $ign". Apple Music. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  26. "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
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