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about this album
On “Riot,” XXXTENTACION is giving his thoughts on the killings of African Americans across the United States and the riots that ensue. X condemns officers who abuse their authority and power, but he also condemns those who riot as a form of protest. He tells them that they should consider the people behind the businesses that they loot and destroy. He wants them to think about and realize how their spontaneous actions can have lasting repercussions for the victims and their families. He understands and agrees with their pain, but he wants them to channel it in a different, more peaceful way. The song was initially released in mid-2015, months after the deaths of Michael Brown and more. After Brown’s murder, several riots occurred in Ferguson, Missouri. A music video for “Riot” was included within the video for X’s December 2015 single, “Look at Me!” The video premiered on September 12, 2017. “Riot” was likely included because its message was still important after several more unjust killings of African Americans by police had occurred in the United States after its initial debut. “Riot” was re-released onto streaming platforms on June 1, 2020, notably amidst nationwide protests of George Floyd’s murder. One of the major aspects of these protests were violent riots and the looting of businesses across the country, so X’s message in this song was a foreshadowing of the then-current state of America. The new version cuts the song to 1:19, removing the Klansman outro from the
