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XXX (Kendrick Lamar song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = XXX
| cover =
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| artist = Kendrick Lamar featuring U2
| album = Damn
| released =
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| recorded = 2017
| studio = Jungle City Studios
| venue =
| genre = Progressive rap
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}}
"'XXX'" (stylized as "'XXX.'", pronounced "'X-Rated'") is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album 'Damn', released on April 14, 2017. The eleventh track on the album (fourth on the 'Collector's Edition' of 'Damn'), the song was written by Lamar, Mike Will Made It, DJ Dahi, Mark Spears Sounwave, Anthony Tiffith, Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., and produced by Mike Will Made It, DJ Dahi, and Sounwave, with additional production by Top Dawg and Bkon. The song features samples of the songs "America" by Bkon and "American Soul" by Irish rock band U2. Although not released as a single, the song charted in multiple countries in 2017.
Composition
The lyrics of "XXX" are about speaking truth to power. The first verse has Lamar talking about what he would do if anything happened to his family. The chorus then features Bono, the lead singer of Irish rock band U2, singing a prominent refrain in the latter half of the song. Lamar also references then-current U.S. President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama in the lyric, "Donald Trump's in office; we lost Barack, and promised to never doubt him again".
Critical reception
"XXX" received widespread acclaim from music critics. Ian Servantes of 'Spin' called the song "damn good." Steven Hyden of 'Uproxx' said that U2's cameo was "very un-U2-like" but in a good way.
Live performances
Lamar performed "XXX" live, without U2, at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 23, 2017. Lamar has performed "XXX" on the Damn tour. Lamar performed "XXX" live with U2 at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in January 2018. Lamar and U2 performed an excerpt before segueing into a verse from "DNA".
Credits and personnel
band active since the 1970s, had never been featured on a hip hop song until their collaboration with Lamar on "XXX".
Credits adapted from the official 'Damn' digital booklet.
*Kendrick Duckworth songwriter, additional keys
*Mike Will Made It songwriter, producer
*Dacoury Natche songwriter, producer
*Mark Spears songwriter, producer
*Anthony "Topdawg" Tiffith songwriter, producer
*Paul Hewson songwriter, voice
*David Evans songwriter
*Adam Clayton songwriter
*Larry Mullen Jr. songwriter
*Bkon additional production and vocals
*Kid Capri additional vocals
*Derek Ali mixing
*Tyler Page mix assistant
*Cyrus Taghipour mix assistant
*Zeke Mishanic additional recording
*Brendan Silas Perry additional recording
Charts
Certifications
References
Category:2017 songs
Category:Kendrick Lamar songs
Category:Songs about Donald Trump
Category:Songs written by Kendrick Lamar
Category:Songs written by Mike Will Made It
Category:Songs written by Bono
Category:Songs written by the Edge
Category:Songs written by Adam Clayton
Category:Songs written by Larry Mullen Jr.
Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Will Made It
Category:Songs written by DJ Dahi
Category:Songs written by Sounwave
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