“Death Note” by GNAR (ft. Craig Xen & Lil Skies)
“Death Note” is a song which is centered primarily on the artists’ mental issues, personal lives and interactions with women, with Lil Skies, GNAR and Craig Xen respectively focusing on each of those themes.
Lil Skies
Lil Skies handles the intro, outro and choruses, which are based on him having “demons in (his) brain” that apparently has led to him ‘signing his death note’. The title “Death Note” is actually derived from a Japanese anime which on the surface appears to have no relationship with the subjects discussed in this song. However, based on the chorus, this expression seems tantamount to a mindframe along the lines of Skies acknowledging that his life is in peril.
GNAR
Meanwhile GNAR’s verse reads more like a standard rap song, in that it is based on his life which is centered on women, getting high, “stacking bands” and being rowdy. He does stick to the overall theme of “demons in (the) brain” by stating that sometimes he is “kind of psycho”.
Craig Xen
Then Craig Xen’s verse is centered on his interaction with a certain female. Its apparent fit into the overall theme is that he is hoping that his relationship with her would ‘fill a hole in his spirit’. This obviously alludes to his need for someone to alleviate his inner, mentally-based stressed.
Conclusion
So in summation, although there are other topics discussed, the common theme running throughout this is the mental dispositions of the artists which is highlighted by the presence of “demons”, as in destructive thoughts. For the most part, they seem to embrace this reality, but there is also the desire to find more-peaceful ways to express themselves.
Facts about “Death Note”
The music video to “Death Note” was directed by Cole Bennett, founder of Lyrical Lemonade.
As noted earlier, the title “Death Note” is actually derived from a Japanese cartoon which premiered in 2006. The association between the song and the series is made more evident by the artists depicting themselves as cartoon characters on the cover art and in social media posts in promotion of the song.
“Death Note” was written by the Gnar, Craig Xen and Lil Skies.
The track was produced by Outtatown and TM88.
“Death Note” was released on 4 June 2019 and his featured on Gnar’s project Fire Hazard.
