Hailed as one of the most genre-fluid artists of a generation, XXXTENTACION’s “Let’s Pretend We’re Numb” is yet another reminder of the late icon’s undeniable talent and lyrical ingenuity.
Originally a part of his scrapped 2015 EP, ItWillAllBeOverSoon, X lets love linger through emotional raps and sample-laden production — showcasing his softer side clad with a fiery cadence on the posthumous single. Arriving to all digital streaming platforms on Friday (May 26), “Let’s Pretend We’re Numb” dropped days before the one-year anniversary of X and Kanye West’s “True Love,” a highlight off Ye’s Stem Player exclusive, Donda 2.
Introspective, melancholic lines like, “I’ll forever be the elephant in the room,” hit harder when you reminisce on Jahseh’s sonic come-up. Holding an inimitable affinity for emotion, X raps about a girl, most likely his ex-girlfriend Cinthia, and what it feels like seeing each other after their relationship ended badly.
Knowing they both miss each other, they try to make one another jealous, as X starts to blame his actions for losing her in the first place. It never felt the same to X: “Can’t replace you with these bitches that I talk to / This ain’t lust, it’s love, we had trust, what’s good?”
As a fair warning to everyone listening to this song / I advise you to not hide your feelings / Don’t pretend to be okay when you’re not okay / Don’t pretend to be happy when you’re sad / It’ll only lead to your misery
XXXTENTACION – “Let’s Pretend We’re Numb”
Following his previous posthumous drop “I’m Not Human” with Lil Uzi Vert, both tracks are further indications of more music from Jah’s early career coming to streaming. Similarly, X’s estate plans on bringing the Florida phenom’s archived EPs from 2014-17 to all DSPs in the near future. Projects like The Fall (2014) and ItWasntEnough (2016) are reported to be in the final stages of clearance, hoping to make their official debuts later this year.
With Jah’s murder trial behind them, X’s camp can now fully focus on feeding fans with the music that shaped his career.
Listen to ‘Let’s Pretend We’re Numb’ below!
