XXX

"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 Bēkon. The song features samples of the songs "America" by Bēkon and "American Soul" by Irish rock band U2. Although not released as a single, the song charted in multiple countries in 2017. These countries include Ireland, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, and Sweden. Though it only appeared for 1 week for the New Zealand, Sweden, and United Kingdom charts, it stayed for 3 weeks on Ireland and United States charts, and remained on the Canada music charts for 4 weeks. The highest the song ever reached on any country's primary music chart was at number 22 in Ireland. Composition The lyrics of "XXX" are about speaking truth to power. Some of its primary themes include violence, revenge, as well as the effect of those themes upon the political system in the United States of America. 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". The song also features religious references in multiple lyrics, including "throw a steak off the ark to a pool full of sharks" to reference the common biblical story of Noah's Ark. As well, he states "K-Dot can you pray for me?" and "I know that you anointed, show me how to overcome" within one verse to showcase himself as one who acts in the Lord's favor. The song also features lines mentioning a character of "Johnny," much like his 2011 track "Little Johnny," about a boy who falls privy to gang culture. 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.