Killa Killa Explained

Killa Killa
Cover:KSI - Killa Killa.png
Alt:Cartoon illustrations of KSI and Aiyana-Lee, dressed in black clothing, in front of a black and red background. The title "Killa Killa" appears behind them in large red and black font, with the artists' names in small gold font above.
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:KSI featuring Aiyana-Lee
Album:Dissimulation
Released:17 July 2020
Genre:Hip hop
Length:2:31
Label:
Producer:
  • Diego Ave
  • Yoshi
Chronology:KSI
Prev Title:Houdini
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:Lighter
Next Year:2020

"Killa Killa" (edited for radio as "Thrilla Thrilla") is a song by English YouTuber and rapper KSI from his debut studio album, Dissimulation (2020). The song features a guest appearance from British-American singer Aiyana-Lee. It was produced by Diego Ave and Yoshi. The song was released for digital download and streaming by RBC Records and BMG on 22 May 2020 and was later released as the fifth single from the album on 17 July 2020. "Killa Killa" is an upbeat hip hop track with caribbean and afrobeat influences. The song's lyrics are about KSI's success in his YouTube, music and boxing careers and how he is not to be messed with.

"Killa Killa" received positive reviews from music critics, who commonly praised Aiyana-Lee's catchy chorus and KSI's playful and confident verses. The song charted at number 27 in the United Kingdom and number 33 in Ireland. An accompanying music video was released on 17 July 2020. The video stars the two artists as criminals who commit a heist.

Music and lyrics

"Killa Killa" is an upbeat hip hop track with Caribbean and afrobeat influences.[1] [2] [3] Aiyana-Lee sings the chorus, while KSI raps two verses. The song's lyrics are about how KSI is killing the game in more ways than one and when he puts his mind to something, he normally succeeds. This song is a reminder that KSI quickly evolved from a YouTube sensation, to a boxing champion, to a bonafide, respected music artist.[4] Speaking about "Killa Killa", KSI said, "This track is straight KSI! I'm like, 'Yo. I'm here killing everything that I'm doing. I'm killing music, boxing, YouTube. I'm killing all of that.' It's a track to show that I'm not to be messed with."[5] Speaking on Aiyana-Lee's contribution to the track, KSI remarked, "She's a wild one. She came with exactly what I needed for the chorus."

Release and promotion

"Killa Killa" was released for digital download and streaming by RBC Records and BMG on 22 May 2020.[6] A lyric video for "Killa Killa" was released to KSI's YouTube channel on 3 July 2020.[7] [8] On 17 July 2020, "Killa Killa" was released as the fifth single from KSI's debut studio album, Dissimulation (2020).[9] On the same day, a censored version of the song was serviced to adult contemporary radio in the United Kingdom, under the name "Thrilla Thrilla". The single's cover art depicts KSI and Aiyana-Lee as cartoon characters, dressed in black clothing, in front of a black and red background.[10]

Critical reception

"Killa Killa" was met with positive reviews from music critics. In her review of Dissimulation for The Guardian, Kitty Empire called "Killa Killa" a "hit-in-waiting". GRM Daily's Courtney Wynter called "Killa Killa" an "upbeat track with a fun energy". Wynter liked how "KSI creates a playful vibe, flexing during his verses" and she praised Aiyana-Lee's "catchy chorus". Sarah Akomanyi of Link Up TV remarked that "KSI's confidence is hard to miss through [the song], which makes for clear and consistent verses". Akomanyi proclaimed, "A track like this is bound to go off when it comes to live shows."

Music video

The music video for "Killa Killa" was co-directed by Troy Roscoe and Nayip Ramos. It premiered on KSI's YouTube channel on 17 July 2020 at 15:00 UTC.[11] [12] The music video stars KSI and Aiyana-Lee as a pair of criminals who commit a heist. The video's plot is continued in the music video for KSI's song "Domain" (2020), later released on 25 December 2020.[13]

Commercial performance

In the United Kingdom, "Killa Killa" debuted at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart and number 15 on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart, with first week sales of 15,853 track-equivalent units.[14] [15] [16] The song spent the next three weeks on the UK Singles Chart at positions 80, 89 and 82, before dropping out of the chart. Three weeks later, the song re-entered the chart at number 79 following the release of the song's lyric video, before dropping out and then re-entering again the following week at number 64 following the release of the song's music video. In Ireland, "Killa Killa" debuted at number 33 on the Irish Singles Chart and spent two weeks on the chart.[17] [18]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Genius and Tidal.[19]

Charts

Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[20] 12

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
Various22 May 2020
United Kingdom17 July 2020Adult contemporary radio[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wynter. Courtney. 17 July 2020. KSI Gives Visual Treatment To 'Killa Killa' Featuring Aiyana-Lee. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201229092331/https://grmdaily.com/ksi-killa-killa/. 29 December 2020. 17 July 2020. GRM Daily.
  2. Web site: Empire. Kitty. 24 May 2020. KSI: Dissimulation review – a pugnacious debut. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200524081201/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/24/ksi-dissimulation-review-pugnacious-debut. 24 May 2020. 24 May 2020. The Guardian. 0029-7712.
  3. Web site: Britton. Luke Morgan. 1 June 2020. KSI: 'A YouTuber doing music leaves a sour taste in people's mouths. They despise it'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200719220003/https://www.nme.com/features/ksi-dissimulation-interview-jake-paul-boxing-match-the-1975-2679344. 19 July 2020. 1 June 2020. NME.
  4. Web site: 4 May 2020. KSI To Release Debut Album 'Dissimulation' on May 22nd. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200721213419/https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/516180494/ksi-to-release-debut-album-dissimulation-on-may-22nd. 21 July 2020. 22 June 2020. EIN News.
  5. Web site: 22 May 2020. Dissimulation by KSI / Editors' notes. 22 May 2020. Apple Music.
  6. Web site: 22 May 2020. KSI Releases Debut Album (Dissimulation) And New Music Video 'Cap' Featuring Offset. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717185339/https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/517664943/ksi-releases-debut-album-dissimulation-and-new-music-video-cap-featuring-offset. 17 July 2020. 22 May 2020. EIN News.
  7. Web site: 3 July 2020. KSI – Killa Killa (feat. Aiyana-Lee) [Official Lyric Video]]. 3 July 2020. YouTube.
  8. Web site: Akomanyi. Sarah. 4 July 2020. KSI Drops Lyric Video For 'Killa Killa'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200722085127/https://www.thelinkup.com/content/1882/ksi-drops-lyric-video-for-killa-killa. 22 July 2020. 4 July 2020. Link Up TV.
  9. Web site: Silverman. Rose. 17 July 2020. KSI: 'I don't rap about killing people or doing drugs – I'm clean and work hard'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717172922/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/ksi-dont-rap-killing-people-drugs-clean-work-hard/. 17 July 2020. 17 July 2020. The Telegraph.
  10. Web site: 17 July 2020. KSI Releases Visual For 'Killa Killa' Featuring Aiyana-Lee. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717163303/https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/521881507/ksi-releases-visual-for-killa-killa-featuring-aiyana-lee. 17 July 2020. 17 July 2020. EIN News.
  11. Web site: Rashed. Ayana. 19 July 2020. KSI Releases Visual For 'Killa Killa' Featuring Aiyana Lee. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200720200735/https://respect-mag.com/2020/07/ksi-releases-visual-for-killa-killa-featuring-aiyana-lee/. 20 July 2020. 19 July 2020. Respect.
  12. Web site: 17 July 2020. KSI – Killa Killa [Thrilla Thrilla] feat. Aiyana-Lee Official Music Video]. 17 July 2020. YouTube.
  13. Web site: Wynter. Courtney. 25 December 2020. KSI Releases Action-Packed 'Domain' Visuals. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201225130632/https://grmdaily.com/ksi-domain/. 25 December 2020. 25 December 2020. GRM Daily.
  14. Web site: 29 May 2020. Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande's Rain On Me debuts at Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart: 'Thank you for celebrating this song'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200530134911/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/lady-gaga-ariana-grandes-rain-on-me-debuts-at-number-1-on-the-official-singles-chart-thank-you-for-celebrating-this-song-__29876/. 30 May 2020. 29 May 2020. Official Charts Company.
  15. Web site: KSI full Official Chart History. 29 May 2020. Official Charts Company.
  16. Web site: Paine. Andre. 29 May 2020. Inside the big chart battle between The 1975 and KSI. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200607002255/https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/inside-the-big-chart-battle-between-the-1975-and-ksi/079937. 7 June 2020. 29 May 2020. Music Week.
  17. Web site: 29 May 2020. Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande claim Number 1 on Official Irish Singles Chart, score biggest opening week of 2020 with Rain On Me. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200531024309/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/lady-gaga-and-ariana-grande-claim-number-1-on-official-irish-singles-chart-score-biggest-opening-week-of-2020-with-rain-on-me__29880/. 31 May 2020. 29 May 2020. Official Charts Company.
  18. Web site: Discography KSI. 29 May 2020. irish-charts.com.
  19. Web site: 22 May 2020. KSI / Dissimulation / Credits. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210116184740/https://listen.tidal.com/album/140383572/credits. 16 January 2021. 22 May 2020. Tidal.
  20. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 30 May 2020.
  21. Web site: Capital XTRA Playlist. dead. 17 July 2020. Capital XTRA. 26 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200726031439/https://www.capitalxtra.com/radio/playlist/.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Killa Killa".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.