Released: 2018
“Hope” by XXXTENTACION is a raw and emotive tribute that directly addresses the heartbreak following the tragic Parkland shooting, sending out a message of solidarity and reflection for those lost lives. While the track resonates with despair and mental turbulence, it ultimately seeks solace in the potential for a better future, serving as a beacon to the distressed.
Breaking down the narrative, XXXTENTACION starts with a somber nod for the fallen kids of the Parkland massacre, using the song as a memorandum. The lyrics pivot to a personal expression of grief and frustration, with “Okay, she keep cryin’, she keep cryin’ every single night,” which paints a picture of the unending sorrow and a loved one who can’t be consoled, night after night, symbolizing the mourning of a community in the wake of senseless violence.
“Day and night, on my mind, please don’t kill the vibe,” speaks to the lingering thoughts that occupy his brain, with ‘vibe’ here likely encompassing both his underlying emotional state and the broader atmosphere of the piece. Despite the grief, there’s an appeal not to let the darkness extinguish all light.
The repetition of “I swear to God, I be in my mind, swear I wanna die, yeah, when you cross my-” encapsulates the internal battle with suicidal ideation, a raw and stark admission of the pain being so intense it drives one to the edge of wanting to end it all. The abrupt cut-off of “when you cross my-” suggests there are thoughts and feelings so deep and dark they can’t even be verbalized.
The line, “I might start a riot, I’m so fuckin’ tired, yuh,” deals with the weariness with a readiness to fight, to stir change in the face of recurring tragedies. “Riot” here is symbolic, representing a defiant rejection of the status quo that permits such atrocities.
Yet, amid the turmoil, XXXTENTACION shifts the narrative with “Feelin’ good, I’m feelin’ great, tired of the fuckin’ hate, stackin’ cheese all on my plate,” which can be seen as finding moments of peace or success even in the chaos, where “stackin’ cheese” refers to accumulating money or success. It’s a push-back against the hate he feels, perhaps from external factors or from within, in an attempt to claim his slice of happiness amidst the adversity.
The most resounding message comes with, “So outside of my misery, I think I’ll find a way of envisioning a better life for the rest of us, the rest of us. There’s hope for the rest of us, the rest of us.” This is a crucial pivot to optimism, suggesting that even outside his own personal torment, there is a path forward, a vision of improvement and healing for everyone who has shared in this or similar pain. The refrain, “There’s hope for the rest of us,” is an anthem-like closure, instilling a collective sense of potential salvation from the depths of grief and signaling a communal resilience.
Through “Hope,” XXXTENTACION straddles the duality of personal despair and collective uplift meant to resonate with those touched by tragedy, recognizing the pain while also calling for the strength to envision and strive for a sliver of light in the darkness.
