Released: 2018
In “the remedy for a broken heart (why am I so in love)” by XXXTENTACION, the late rapper grapples with the concepts of love and heartbreak, juxtaposing them with the empty promise of material wealth. It’s a raw and introspective track that delves into X’s struggle with depression, his thirst for authentic love, and his disillusionment with fame and fortune.
The hook, where X repeatedly questions “Why am I so in love? I don’t know why,” sets a tone of confusion and emotional distress that permeates the entire track. There’s a sense of vulnerability here, a cry for answers as to why he’s fallen hard, especially in a game that preaches detachment from emotions.
The first verse sees X wrestling with maintaining sanity amongst all the noise. The “blood bitch” he refers to is a gang-affiliated woman out to frame him, symbolic of the toxic relationships he’s caught in. “My brain can’t fathom what the hate say” shows how he’s trying to rise above the hate, the gossip (“he say, she say”), and focus on his own path, even as he contemplates escaping it all (“Headed to the islands ASAP”).
The artist continues to reference material possessions, mentioning a Visa, indicative of his wealth, and his girl’s Audemars Piguet (AP) watch on her wrist. “I’m the type to save a bitch, CAPE” is a proclamation of his hero complex, even as he admits he might be more lost than the people he tries to save.
The second verse spirals deeper into his dissatisfaction and unhappiness, despite his wealth and freedom. He questions the value of money without love, a critique of the hollow misconception that wealth equals happiness. There’s a strive for balance, further emphasizing his inner turmoil and struggle with his emotional state.
He also mentions hearing about his ex-girlfriend’s continued feelings for him “through the grapevine,” which introduces an element of regret and longing into the song. It’s a nod to the rumors and hearsay that often circulate in a celeb’s life, and how such news influences their emotional state.
In the chorus, which blends into the post-chorus, X seems to offer his remedy for his heartbreak. “Mix a little bit of weed with a little bit of cash, with a little bit of this, with a little bit of that”, implies his reliance on drugs, money, and possibly other distractions to soothe his pain. It’s a self-soothing mantra, tied with the hopeful refrain “we gon’ be al-, we gon’ be alright”, promising better days.
However, the repetition and eventual fragmentation of “We gon’ be al-, we gon’ be al-” rather than the full “alright” suggests a deeper level of uncertainty, as if X isn’t entirely convinced that everything will, in fact, be alright.
The bridge introduces a female voice stating “I, oh, I, am falling for you,” an echo of the love that X is also falling into. This could be a confirmation of the grapevine news or simply his imagination, either way, it symbolizes the reciprocal love that he seems to crave.
Finally, the track loops back to its starting point, with X pondering, “Why am I so in love?” This cyclical structure reflects the repeating cycle of love and heartbreak. It’s worth noting that the late rapper released this song nearly three months before his untimely death, making “the remedy for a broken heart” a haunting echo of his struggles and musings on love, wealth and the quest for inner peace.
