The song and video achieved massive success, cementing X's legacy in the "emo rap" subgenre.
For fans and critics alike, the video is more than just a music visual; it is a final, eerie letter from an artist who seemed to be anticipating his own end while desperately trying to evolve.
XXXTENTACION's music video remains one of the most haunting and culturally significant visuals in hip-hop history. Released posthumously on June 28, 2018 —just ten days after the artist's tragic death—it serves as a surreal manifesto of self-transformation and letting go. Killing the Old Self XXXTENTACION - SAD! (Music Video)
: Following its release, "SAD!" jumped over 50 spots to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 , making X the first artist to achieve a posthumous No. 1 since The Notorious B.I.G. in 1997.
: The Official Music Video has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube. The song and video achieved massive success, cementing
: X is shown brutally fighting his former self, symbolizing his real-life attempt to change his public image and personal behavior.
: On Spotify, the track has amassed over 2.4 billion streams , remaining one of the platform's most-played songs. Released posthumously on June 28, 2018 —just ten
: He interacts with a mysterious, hooded figure known as "Gekyume"—a word X invented meaning a "different state" or "next" universe of thought. This figure acts as a guide, pushing him to "spread love" and "change the overall cycle of energy".