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Killa Killa

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This article is about the KSI song. For the similarly named Danganronpa manga series, see Killer Killer.

"Killa Killa"
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.
Single by KSI featuring Aiyana-Lee
from the album Dissimulation
Released17 July 2020
GenreHip hop
Length2:31
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Diego Ave
  • Yoshi
KSI singles chronology
"Houdini"
(2020) 		"Killa Killa"
(2020) 		"Lighter"
(2020)
Aiyana-Lee singles chronology
"Inside My Sin"
(2020) 		"Killa Killa"
(2020) 		"Bedroom"
(2021)
Music video
"Killa Killa" on YouTube

"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

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"Killa Killa"
An 18-second sample of the chorus, performed by Aiyana-Lee, over a caribbean and afrobeat inspired instrumental.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"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."[5]

Release and promotion

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"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".[10] 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.[11]

Critical reception

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"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".[2] 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".[1] 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."[8]

Music video

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The music video for "Killa Killa" was co-directed by Troy Roscoe and Nayip Ramos.[1] It premiered on KSI's YouTube channel on 17 July 2020 at 15:00 UTC.[11][12][13] The music video stars KSI and Aiyana-Lee as a pair of criminals who commit a heist.[1] The video's plot is continued in the music video for KSI's song "Domain" (2020), later released on 25 December 2020.[14]

Commercial performance

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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.[15][16][17][18] The song spent the next three weeks on the UK Singles Chart at positions 80, 89 and 82, before dropping out of the chart.[17] 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.[17] In Ireland, "Killa Killa" debuted at number 33 on the Irish Singles Chart and spent two weeks on the chart.[19][20]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Genius and Tidal.[21]

  • KSI – songwriting, vocals
  • Aiyana-Lee – vocals
  • Diego Ave – production, songwriting
  • Yoshi – production, songwriting
  • Tiina Vainikainen – songwriting
  • William Rappaport – songwriting
  • Michalis Michael – mixing
  • Henkka Niemistö – mastering
  • JustAGhost – cover art, lyrics video

Charts

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Chart performance for "Killa Killa"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 33
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 12
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 27
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[16] 15
UK Indie (OCC)[25] 5

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Killa Killa"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various 22 May 2020
[6]
United Kingdom 17 July 2020 Adult contemporary radio [10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Wynter, Courtney (17 July 2020). "KSI Gives Visual Treatment To 'Killa Killa' Featuring Aiyana-Lee". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Empire, Kitty (24 May 2020). "KSI: Dissimulation review – a pugnacious debut". The Guardian. ISSN 0029-7712. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (1 June 2020). "KSI: 'A YouTuber doing music leaves a sour taste in people's mouths. They despise it'". NME. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  4. ^ "KSI To Release Debut Album 'Dissimulation' on May 22nd". EIN News. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Dissimulation by KSI / Editors' notes". Apple Music. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b "KSI Releases Debut Album (Dissimulation) And New Music Video 'Cap' Featuring Offset". EIN News. 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  7. ^ "KSI – Killa Killa (feat. Aiyana-Lee) [Official Lyric Video]". 3 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ a b Akomanyi, Sarah (4 July 2020). "KSI Drops Lyric Video For 'Killa Killa'". Link Up TV. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  9. ^ Silverman, Rose (17 July 2020). "KSI: 'I don't rap about killing people or doing drugs – I'm clean and work hard'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Capital XTRA Playlist". Capital XTRA. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  11. ^ a b "KSI Releases Visual For 'Killa Killa' Featuring Aiyana-Lee". EIN News. 17 July 2020. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  12. ^ Rashed, Ayana (19 July 2020). "KSI Releases Visual For 'Killa Killa' Featuring Aiyana Lee". Respect. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  13. ^ "KSI – Killa Killa [Thrilla Thrilla] feat. Aiyana-Lee Official Music Video". 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ Wynter, Courtney (25 December 2020). "KSI Releases Action-Packed 'Domain' Visuals". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande's Rain On Me debuts at Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart: 'Thank you for celebrating this song'". Official Charts Company. 29 May 2020. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  17. ^ a b c "KSI | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  18. ^ Paine, Andre (29 May 2020). "Inside the big chart battle between The 1975 and KSI". Music Week. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande claim Number 1 on Official Irish Singles Chart, score biggest opening week of 2020 with Rain On Me". Official Charts Company. 29 May 2020. Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Discography KSI". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  21. ^ "KSI / Dissimulation / Credits". Tidal. 22 May 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  23. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
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