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
: On Spotify, the track has amassed over 2.4 billion streams , remaining one of the platform's most-played songs. XXXTENTACION - SAD! (Music Video)
Written and creative-directed by XXXTENTACION (Jahseh Onfroy) before his passing, the video depicts him attending his own funeral. The central conflict arises when his "old self"—representing his troubled past and negative energy—rises from the casket to attack him. Key themes explored in the video include:
: X is shown brutally fighting his former self, symbolizing his real-life attempt to change his public image and personal behavior. For fans and critics alike, the video is
: The Official Music Video has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube.
: The video ends with a message on a scrap of paper: "People change, things change, and me too," reinforcing his desire to leave behind his controversial past for a better future. Commercial and Cultural Impact Killing the Old Self : On Spotify, the
: 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.