Oh Sheit It's X

"Oh Sheit It's X"
Single by Thundercat
from the album Apocalypse
ReleasedMay 7, 2013 (2013-05-07)
Genre
Length3:47
LabelBrainfeeder
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Thundercat singles chronology
"Heartbreaks + Setbacks"
(2013) 		"Oh Sheit It's X"
(2013) 		"Them Changes"
(2015)

"Oh Sheit It's X" is a song by American singer-songwriter Thundercat. He co-wrote it with record producers Flying Lotus, Mono/Poly, and Durand Furbee for his second studio album Apocalypse. Brainfeeder released it as a single on May 7, 2013. Musically, "Oh Sheit It's X" is a funk and disco song, whose lyrics describe the protagonist in an altered state of consciousness after consuming MDMA—otherwise known as "ecstasy" or "X"—at a party.

"Oh Sheit It's X" was co-produced by Mono/Poly and Lotus, and upon its release, it received critical acclaim by music critics, who selected it as a highlight from Apocalypse and praised its lyrics, bassline, and production. The song was included in the video game Grand Theft Auto V and Thundercat performed it live at the Black Cab Sessions.

Background and composition

"Oh Sheit It's X"
A 25-second sample of "Oh Sheit It's X". Multiple critics commented on its composition, lyrics and production.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Oh Sheit It's X" was written by Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner, Steven "Flying Lotus" Ellison, Charles "Mono/Poly" Dickerson, and Durand Furbee.[1] Mono/Poly and Lotus co-produced it[2] and it runs at a tempo of 123 beats per minute.[3] It is based on "the true story of an MDMA-fueled New Year's party". Thundercat said it "was one of the most epic things that has ever happened ... Two and a half days of full-on shenanigans, man".[4] In the song, Thundercat sings about feeling ecstatic while being in an altered state of consciousness caused by the drug of the same name.[2] Scott Heins called it "a hard-stepping party song" whose composition was based on "hard drums and double-layered bass parts".[5]

Music critics described it as a funk,[6] disco,[7] disco-funk,[8] electro-funk[9] and boogie funk act.[10] Gabriel Szatan wrote for Beats Per Minute that as soon as the song starts with "a frazzled synth lead and sloppy kickdrums", Thundercat plays the bass guitar releasing his inner Jaco Pastorius.[11] Other critics described its production as having a Bootsy-like[12] "warbly funk"[13] "virtuoso slap" bass;[9] spatial[12] and "disco-inspired synth stabs";[14] "weird disco strings",[13] and a "four-on-the-floor beat".[13] The bass chords flow through like a "bright bouncing ball"[15] that "fizzle and pop [rapidly]".[14] Vocally, Thundercat sings in falsetto[16] and sounds "suave",[13] "soulful",[9][16] "velvety and dance-drunk",[10] and "[innocent] in indulgence".[17]

Release and promotion

"Oh Sheit It's X" was released as single on May 7, 2013.[18] It was one of the 214 songs originally featured in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V, and was included on the FlyLo FM radio station,[19] hosted by Lotus.[20] Thundercat sang "Oh Sheit It's X" live at the Black Cab Sessions in 2015. Scott Heins said it sounded like a "tender [but goofy] ballad".[5] In 2018, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers covered the song.[21]

Critical reception

Picture of Thundercat, who looks at the camera while he plays a bass guitar.
Thundercat's bassline and style were frequently mentioned by critics when they reviewed the song.

For Stereogum, Miles Bowe contrasted the energy present in "Oh Sheit It's X" with the previous single "Heartbreaks + Setbacks", adding that the former was created "for the hips" while the second for the head.[15] While Jeremy D. Larson, from Consequence of Sound, compared the song with the works by Parliament-Funkadelic,[12] an editor from Fact Magazine did it with the Shamen's "Ebeneezer Goode" and mentioned that disco-funk songs like "Oh Sheit It's X" are infrequently composed.[8] Jonah Bromwich commented that no other musician has ever "sound[ed] so nonchalant about rolling".[17]

The track was highlighted by various critics when they reviewed Apocalypse,[22][23][24] Mike Diver considered "Oh Sheit It's X" to be similar to a collaboration between Justin Timberlake and Daft Punk,[7] while other critics compared Thundercat's singing with that of Marvin Gaye and Frank Ocean.[16][25] Additional commentary included being described as "fantastic",[26] "danceable",[27] "romping [and] stomping",[28] "a party grenade of wobbling funk",[29] a "funk[y] and bracing" tune,[30] and "the feel-good song of the year".[31] The bassline was called "unreal"[2] and "euphoric".[17] Miles Bowe said the first thing one might say when listening to it is something like "Oh shit! That bass!"[15]

The song was ranked at number 29 on Rolling Stone's 100 Best Songs of 2013, with a commentary saying it was "[t]he most concentrated dose of disco joy [... and Thundercat] goes all the way pop with an irresistibly melodic groove".[32] Chris Bodenner from The Atlantic named it the "Track of the Day" on December 19, 2015.[33]

Track listing

Apocalypse (2013)[34]
7. "Oh Sheit It's X" – 3:47
Digital single (2013)[18]
1. "Oh Sheit It's X" – 3:47

Credits

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Repertory". Type "Oh Sheit It's X" in the "Title" search bar. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved February 26, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e Evans, Dayna (May 7, 2013). "Thundercat, 'Oh Sheit It's X' (Prod. By Flying Lotus And Mono/Poly)". Impose. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  3. ^ "BPM and Key for 'Oh Sheit It's X' by Thundercat". Song BPM. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  4. ^ "The New Troublemakers". Rolling Stone. June 3, 2013. Archived from the original on August 20, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Heins, Scott (2015). "Thundercat Delivers A Sparse Take On 'Oh Sheit, It's X!' For Black Cab Sessions". Okayplayer. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  6. ^ Hunt, El (July 5, 2013). "Thundercat – Apocalypse". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Driver, Mike (June 14, 2013). "Thundercat – Apocalypse". Clash. Archived from the original on June 27, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Hear Thundercat's Flying Lotus-assisted 'Oh Sheit It's X'". Fact Magazine. May 7, 2013. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Ensall, Jonny (July 3, 2013). "Thundercat – 'Apocalypse' album review". Time Out. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Patrin, Nate (June 7, 2013). "Thundercat: Apocalypse". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Szatan, Gabriel (July 8, 2013). "Thundercat – Apocalypse". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Larson, Jeremy D. (May 7, 2013). "Listen to Thundercat's new track 'Oh Sheit It's X', co-produced by Flying Lotus". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d Hughes, Josiah (May 7, 2013). "Thundercat 'Oh Sheit It's X' (co-produced by Flying Lotus)". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Ramirez, Alejandra (May 7, 2013). "Listen To Thundercat's 'Oh Sheit It's X'". Prefix. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c Smyth, David (May 7, 2013). "Thundercat – 'Oh Sheit It's X'". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  16. ^ a b c LeConte, Julia (May 30, 2013). "Thundercat – Apocalypse". Now Toronto. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c Bromwich, Jonah (May 7, 2013). "Thundercat 'Oh Sheit It's X'". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Oh Sheit It's X – Single". iTunes Store (Japan). Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  19. ^ Trendell, Andrew (October 3, 2013). "Full Tracklist Of Songs On Grand Theft Auto V Soundtrack Revealed". Gigwise. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  20. ^ Leas, Ryan (April 1, 2020). "We've Got A File On You: Thundercat". Stereogum. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  21. ^ "Funky Friday with Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers!". AntiFragileMusic. November 2, 2018. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  22. ^ Jones, Kevin (July 5, 2013). "Thundercat Apocalypse". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  23. ^ Tannenbaum, Rob (June 17, 2013). "Apocalypse". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  24. ^ Kalia, Ammar (June 18, 2013). "Thundercat – Apocalypse: Album Review". Soul Culture. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  25. ^ Carroll, Jim (June 21, 2013). "Thundercat". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  26. ^ Leas, Ryan (June 14, 2013). "Album reviews: June 2013". Stereogum. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  27. ^ Ferguson, Jason (June 26, 2013). "Five stars for Thundercat's 'Apocalypse'". Orlando Weekly. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  28. ^ MacInnes, Paul (July 4, 2013). "Thundercat: Apocalypse – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  29. ^ Bloomfield, Philip (June 21, 2013). "Thundercat – Apocalypse". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  30. ^ Cataldo, Jesse (July 7, 2013). "Review: Thundercat , Apocalypse". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  31. ^ Johnson, Phil (June 1, 2013). "Album: Thundercat, Apocalypse (Brainfeeder)". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  32. ^ "100 Best Songs of 2013". Rolling Stone. December 4, 2013. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  33. ^ Bodenner, Chris (December 19, 2015). "Track of the Day: 'Oh Sheit It's X'". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  34. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Thundercat – Apocalypse". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2021.