"Ego Death" is a song by American singer Ty Dolla Sign featuring American rapper Kanye West, English singer-songwriter FKA Twigs, and American DJ Skrillex, released for digital download and streaming through Atlantic Records on July 1, 2020, as the lead single from the former's third studio album, Featuring Ty Dolla Sign (2020). It contains additional vocals by Serpentwithfeet, Angela Davis, and Jariuce "Jehreeus" Banks. Ty Dolla Sign, Skrillex, and BoogzDaBeast produced the song. According to the first of the three producers, the song expands on West's "Fade". Initially previewed after the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2019, the former experienced an internet leak in March 2020.
A house number, "Ego Death" has electro-hop elements. The song samples Ralphi Rosario's "You Used to Hold Me", Ultra Naté's "Free", and Queen Latifah's "Dance for Me". Lyrically, it centers on ego death. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, most of whom praised West's verse. Some were appreciative of FKA Twigs' feature, while other critics complimented the chemistry of the aforementioned two, Ty Dolla Sign, and Skrillex. The song reached number seven on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart,published by Billboard, while peaking within the top 50 of the main charts in Ireland and the United Kingdom. An accompanying lyric video was released on July 20, 2020, which is animated and features the performers in cartoon form. They act out lyrics from the song in the video, being accompanied by varying tokens.
"I was just trying to achieve greatness, bro. Every time me and [West] get together, I feel like we just make something great. So I was just trying to do my part. [The rapper is] a very unpredictable person. I feel like I am as well, and somehow it just works every time. Every time we get together, it just works."
Ty Dolla Sign and Kanye West had previously collaborated for numerous songs, including "Only One" (2014), "Real Friends" (2016), and "Everything We Need" (2019).[2] The former had also worked with Skrillex on multiple songs, including the 2019 releases "Two Nights Part II" and "Midnight Hour"; that same year, he collaborated with American experimental musician Serpentwithfeet on "Receipts".[2] Unlike the others, "Ego Death" was FKA Twigs' first track with Ty Dolla Sign.[3] Skrillex had collaborated with FKA Twigs in the past, while his work with West prior to the latter's sixth studio album Yeezus (2013) was postponed.[4][5] The track was produced by Ty Dolla Sign, Skrillex, and BoogzDaBeast.[6]
In April 2019, Ty Dolla Sign previewed the song at a Coachella Festival after-party in dedication to 420 by performing a demo version, while vocals from West were also played by the party's DJ.[7][8] In August 2019, Spin reported that Ty Dolla Sign planned to release "Ego Death" as the lead single for his then-upcoming album.[9] According to him, the song expands on West's 2016 single "Fade", which he appears on.[9] In March 2020, the song leaked online.[10] Ty Dolla Sign shared a teaser for the song on June 30, 2020, unveiling the collaborators.[4] He issued a press release the next day, labeling the song highly special and showing admiration in working with "a genius" in West, who he makes "incredible records" with every time.[2] Ty Dolla Sign further stated that Skrillex and FKA Twigs provided a blessing with the magic only they are capable of delivering, while recalling everyone having gone crazy when he played the song at a house party.[2] The singer revealed he was not offended when the song leaked, admitting that he merely "had to find the right time" for its release and felt "excited that it's finally THAT TIME!"[2] Ty Dolla Sign partnered with the company Triller to create a 9D experience for the listener with the song, marking "the first-ever of its kind" in July 2020.[11]