Faucet Failure

"Faucet Failure" is an exuberant and braggadocious anthem centered around the hip-hop concept of "drip," which refers to a person's style, swagger, and expensive fashion. The title itself is the core metaphor: Ski Mask's style and influence are so overwhelmingly abundant that it's like a broken faucet that won't stop leaking or dripping. In a 'Verified' interview with Genius, Ski Mask explained that 'drip' to him isn't just about designer labels but about having your own unique style. The song serves as a showcase for his lyrical dexterity, confidence, and extravagant lifestyle. The lyrics are a rapid-fire succession of boasts about wealth (Maison Margiela kicks, new grills), his appeal to women, and his superior status in the rap game. Beyond the flexing, the song is a celebration of individuality and the fun, carefree energy that characterized much of the SoundCloud rap scene from which Ski Mask emerged.

The song is a vibrant and energetic expression of a lavish, confident, and hedonistic lifestyle, narrated through a series of braggadocious and often humorous vignettes. The central theme revolves around the concept of 'drip,' a slang term for impeccable style, expensive clothing, and an overwhelming sense of coolness. This is immediately established with the titular metaphor, "Faucet Failure," which suggests that the narrator's 'drip' is so immense and uncontrollable it's like a broken, constantly leaking faucet.

Throughout the verses, the narrator, Ski Mask the Slump God, weaves a tapestry of his exploits, seamlessly blending luxury brand name-drops with comical and surreal imagery. He boasts about his wealth and desirability, mentioning his ability to charm women, even those already in relationships, attributing this power to his status and material possessions. There are numerous references to pop culture, creating a dense, playful, and highly specific world. He compares his prowess to that of a Pokémon trainer, specifically Ash, in a clever play on words. He mentions cartoon characters, fast-food chains like McDonald's and Five Guys, and the rock band Kiss, using them as touchstones for his clever punchlines and metaphors.

A recurring and debated line, "I'm flyer than a fuckin' ostrich," serves as a prime example of the song's intentionally absurd humor. While knowing ostriches can't fly, the artist uses the line to be nonsensically boastful, a point he later clarified was intentional. The narrative also touches on his past, with a nostalgic reference to committing petty crimes with his late friend and collaborator, XXXTENTACION, grounding the high-flying boasts in a moment of real-world history. His delivery is as important as the lyrics themselves; a rapid-fire, animated flow that bounces over the beat, punctuated by ad-libs and shifts in tone. The song isn't just a list of boasts; it's a performance of confidence, a whirlwind of clever wordplay, and a declaration of a unique, unbothered personal style that is as flamboyant as it is relentless.

"Faucet Failure" was released on November 30, 2018, as the eleventh track on Ski Mask the Slump God's debut studio album, Stokeley. It was officially released as the album's sole single on April 9, 2019. The song was produced by the American producer ChaseTheMoney alongside the German production duo Cubeatz (often stylized as CuBeatz). Ski Mask has stated that "Faucet Failure" was the easiest and most fun song to create for the entire album, claiming he made it in just ten minutes. He described the process as being very natural and almost like a freestyle, a moment of genuine, happy creation without overthinking. The song was recorded in 2018. The iconic producer tag "ChaseTheMoney, ChaseTheMoney" can be heard at the beginning of the track, signaling the beat's origin.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Faucet Failure" are central to its energetic and memorable quality. Ski Mask employs a complex and playful approach to both. The song is delivered in a fast-paced, almost breathless rhythm that mirrors the chaotic energy of the lyrics. His flow is not strictly tied to a single meter, instead, it weaves in and out of the beat, creating a conversational yet highly technical feel. The rhyme scheme is intricate, often relying on multi-syllabic and internal rhymes rather than simple end rhymes. For instance, in the lines "New skirt, I skrrt, big drift / New grills, 10K, big lisp," the rhyming sounds are packed closely together, enhancing the song's momentum. This technique, combined with his syncopated delivery, makes the lyrics bounce off the trap beat in a way that has become a signature of his style.

"Faucet Failure" is a showcase of Ski Mask the Slump God's distinctive stylistic approach, blending literary and musical techniques.

• Vocal Delivery: Ski Mask is known for his animated, rapid-fire, and unpredictable flow, often described as aggressive and fun. He uses a variety of cadences, ad-libs ("Huh?", "Okay"), and character-like voices that make the track feel dynamic and theatrical. His delivery often has a slightly slurred quality, which is sometimes exaggerated by his grills, adding a unique texture to his sound.
• Rhyme Scheme: The song features intricate, multi-syllabic rhyme schemes and a heavy use of internal rhymes, which contribute to its fast pace and lyrical density. This complex rhyming makes his seemingly random lines feel connected and rhythmically satisfying.
• Pop Culture References: A hallmark of his style is the dense packing of references to cartoons, video games (Pokémon), movies (Goodfellas), fairy tales (Rumpelstiltskin), and brands (Maison Margiela). This technique grounds his surreal boasts in relatable, often nostalgic, cultural touchstones.
• Instrumentation: The beat, produced by ChaseTheMoney and Cubeatz, is built around a distinctive and catchy steel drum and horn melody, layered over booming bass and trap drums. This gives the song an upbeat, almost tropical feel that contrasts with the aggressive vocal delivery.

"Faucet Failure" became one of Ski Mask the Slump God's most successful and recognizable songs, significantly boosting his mainstream visibility. The track peaked at number 87 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 55 on the Canadian Hot 100. It has been certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA in the United States, indicating sales and streaming figures of over 3,000,000 units. The song's popularity was massively amplified by its music video, directed by the influential Cole Bennett of Lyrical Lemonade. Released in February 2019, the surreal and colorful video garnered millions of views rapidly and has since surpassed 200 million views on YouTube, becoming a fan favorite for its eccentric visuals, which include an ostrich and a sasquatch. The song also found significant traction on social media platforms like TikTok, where it has been used in tens of thousands of videos, further cementing its place in contemporary pop culture. It is considered a standout track from the Stokeley album and a quintessential example of Ski Mask's unique style within the late 2010s hip-hop landscape.

The song is built on a foundation of clever metaphors and pop culture symbolism that paints a vivid picture of Ski Mask's persona.

• Faucet Failure / Drip: The central metaphor of the song. A "faucet failure" results in a constant, unstoppable drip of water. Ski Mask uses this to symbolize his own unending and overwhelming "drip," which is slang for having great style, expensive clothes, and immense swagger. The music video culminates in a doctor diagnosing him with "faucet failure," clarifying that "that boy got too much drip."
• Rumpelstiltskin: By referencing the fairy tale character who makes deals, Ski Mask frames his interaction with a woman as a transaction or a pact.
• Pokémon Trainer Shit: The line "Ashin' on your bitch, this is that Pokémon trainer shit" is a double entendre. It plays on 'Ash,' the main character of Pokémon, while also referring to ashing a blunt. It's a boast about his dominance and coolness, treating his environment like a game he's mastered.
• Flyer Than a Fuckin' Ostrich: This line became a point of discussion among fans since ostriches are flightless. Ski Mask confirmed he was aware of this and that the absurdity was the point of the boast, leaning into the song's cartoonish and surreal humor. The Cole Bennett-directed music video humorously features a real ostrich.

The most significant recurring motif in "Faucet Failure" is the chorus, which acts as the song's anchor and central theme. The lines "Who's this? He should be in cockpit / 'Cause I'm flyer than a fuckin' ostrich" are repeated, hammering home the song's absurdly confident and humorous tone. This refrain, despite its logical inaccuracy, becomes an unforgettable hook due to its sheer audacity and Ski Mask's energetic delivery. The titular phrase "I am faucet failure" is the song's definitive statement and recurring lyrical idea, directly linking to the concept of "drip." The ad-lib "ChaseTheMoney, ChaseTheMoney" serves as a recurring musical motif at the beginning, acting as a producer tag that sets the stage for the track's sound.