Nuketown (feat. Juice WRLD)

"Nuketown" is an explosive anthem of aggression, dominance, and cathartic release. The title itself is a direct reference to the iconic, small, and chaotic multiplayer map from the Call of Duty: Black Ops video game series, known for its frantic, close-quarters combat. This metaphor frames the entire song: life as a frenetic battlefield where Ski Mask and Juice WRLD lyrically obliterate their competition. The core message revolves around asserting superiority over rivals, bragging about wealth, sexual prowess, and a complete disregard for the opinions of others. Both artists use the track to unleash pent-up frustration and anger towards "fake friends" and the pressures of their lifestyles. Ski Mask revealed he was feeling angry and bothered by the intensity of tour life when he recorded it. The track serves as a declaration of their "cutthroat" nature, an unapologetic embrace of a ruthless and dominant persona. Despite the aggressive posturing, the song is also filled with a chaotic mix of playful, albeit dark, pop culture references, from video games like Mortal Kombat to children's TV shows like Drake & Josh and The Fairly OddParents, creating a unique juxtaposition of childhood nostalgia and violent, adult themes.

The track erupts immediately with the iconic “Round one, fight!” sample from the Mortal Kombat video game series, setting a combative and high-energy tone. Ski Mask the Slump God launches into his verse with a barrage of eclectic and aggressive pop culture references. He compares himself to a treat, desirable and ready to be consumed, yet simultaneously positions himself as powerful and destructive, likening his diamond-adorned fist to the Infinity Gauntlet of the Marvel villain, Thanos. The lyrics are a whirlwind of braggadocio, detailing hedonistic encounters with women, referencing Nickelodeon shows like Drake & Josh as a metaphor for teaming up on a conquest. He boasts of his prowess with a one-gloved-hand metaphor alluding to Michael Jackson, quickly juxtaposed with an image of violence, being in a club with a weapon. The flow is chaotic and filled with slime and metal imagery, referencing the Nickelodeon character Icky Vicky and Bic lighters to describe his crew and their readiness for conflict. This verse is a relentless assault of boasts about sexual conquests, wealth, and a disregard for norms, all delivered with a fast, off-kilter rhythm. The chorus is a raw, repeated scream of “Cutthroat!”, a declaration of his ruthless nature and a warning to his adversaries. It’s an embodiment of the pent-up anger and frustration he felt at the time, dismissing fake friends and expressing a profound indifference to others' opinions.

Juice WRLD takes over with a verse that matches, and arguably escalates, the aggressive energy. He pays direct homage to the late XXXTentacion's screamo-rap style, a departure from his more common melodic delivery. His lyrics are a torrent of violent threats and assertions of dominance. He talks of leaving rivals in the past, hating the repetitive and fake nature of the scene, and embracing a rich, unapologetic lifestyle. Juice WRLD’s verse is laced with its own set of cultural references, from Soulja Boy to former NBA player Derrick Rose, using them to punctuate his threats and boasts. He portrays himself as an unstoppable force, whether in a mosh pit or in a fight, ready to escalate any situation. He declares he doesn't need external validation or demonic pacts for power, a theme Ski Mask also touches on, asserting his own inner strength and god-like self-perception. The verse is a pure adrenaline rush, a chaotic and cathartic release of aggression that perfectly complements the song's theme. The collaboration is a sonic battlefield where both artists vie to outdo each other in intensity, creating an anthem of raw, untamed energy and defiance aimed at anyone who stands in their way.

"Nuketown" was released on November 30, 2018, as the second track on Ski Mask the Slump God's debut studio album, Stokeley. The song was the first collaboration recorded between Ski Mask and Juice WRLD in mid-2018 and was the only one officially released during Juice WRLD's lifetime. Ski Mask recorded his part on a tour bus, channeling his anger and frustration with the pressures of touring and dealing with disingenuous people. The track was originally titled "Cutthroat". Juice WRLD heard the song and was enthusiastic about adding a verse, believing it would be a powerful performance track for both of them. The song's aggressive, shouting chorus was inspired by Ski Mask's late friend and collaborator, XXXTentacion, and the vocal techniques of rock singers. The production was handled by FreshThPharmacy. An action-packed music video, directed by Cole Bennett of Lyrical Lemonade, was released on October 25, 2019. The video depicts Ski Mask and Juice WRLD surviving a plane crash in a desert and fighting off enemies, mirroring the song's combative theme.

"Nuketown" operates with a dynamic and aggressive rhythmic structure, prioritizing energy and impact over conventional schemes. The song's tempo is a fast 150 BPM, driving its frantic pace. The meter is a standard 4/4 time signature, but the artists' flows create a feeling of complexity and unpredictability. Ski Mask the Slump God is known for his intricate, multi-syllabic rhyme schemes and his ability to weave internal rhymes throughout his verses. For example, in the lines "Think I'm Thanos, rock diamond my fist, uh-uh / Entertainment with your bitch at night like Nick," the rhymes are not just at the end of the lines but are scattered within, creating a dense and percussive lyrical texture. The rhythm of the vocal delivery is often syncopated against the beat, with Ski Mask's signature stutter-step flow creating a start-and-stop momentum that is both jarring and catchy. Juice WRLD's verse, while also rhythmically complex, focuses more on the power and raw emotion of the delivery. His rhyme scheme is more straightforward but is delivered with a shouted, forceful rhythm that aligns with the driving beat, emphasizing a feeling of relentless aggression. The shouted chorus, "Cutthroat! Cutthroat!", acts as a rhythmic anchor, a simple, brutalist chant that contrasts with the complexity of the verses and enhances the song's mosh-pit energy.

"Nuketown" is a showcase of the aggressive, high-energy style that defined a significant era of SoundCloud rap.

• Vocal Delivery: The most prominent technique is the aggressive, shouted vocal delivery from both artists, especially on the chorus and throughout Juice WRLD's verse. This style is heavily influenced by hardcore punk and the screamo-rap pioneered by artists like the late XXXTentacion, to whom Juice WRLD pays homage. This raw, distorted vocalization creates a sense of chaos and intense emotion.
• Flow and Cadence: Ski Mask employs his signature off-kilter, "jittery" cadence, rapidly switching flows and cramming a high density of syllables into each bar. His verses are rhythmically complex and unpredictable, keeping the listener off-balance and contributing to the track's frenetic energy. He stated he intentionally switches the flow multiple times to be unorthodox.
• Production: The beat, produced by FreshThPharmacy, is characterized by a heavy, distorted 808 bass, a simple but menacing piano melody, and sharp, trap-style percussion. A key element is the use of the "Round one, fight!" sample from Mortal Kombat, which immediately establishes a confrontational, video game-esque atmosphere. The overall production is loud and abrasive, matching the vocal intensity.
• Lyrical Content: The lyrics are a rapid-fire collage of pop culture references, functioning as a literary device. By weaving together allusions to Mortal Kombat, Thanos, Drake & Josh, and Lilo & Stitch, the artists create a hyper-specific, modern form of lyrical braggadocio that is both playful and aggressive. This technique grounds the abstract anger in a shared cultural lexicon.

"Nuketown" made a significant cultural impact upon its release, becoming one of the standout tracks from Ski Mask the Slump God's debut album, Stokeley, and a fan favorite. The song performed well commercially, charting on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 63 and being certified Platinum by the RIAA. Its success was bolstered by the potent collaboration between Ski Mask and Juice WRLD, two prominent figures of the SoundCloud rap era. The track is often highlighted for showcasing a different side of Juice WRLD, who swaps his usual melodic style for a raw, aggressive, hardcore vocal delivery paying homage to XXXTentacion. The song's title and energetic theme, borrowed from the Call of Duty map, resonated strongly with gaming culture. The official music video, directed by the influential Cole Bennett, further solidified its place in hip-hop visual culture, garnering tens of millions of views. "Nuketown" is considered a definitive track of the late 2010s trap metal and hardcore hip-hop subgenres, remembered for its raw energy, chaotic production, and the powerful synergy between its two collaborators.

The song is built around a central metaphor: Nuketown. This isn't just a title; it represents a state of mind and a worldview.

• The Nuketown Map: As a map in Call of Duty, Nuketown is famous for being extremely small, leading to constant, chaotic, and explosive confrontations. The song uses this as a symbol for the artists' environment—a hyper-competitive, confrontational world where they must lyrically "nuke" their opponents to survive and dominate. The frantic energy of the game is mirrored in the song's aggressive delivery and tempo.
• "Cutthroat": The recurring, screamed lyric "Cutthroat!" is the song's primary motif. It's a blunt declaration of ruthlessness and a willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed, severing ties with fake friends and destroying competition without hesitation.
• Pop Culture Collage: The lyrics are dense with scattered references to video games (Mortal Kombat, Super Mario), movies (Avengers: Infinity War's Thanos), and cartoons (Lilo & Stitch, The Fairly OddParents, SpongeBob SquarePants). This isn't just lyrical flexing; it symbolizes a worldview filtered through a chaotic digital and media-saturated lens. It creates a surreal juxtaposition, blending childhood innocence with adult aggression, reflecting the unique cultural landscape of the SoundCloud rap generation.
• Michael Jackson's Glove: Ski Mask's line "Michael Jackson, one glove, I hit" is a clever, multi-layered metaphor. On one level, it's a braggadocious reference to sexual conquest, with the single glove being a slang term for a condom. On another, it evokes an image of iconic, singular talent and untouchable swagger.

The most significant recurring element in "Nuketown" is the shouted phrase "Cutthroat!". This word, delivered with raw, aggressive energy, functions as the song's central hook and thematic core. Its repetition throughout the track serves several purposes:

• Thematic Reinforcement: It constantly reminds the listener of the song's main theme: a ruthless, unapologetic approach to competition, fake friends, and life in general.
• Structural Hook: While the verses are lyrically dense and complex, the simple, monosyllabic chant of "Cutthroat!" provides a memorable and powerful anchor for the listener, making it an ideal chant for live performances.
• Emotional Release: The screamed delivery is a pure, cathartic release of the anger and frustration that Ski Mask described as the inspiration for the track.