ANXIETY (feat. Doechii)

"ANXIETY" by Sleepy Hallow, featuring Doechii, is a raw and introspective exploration of mental health struggles, particularly the pervasive and often debilitating experience of anxiety. The song delves into the internal battles, paranoia, and feelings of isolation that accompany this state. Sleepy Hallow uses his verses to paint a vivid picture of his personal fight with his "demons," expressing a sense of being overwhelmed and misunderstood. He touches on themes of substance use as a coping mechanism, the pressures of fame, and a deep-seated distrust of others, which stems from his anxiety. The track serves as a form of therapy for the artist, allowing him to process and articulate his inner turmoil. Doechii's chorus, which samples her own earlier song, acts as the haunting, ever-present voice of anxiety itself, describing it as a silent, watchful entity that can't be shaken off. The song's meaning is not about finding a cure but about the candid portrayal of the ongoing struggle, offering a sense of solidarity for listeners who may face similar challenges.

The song opens with Doechii's ethereal and haunting chorus, where she personifies anxiety as a persistent entity that is constantly trying her, silencing her, and watching her. This sets a tone of pervasive unease and the feeling of being haunted by one's own thoughts. The repetition of the word "anxiety" emphasizes its inescapable nature.

Sleepy Hallow's first verse immediately dives into his personal struggle, admitting that he's losing the fight against his inner demons. He feels isolated, believing no one can truly understand his experience. He mentions his use of substances like lean and pills as a coping mechanism, even when it's cold outside, highlighting a disconnect from his physical reality. Doechii's voice interjects, acknowledging his state but also questioning his actions, representing an external or internal voice of concern. He reflects on the allure of doing wrong and the inability to buy genuine love or connection.

He continues by describing the physical and mental toll of his anxiety, feeling like his emotions are "frying" him. He reveals a sense of paranoia and distrust, cautioning against those who might betray him ("Watch for that snake, he might bite me"). This leads to a defensive posture, pushing people away before they can get close. He emphasizes the need for precision and seriousness in his actions, a coping mechanism to maintain control in a chaotic internal world.

The second verse deepens the theme of feeling trapped, using the metaphor of being "stuck in a maze." He feels numb and unimpressed by life, simply trying to survive until the end. He rejects fame in favor of financial stability, a common sentiment in his music. There's a sense of obligation to his incarcerated friends, feeling a responsibility that adds to his emotional burden. He struggles to articulate his feelings, finding that when he tries, people dismiss him as "trippin'."

He expresses the pain of making mistakes that can't be undone and the necessity of loss before victory. A recurring theme is being trapped in his own mind. However, a shift occurs towards the end as he speaks of resilience. He asserts that despite setbacks, one must get back up, comparing it to the strength of a spine. The song concludes with the haunting refrain from Doechii, bringing the listener back to the central, unresolved theme of the ever-present nature of anxiety.

The creation of Sleepy Hallow's "ANXIETY" is layered, beginning with Doechii. In 2019, Doechii originally wrote and recorded a song titled "Anxiety" in her bedroom and self-released it on YouTube as part of her COVEN MUSIC SESSIONS. This original version prominently sampled Gotye's 2011 hit "Somebody That I Used to Know," which itself samples Luiz Bonfá's 1967 instrumental "Seville".

Years later, Brooklyn drill artist Sleepy Hallow heard Doechii's track and was drawn to its theme of anxiety, a topic he frequently explores in his own music and one that resonates deeply with his fanbase. He decided to sample Doechii's hook for his own song, also titled "ANXIETY." Produced by Great John, the song was included on Sleepy Hallow's second studio album, Boy Meets World, and was released as a single on September 15, 2023. Sleepy Hallow described the process of making the song as a form of therapy, a way to deal with his own mental health.

Following the release and subsequent viral popularity of Sleepy Hallow's version on TikTok in early 2025, Doechii released her original 2019 recording to streaming platforms on March 4, 2025, to meet fan demand. The music video for Sleepy Hallow's version, directed by Nimi Hendrix, was released on September 27, 2023.

The rhyme and rhythm of "ANXIETY" are central to its drill-based structure and introspective mood. Sleepy Hallow employs a relaxed, behind-the-beat flow that often feels like spoken-word rumination rather than aggressive rapping. The rhythm of his verses is complex, with phrases often spilling over the traditional bar lines, creating a sense of unease and unpredictability that mirrors the song's theme.

The rhyme scheme is generally irregular and follows a free verse pattern, typical for this style of rap. However, Sleepy Hallow makes extensive use of internal rhymes and assonance to create cohesion. For example, in the lines "Shit got me trippin', fightin' with my demons and my demons is winnin' / I feel like, don't nobody ever feel how I feel," the repetition of the 'i' sound links the phrases together.

Doechii's chorus provides a stark contrast. It is melodically driven with a more structured, repetitive rhythm that makes it a memorable hook. The simple AABB-like rhyme scheme ("tryin' me" / "quietly," "off of me" / "watchin' me") contributes to its haunting, nursery-rhyme quality. The overall tempo is moderate, driven by the signature drill hi-hat pattern and the deep, sliding 808 bass, creating a hypnotic and somber rhythmic bed for the candid lyrics.

"ANXIETY" employs a range of stylistic techniques, both musically and lyrically, to create its distinct atmosphere.

• Sampling and Interpolation: The track's foundation is a multi-layered sample. It directly samples the hook from Doechii's 2019 song "Anxiety," which in turn interpolates the distinctive xylophone riff from Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," which itself samples Luiz Bonfá's "Seville." This layering adds a sense of nostalgia and melodic familiarity, juxtaposing it with the raw, modern drill beat.
• Vocal Delivery: Sleepy Hallow's signature deep, syrupy, and almost lethargic flow contrasts with the more agitated theme of anxiety. This creates a sense of detachment and emotional exhaustion. Doechii's vocal on the chorus is ethereal and haunting, delivering the lyrics in a soft, melodic way that personifies the insidious, quiet nature of anxiety.
• Ad-libs and Background Vocals: The use of ad-libs and Doechii's layered background vocals throughout the track enhances the feeling of a crowded, chaotic mind, with multiple thoughts and voices overlapping.
• Introspective and Confessional Lyrics: The lyrical style is highly personal and confessional. Sleepy Hallow directly addresses his mental state, his fears, and his coping mechanisms, using a first-person narrative that feels like a diary entry or a therapy session.
• Drill Production: The song is set against a beat produced by Great John, characterized by the sliding 808 basslines and skittering hi-hats typical of the drill genre. This aggressive, street-oriented sound provides a stark contrast to the vulnerable and introspective subject matter, creating a unique sonic tension.

"ANXIETY" has had a significant cultural impact, largely propelled by its viral success on TikTok. Released in September 2023, the song gained massive traction in early 2025. Users on the platform paired the song with a dance trend inspired by a scene from the 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, featuring Will Smith and Tatyana Ali. This viral moment led to a huge surge in streams and chart performance that was initially modest.

The song's popularity resulted in a rare charting phenomenon: both Sleepy Hallow's version and Doechii's original 2019 solo version appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously. Sleepy Hallow's "ANXIETY" peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted internationally in countries like the UK, Switzerland, and Australia. The song was nominated for Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work at the 2025 APRA Music Awards.

Critically, the song was praised for its raw honesty and introspective lyrics about mental health, a topic of growing importance and discussion in cultural discourse. The song's journey from a relatively unnoticed album track to a viral sensation highlights the power of social media in reshaping a song's legacy and bringing conversations about mental health to a wider, younger audience.

"ANXIETY" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that illustrate the internal struggle with mental health.

• Fighting Demons: Sleepy Hallow repeatedly mentions "fightin' with my demons and my demons is winnin'," a direct metaphor for his overwhelming battle with his inner turmoil, anxiety, and negative thoughts. This personifies his mental health struggles as a tangible enemy he is actively, and at times unsuccessfully, combating.
• Stuck in a Maze: The line "Feel like I'm stuck in a maze" symbolizes a state of confusion, feeling trapped, and unable to find a way out of his mental state. It suggests a cyclical and disorienting experience where every turn leads back to the same place of distress.
• Anxiety as a Watcher: Doechii's hook, "Somebody's watchin' me, it's my anxiety," personifies anxiety as a constant, silent observer. This creates a sense of paranoia and the feeling of being perpetually judged and scrutinized, not by an external force, but by one's own mind.
• Two Chops (Sticks) Like I'm Chinese: This line uses a simile to describe being armed and on guard. While potentially controversial, it metaphorically conveys a state of heightened defensiveness and readiness to protect himself from perceived threats, a common symptom of severe anxiety and paranoia.
• Getting Back Like a Spine: The lyric "just make sure you get back like a spine" uses the spine as a metaphor for resilience and strength. It's an exhortation to stand tall and recover from adversity, to bounce back despite the pressures trying to break him.

Several recurring phrases and motifs anchor the song "ANXIETY" and reinforce its central themes.

• "Anxiety" (The Word Itself): The most significant recurring element is the word "anxiety," repeated by Doechii in the chorus. Its constant return hammers home the inescapable and pervasive nature of the mental state, making it the undeniable core of the song's identity.
• Fighting Demons: The motif of battling internal "demons" appears in the first verse ("Fightin' with my demons and my demons is winnin'") and is a recurring theme in Sleepy Hallow's broader discography. It represents the ongoing, exhausting struggle against his own negative thoughts and mental health issues.
• Being Watched / Paranoia: Doechii's line, "Somebody's watchin' me / It's my anxiety," introduces a strong motif of paranoia. This is echoed in Sleepy Hallow's verse with lines like "Watch for that snake, he might bite me" and "Watch out for anybody moving spicy." This recurring sense of being under threat from others is presented as a direct symptom of his anxiety.
• Feeling Trapped: The feeling of being stuck is a powerful recurring motif. It is explicitly stated in the line "Feel like I'm stuck in a maze" and implied through the cyclical nature of the chorus and the descriptions of being unable to escape his feelings.