In true calm-before-the-storm fashion, “Hot Head” pits abrasive noise again… Read Full Bio ↴In true calm-before-the-storm fashion, “Hot Head” pits abrasive noise against luscious synths, and manic shouting against catchy, subdued vocals. The chaos vs. harmony concept is further defined by the shift in Ride’s coherency between the verses and hooks. “Hot Head” lulls and maims, soothes and bruises.

During the coherent sections, the song’s lyrics are highly self-referential, alluding to the paradigm of control Death Grips has over obsessive fans. The song’s structure also reflects this relationship, building and releasing much like the band does when toying with fans' emotions.

The original version of “Hot Head” was released as a single on February 6th, 2016. It did not feature the arpeggiated synths at the start of the song, the vocal samples occurring between the verses and pre-hooks, and the underlying bassline throughout.

Hot Head
Death Grips Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Oh no
Blo, blo, blo, blo
Hot head
Oh no, that pedagogue grab the microphone, ease back up [?]
Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Oh no

Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Oh no
Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Hot head, oh no
Pedagogue grab the microphone, ease up [?]
Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Oh no
Blo, blo, blo
Hot head, oh no
Pedagogue grab the microphone, ease up [?]
Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Oh no
Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Hot head, oh no
Pedagogue grab the microphone, ease up [?]
Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Oh no
Blo, blo, blo
Hot head, oh no
Pedagogue grab the microphone, ease up [?]
Oh no, hot head

Raw, no fuckin' filter, crooked needle, hot head
Raw, no fuckin' filter, crooked needle, hot head

Self-inflicted
What'd you tell them?
I just told 'em hell's existence
But you know me, don't nobody
Know my business
My presence flog your confidence
Who want a brand-new complex?
Now on, I'll call you, go fetch
Self-inflicted
What'd you tell them?
I just told 'em hell's existence
But you know me, don't nobody
Know my business
Get used to fetch, I'll shoot, you catch
I snap, you come, I don't call you back
Act natural, my style attack

Give it out, give it out, give it out, give it out, give it out, give it out
Dive-bomber, dive-bomber
Clip a hundred doves like a bald-headed rasta
Clot of the dot, got a head a piranha
Give it up, give it up, give it up
My
My cobra head draped in mota
Hooded regime like ebola
My cobra head draped in mota
My cobra head draped in mota

My cobra head draped in mota
Hooded regime like ebola
Blink and you're over
Wouldn't shut the fuck up, answered for their behavior
Cleft-palate creator
Morgue head forsaker
Phallus cloud, call me vapor
My cobra head draped in ebola
My cobra head draped in mota
My cobra head draped in mota
Hooded regime like ebola
Blink and you're over
Wouldn't shut the fuck up, answered for their behavior
Cleft-palate creator
Morgue head forsaker
Phallus cloud, crown me vapor
My cobra head draped in mota
Hooded regime like ebola
Blink and you're over
Wouldn't shut the fuck up, answered for their behavior
Cleft-palate creator
Morgue head forsaker
Phallus cloud, crown me vapor

Raw, no fuckin' filter, crooked needle, hot head
Raw, no fuckin' filter, crooked needle, hot head

Self-inflicted
What'd you tell them?
I just told 'em hell's existence
But you know me, don't nobody
Know my business
My presence flog your confidence
Who want a brand-new complex?
Now on, I'll call you, go fetch
Self-inflicted
What'd you tell them?
I just told 'em hell's existence
But you know me, don't nobody
Know my business
Best get used to fetch, I'll shoot you, catch

I'll snap, you come, I don't call you back
Act natural, my style attack

Overall Meaning

The song Hot Head by Death Grips features an aggressive, repetitive chorus of "blo, blo, blo" and "hot head." The verses are comprised of visceral and chaotic lyrics that flip between intense metaphors and scathing critiques of the music industry. The song's title and opening suggest a commentary on the state of fiery, angry individuals in power (represented by "pedagogue grab[bing] the microphone") in the music industry, while the rest of the song touches on themes of self-assertion and defiance.

The lyrics and production style of Hot Head demonstrate Death Grips' approach to their music as a whole; that is to say, it's a hard-hitting, aggressive sound that's difficult to define in any one genre. The band has been known for years for pushing musical boundaries and mixing genres, and this song is no exception. The combination of the raw, industrial production with the frenetic, chaotic lyrics creates an intense listening experience that seems to tap into some primal energy.

Line by Line Meaning

Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
Repetitive sound effect to start the song

Oh no
Anxiety or concern over a situation

Hot head
Intense anger or frustration

Oh no, that pedagogue grab the microphone, ease back up [?]
A teacher or educator takes control of the situation, possibly causing the singer to step back

Blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo, blo
More repetitive sound effect

Oh no
Increase in anxiety or concern

Blo, blo, blo, blo
Another repetitive sound effect

Pedagogue grab the microphone, ease up [?]
The teacher has the microphone and the singer is instructed to calm down

Raw, no fuckin' filter, crooked needle, hot head
The singer is unfiltered and volatile, like a crooked needle

Self-inflicted
Singer is responsible for their own struggles or pain

What'd you tell them?
Asking about something said to someone else

I just told 'em hell's existence
The singer is discussing a negative idea or concept

But you know me, don't nobody
The singer feels misunderstood and unknown

Know my business
The singer wants privacy and doesn't want others to pry into their personal affairs

My presence flog your confidence
The singer's presence is intimidating or overwhelming, causing others to feel insecure

Who want a brand-new complex?
The singer is questioning whether someone wants to try out a new mental or emotional state

Now on, I'll call you, go fetch
The singer will be in charge and others must follow their lead

Give it out, give it out, give it out, give it out, give it out, give it out
Repeated command to give something away

Dive-bomber, dive-bomber
A reference to military aircraft bombing runs

Clip a hundred doves like a bald-headed rasta
Lyrically violent imagery of harming innocent animals

Clot of the dot, got a head a piranha
The singer has a head like a piranha, which is a vicious fish known for its sharp teeth and aggressive behavior

My cobra head draped in mota
The singer's head is related to a cobra, a venomous snake, and may be under the influence of marijuana

Hooded regime like ebola
The singer's style or influence is like the deadly Ebola virus and is all-encompassing

Blink and you're over
The singer is quick and deadly

Wouldn't shut the fuck up, answered for their behavior
Someone is talking too much and is being held accountable for their actions

Cleft-palate creator
A derogatory term for a person who creates things and may have an abnormality in their face

Morgue head forsaker
The singer is a person who abandons corpses

Phallus cloud, call me vapor
A vulgar reference to the singer's effect on the environment

Best get used to fetch, I'll shoot you, catch
The singer will be in charge and others must follow their lead

Act natural, my style attack
The singer wants to appear normal but has aggressive tendencies