Featuring: Joell Ortiz

[Verse 1: Alex Fitts of The Kickdrums]
Tell me my friend, have they gotten to you?
Have they gotten inside your head?
Into the world trying to face existence
Will they remember us? Here we are hesitant in speech, lost
Just trying to let him know it’s all a joke
You shouldn’t take that serious or else you might crack up

[Hook]
But hail to the thief, he’s getting away again
The world wants its fees, might be you and me in the end
While one wants to believe, another one wants it to burn
It’s just a game, it’s all a game, it’s just a game

[Break: Joell Ortiz]
Clap, if y'all listen closely, y'all hear me clapping live in the booth
Those are claps of joy, know what I'm saying?
They said we couldn't make it, look at us though

[Verse 2: Joell Ortiz]
I was young but wasn't dumb ma, I knew the deal
But I swear to everything, I ain't mad at you for real
You was getting high but you tried to keep your bull nill
And look, I won't conch again another music deal
But on the low, you ain't know I was pursuing pills
I was on that block flying and still moving crills
I know you hear this, you probably gonna be disappointed
But this the Devil kingdom, God, let 'em get appointed
He tripped, had me chasing a little bit of joyment
And had my liver fiending for all that liquor ointment
Well I still fiend for that, I gotta have a sip
Helps me escape reality and break the baddest bitch
Remember being in the store, stealing a bag of chips
A little nigga stomach was growling but I ain't have a grip
Y'all can say I relate but y'all don't know the half of it
Saying I was poor is about accurate, ah man

[Outro: Alex Fitts]
It’s just a game, it’s just a game, it’s just a game

The KickDrums

The KickDrums is the recording alias of producer/singer/songwriter Alex Fitts. Fitts’ music combines elements spanning many genres, seamlessly incorporating a range of diverse sounds into a dynamic mix all his the percussive sampled beats of The Avalanches and trip-hop swagger à la Phantogram.

In the mid 2000’s, Fitts started his career working with local hip-hop acts in his hometown of Cleveland, where his sound caught the ears of high-caliber rappers who loved his production hybrid of hip-hop and indie rock. This led to The KickDrums working with artists like 50 Cent, Kid Cudi, Freddie Gibbs, A$AP Rocky & Lana Del Rey, as well as doing remixes for Adele, Kanye West, and Linkin Park. He’s also collaborated with hip-hop/R&B heavyweights, including RZA, MGK, and SZA. With half a decade of star-studded production projects under his belt, The KickDrums put out their debut artist LP, Meet Your Ghost, in 2011 via Last Gang Records, followed by 2013’s Thinking Out Loud, with Hopeless Records, as well as a collaborative album with rapper Duckwrth in 2015.

After years of releasing music non-stop, Fitts took time to step away from his work, allowing him to clear his mind for a fresh start. Two years of living in Spain inspired novel ideas and impressive collaborations, building up to The KickDrums’ newest album, 2020’s Blurred Colors.