Lockjaw

Album: MC4 (2016)
Charted: 73
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lockjaw, also called Trismus, is a medical condition in which the mouth is held shut by sustained spasm of the jaw muscle. It is known to interfere with eating, speaking, and maintaining proper oral hygiene. Lockjaw is a common side effect of protracted ecstasy and cocaine usage.
  • This song is a collaboration with Pompano Beach based rapper Kodak Black. The pair boast on the track about the cash they are spending and their heavy drug use. In fact the pair are dropping so much ecstasy and cocaine, their jaws keep locking.
  • Ben Billions supplied the beat. Other credits on the producer's resume include Yo Gotti's, "Down in The DM," The Weeknd's "Often" and Beyoncé's "6 Inch."
  • Billions' instrumentation has the feel of an old hip-hop record. "The kids want to turn up," he told Billboard magazine, "but I'm always trying to sneak an element of something I would've liked from back in the day, whether it's a live instrument or a cool sample."

    "Kodak sounds extra Southern, gives it that fresh young appeal, but we would have jammed to that beat in '96," Billions added.
  • Budding Moroccan producer Assil Youssef, who works under the stage name Yo Asel, filed a federal copyright lawsuit against French Montana claiming he stole his beat for "Lockjaw". In his suit, Youssef alleged he sent his song "Sleep85" to the Bronx rapper via e-mail in 2015 and Montana responded with the request to "Send more."

    Nothing materialized, but a year later Youseff was, according to the Manhattan federal copyright lawsuit, "shocked to learn that the instrumental track he had sent to French Montana months earlier was modified slightly and used – without (his) consent – as the beat for 'Lockjaw.'"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.