Ascension
by Gorillaz (featuring Vince Staples)

Album: Humanz (2017)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song features US rapper and Odd Future collaborator Vince Staples spitting rhymes about inequality, racism and humanity's doomed fate. Gorillaz founder Damon Albarn told Billboard magazine of his teenage daughter, Missy: "Some of the decisions for this record were fuelled by wanting to impress her still."

    Missy, according to the article, is a big fan of Vince Staples.
  • Staples talks about the sky falling during the song's hook, one of a number of celestial/astronomical themes scattered throughout the Humanz album. Other tunes linked to the concept include "Saturnz Barz," and "Andromeda."

    Albarn explained that the space themes were inspired by Ethel, the late mother of his partner who loved astronomy. He added that Humanz features themes around space and death because he likes to imagine her spirit in another constellation.

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