Triggered (Freestyle)

"Triggered (Freestyle)" is a song by American singer Jhené Aiko, released as a single on May 8, 2019, through Def Jam Recordings.

The song is a freestyle rap about Aiko's conflicted feelings following a breakup, in which she sings: "Knew from the beginning, you'd ruin everything you do it every time, you are my enemy, you are no friend of mine.

Maclean Robinson, Brian K. Warfield and Julian-Quán Việt Lê, who also co-produced the song alongside Fisticuffs.

Aiko accompanied the song's release with a note revealing the intense emotions that sparked the tune.

Gross also complimented Aiko's musical style and called the song "impressively sweet" for how intense it is.

[19] Writing for The Fader, David Renshaw said that "Triggered" takes the form of a freestyle in which she opens up about her confused feelings following a split.

[20] Trey Alston of MTV News commented, "Aiko returns to her soft world of cerulean waterfalls and perennial showers on 'Triggered.'

But while Aiko treads familiar, heavenly realms with her atmosphere, her words bring death by a thousand cuts.

"You'd ruin everything, you do it every time / You are my enemy, you are no friend of mine," she sings, adding "motherfucker" at the end like a final, twisting cut to the aorta.

[25] It was uploaded a day after Aiko posted two blurred photos of her standing and sitting on a canyon via her Instagram account.

An image of Big Sean performing on stage.
The release of "Triggered" generated social media speculation that Aiko's lyrics were aimed at her ex, Detroit rapper Big Sean (pictured). [ 5 ]