Billie Eilish.

Album: Road to Casablanco (2022)
Charted: 65 58
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Enoch Armani Tolbert is a Philadelphia-born rapper and singer-songwriter who records under the name of Armani White. The Philly native spent years developing his sound, which he calls "happy hood music." It's exemplified on his 2021 EP Things We Lost in The Fire, a record White crafted after his home went up in flames and he and his brother were wrongfully arrested. The pair fought a year-long legal battle before the authorities dropped all charges.

    "My idea is on the darkest days, I still look out in the sky and find the sun," White told Forbes. "And if I can do that... I want to be able to lead other people to that light."

    This ode to the superstar singer-songwriter is White's first release following the EP.
  • White namechecks Billie Eilish to illustrate the way he conceals his weapon.

    I'm stylish
    Glock tucked, big T-shirt, Billie Eilish


    White adopts the superstar's signature oversized T-shirt look in order to keep his Glock semiautomatic pistol hidden.
  • The song samples throughout N.O.R.E. and Pharrell Williams' 2002 hit "Nothin'."
  • Armani White originally posted part of "Billie Eilish" to his TikTok account on February 17, 2022. It went viral on the platform but he couldn't release the song until his people cleared the "Nothin'" sample. Once White got that straightened out he released it on May 19, 2022.

    "Between my team, we all had different relationships around Noreaga and Pharrell - those are the people we had to go through to get it cleared," White told Billboard. "But I didn't even know how to clear a record in the first place."
  • Another potential roadblock was Billie Eilish herself allowing her name to be used. Once Eilish reposted the snippet on her Instagram, White knew he'd be OK. "Her team and mine have been in communication throughout this whole thing, and they've all been super supportive," he said.
  • "Billie Eilish" continued to gain traction on TikTok and it entered the Hot 100 for the first time on the September 17, 2022 listing.
  • The song earned White a contract with Def Jam Recordings. He signed it in July 2022 after "Billie Eilish" caught on virally.
  • July Da Producer created the beat. His other credits include Chris Brown's "Trust Issues/Act In" and August Alsina's "Lonely."
  • Billie Eilish brought out Armani White at Osheaga festival in Montreal, Canada on August 5, 2023. Both were playing the Canadian festival, and during her show, Eilish told the crowd: "You know that song, 'Big T-shirt, Billie Eilish.'"

    The song began playing over the speakers, then White came out to perform the track.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

David Gray

David GraySongwriter Interviews

David Gray explains the significance of the word "Babylon," and talks about how songs are a form of active imagination, with lyrics that reveal what's inside us.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."