Shots Fired (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Shots Fired

| type = song

| artist = Megan Thee Stallion

| album = Good News

| released = {{Start date|2020|11|20}}

| genre = Hip hop

| length = {{Duration|02:50}}

| label =

| lyricist =

Megan Pete

| composer =

| producer = Buddah Bless

}}

"Shots Fired" is a song by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion. It was released as the first track from Megan's debut studio album, Good News, on November 20, 2020. A diss track, the song recounts Megan's 2020 shooting incident, mocking the shooter, rapper Tory Lanez. The song includes a sample of the Notorious B.I.G.'s 1995 track "Who Shot Ya?".

"Shots Fired" was universally lauded by critics, who praised Megan's response to Lanez's 2020 album Daystar, which also referenced the shooting.

Background

On July 15, 2020, internet tabloid TMZ posted video footage appearing to show an injured Megan Thee Stallion in an incident involving the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).{{cite news |title=Megan Thee Stallion Says She Was Shot in the Foot, New Vid Shows Bloody Prints |url=https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/15/megan-thee-stallion-shot-twice-foot-tory-lanez-arrest-glass-injury/ |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=TMZ |date=July 15, 2020 |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303123208/https://www.tmz.com/2020/07/15/megan-thee-stallion-shot-twice-foot-tory-lanez-arrest-glass-injury/ |url-status=live }} After initial reports that the injury had been caused by broken glass on the floor of the car in which she was riding, Megan issued a statement clarifying that she "suffered gunshot wounds, as a result of a crime that was committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm me".{{cite news |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |title=Megan Thee Stallion Says She 'Suffered Gunshot Wounds as a Result of a Crime' Over the Weekend |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/megan-thee-stallion-says-she-suffered-gunshot-wounds-as-a-result-of-a-crime-over-the-weekend-1234707384/ |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=Variety |date=July 15, 2020 |archive-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715184143/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/megan-thee-stallion-says-she-suffered-gunshot-wounds-as-a-result-of-a-crime-over-the-weekend-1234707384/ |url-status=live }} The following month, Megan named Tory Lanez as her shooter, and said that she did not immediately name him out of fear of the police, especially in light of the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests.{{Cite web|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=August 21, 2020|title=Megan Thee Stallion Claims Tory Lanez Shot Her (Watch)|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/megan-thee-stallion-claims-tory-lanez-shot-her-watch-1234742725/|access-date=August 21, 2020|website=Variety|issn=0042-2738|archive-date=August 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821104913/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/megan-thee-stallion-claims-tory-lanez-shot-her-watch-1234742725/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Bloom|first=Madison|date=August 21, 2020|title=Megan Thee Stallion Says Tory Lanez Shot Her|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/megan-thee-stallion-says-tory-lanez-shot-her/|access-date=August 21, 2020|website=Pitchfork|issn=2574-2183|archive-date=August 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822103424/https://pitchfork.com/news/megan-thee-stallion-says-tory-lanez-shot-her/|url-status=live}} Megan later revealed that Lanez and his team offered her money in exchange for silence on the matter.{{Cite web|last=Kirkpatrick|first=Emily|date=November 16, 2020|title=Megan Thee Stallion Claims Tory Lanez Tried to Pay Her to Stay Quiet After Shooting|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/11/megan-thee-stallion-tory-lanez-shooting-pay-off-gq-interview|access-date=November 24, 2020|publisher=Vanity Fair}}

On September 25, 2020, Lanez released his fifth studio album, Daystar, in which he repeatedly denied shooting Megan.{{cite news |last1=Beaumont-Thomas |first1=Ben |title=Tory Lanez denies shooting Megan Thee Stallion in new album lyrics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/25/megan-thee-stallion-tory-lanez-shooting |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=September 25, 2020 |archive-date=February 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223093453/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/25/megan-thee-stallion-tory-lanez-shooting |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |last2=Willman |first2=Chris |title=Tory Lanez Denies Megan Thee Stallion's Account of Being Shot in a Highly Defensive Surprise Album |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/tory-lanez-surprise-album-drop-daystar-denies-shooting-megan-thee-stallion-1234783198/ |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=Variety |date=September 24, 2020 |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930192749/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/tory-lanez-surprise-album-drop-daystar-denies-shooting-megan-thee-stallion-1234783198/ |url-status=live }} Daystar received widespread criticism from music journalists, many of whom refused to review the album. Andre Gee of Complex referred to the album as "a project too contemptible to be evaluated on any musical scale",{{cite news |last1=Gee |first1=Andre |title=Tory Lanez' 'Daystar' Is Much More Than Just a Terrible Album |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/09/tory-lanez-daystar-much-worse-than-a-terrible-album |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=Complex |date=September 25, 2020}} while Chris Murphy of Vulture released a headline saying, "For the Love of God, Do Not Listen to Tory Lanez's Album DAYSTAR".{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/09/tory-lanez-drops-album-daystar-talks-megan-thee-stallion.html|title=Tory Lanez Drops Album Daystar about Megan Thee Stallion|website=Vulture|last=Murphy|first=Chris|date=September 25, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=October 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003103842/https://www.vulture.com/2020/09/tory-lanez-drops-album-daystar-talks-megan-thee-stallion.html|url-status=live}} Fellow rapper Rick Ross took to social media to rebuke Lanez for his album, saying "That ain't how you address the accusations you facing with the sister. That was a poor choice, homie. You ain't getting no money with that shit".{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Sam |title=Rick Ross hits back at Tory Lanez over 'Daystar' album release and Breonna Taylor protests |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/rick-ross-hits-back-at-tory-lanez-over-daystar-album-release-and-breonna-taylor-protests-2763895 |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=NME |date=September 28, 2020}} Highsnobiety announced that they would refuse to cover Lanez after he dropped "the most toxic album of the year".{{cite news |last1=Hore-Thorburn |first1=Isabelle |title=This is the last time we will cover Tory Lanez, here's why |url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/tory-lanez-daystar-album/ |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=Highsnobiety |date=September 26, 2020}}

Writing and composition

"Shots Fired" is a rap track, that samples The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1995 hip hop track "Who Shot Ya?"{{cite magazine |last1=Kaufman |first1=Gil |title=Megan Thee Stallion Unloads on Tory Lanez on Blistering 'Shots Fired' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9487490/megan-thee-stallion-tory-lanez-shots-fired |access-date=March 12, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106190822/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9487490/megan-thee-stallion-tory-lanez-shots-fired |url-status=live }} The track was written by Megan (under her birth name of Megan Pete), Buddah Bless (under his birth name of Tyron Douglas), Herb Magidson, and Allie Wrubel, and was produced by Bless.{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/162814354/credits|title=Good News / Megan Thee Stallion – TIDAL|date=20 November 2020 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=November 26, 2020|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129105746/https://listen.tidal.com/album/162814354/credits|url-status=live}} The track references specific elements of the shooting, including the pellet and .22 caliber with which she was shot, her decision not to tell the police, and the money she and her friend were offered in exchange for their silence.{{cite news |last1=Elder |first1=Sajae |title=Megan Thee Stallion addresses alleged Tory Lanez shooting incident on 'Shots Fired' |url=https://www.thefader.com/2020/11/20/megan-thee-stallion-tory-lanez-shooting-shots-fired-good-news |access-date=March 13, 2021 |work=The Fader |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204021112/https://www.thefader.com/2020/11/20/megan-thee-stallion-tory-lanez-shooting-shots-fired-good-news |url-status=live }} Megan chooses never to name the subject of the track in the song, but instead makes a reference to the shooting of Breonna Taylor.{{cite news |last1=Hosken |first1=Patrick |title=Megan Thee Stallion Seemingly Closes the Book on the Tory Lanez Saga on 'Shots Fired' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3172039/megan-thee-stallion-shots-fired-good-news/ |access-date=March 13, 2021 |work=MTV News |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=March 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311065428/http://www.mtv.com/news/3172039/megan-thee-stallion-shots-fired-good-news/ |url-status=dead }}

Release

Megan Thee Stallion announced the name and release date of her debut studio album, Good News on November 12, 2020.{{cite news |last1=Hussey |first1=Allison |title=Megan Thee Stallion Announces Debut Album Good News |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/megan-thee-stallion-announces-debut-album-good-news/ |access-date=March 13, 2021 |work=Pitchfork |date=November 12, 2020}} On November 17, three days before the album release, Megan released the album's track list, with "Shots Fired" as the first track. This led to media and fan speculation that the song would address the Lanez incident.{{cite news |last1=Carras |first1=Christi |title=The first song on Megan Thee Stallion's new album is called 'Shots Fired' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-11-17/megan-thee-stallion-new-album-good-news-tory-lanez |access-date=March 13, 2021 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=November 17, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Droke |first1=Carolyn |title=Some Fans Think Megan Thee Stallion's 'Good News' Opener 'Shots Fired' Is A Tory Lanez Diss Track |url=https://uproxx.com/music/megan-thee-stallion-shots-fired-tory-lanez/ |access-date=March 13, 2021 |work=Uproxx |date=November 17, 2020 |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117201524/https://uproxx.com/music/megan-thee-stallion-shots-fired-tory-lanez/ |url-status=live }} Good News was released on November 20, 2020.{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Latesha |title=Megan Thee Stallion Shares 'Good News', Her First Studio Album |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/11/20/936234844/megan-thee-stallion-shares-good-news-her-first-studio-album |access-date=March 13, 2021 |work=NPR Music |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=March 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312173422/https://www.npr.org/2020/11/20/936234844/megan-thee-stallion-shares-good-news-her-first-studio-album |url-status=live }}

Megan revealed in an interview with WQHT Hot 97 that the song was "ready to go the next day" after being shot, but that she held off on releasing the song until she decided that, "at the end of the day, I just can't keep letting people walk all over me".{{cite news |last1=Gregory |first1=Allie |title=Megan Thee Stallion Explains Why She Held Off on Releasing 'Shots Fired' |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/megan_thee_stallion_explains_why_she_held_off_on_releasing_shots_fired |access-date=March 13, 2021 |work=Exclaim! |date=November 25, 2020}} In a subsequent interview with Radio.com, Megan said that she had no interest in continuing to address the incident, and that she felt "like I said enough" on "Shots Fired".{{cite magazine |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Megan Thee Stallion Feels Like She 'Said Enough' on Clapback Track 'Shots Fired' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9490482/megan-thee-stallion-talks-shots-fired/ |access-date=March 13, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 25, 2020 |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129120230/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9490482/megan-thee-stallion-talks-shots-fired/ |url-status=live }}

Reception

"Shots Fired" was released to wide acclaim from music critics, who praised Megan's response to the shooting incident. Justin Curto of Vulture said that the song is "a perfect reminder [...] that [Megan is] past the point of having to prove herself, or anything, to anyone", and called it "a diss track in line with a long lineage of greats".{{cite news |last1=Curto |first1=Justin |title=Megan Thee Stallion Murders the Narrative on 'Shots Fired' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/11/song-review-megan-thee-stallion-shots-fired-lyrics-analysis.html |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=Vulture |date=November 20, 2020}} Teen Vogue said that the track "feels cathartic in allowing her to take the space to fully tell her side of the story".{{cite news |title=Megan Thee Stallion Blasts Tory Lanez on 'Shots Fired' |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/megan-thee-stallion-good-news-shots-fired |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=Teen Vogue |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103194445/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/megan-thee-stallion-good-news-shots-fired |url-status=live }} Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone praised "Shots Fired" as "catty and cutting, and most vicious of all, backed up by the evidence", and compared the song to Noname's "Song 33", a diss track against J. Cole.{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=Song You Need to Know: Megan Thee Stallion, 'Shots Fired' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/megan-thee-stallion-shots-fired-1093527/ |access-date=March 12, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202185451/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/megan-thee-stallion-shots-fired-1093527/ |url-status=live }}

Writing for NME, Kyann-Sian Williams referred to "Shots Fired" as "a signal that Megan is not messing around", and that the song "suggests she's done with having her kindness taken for weakness".{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Kyann-Sian |title=Megan Thee Stallion – 'Good News' review: Houston hottie exudes positivity in a difficult year |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/megan-thee-stallion-good-news-review-2821543 |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=NME |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225200755/https://www.nme.com/reviews/megan-thee-stallion-good-news-review-2821543 |url-status=live }} Steffanee Wang of Nylon said that "Megan's storytelling ability, clear-eyed delivery, and general charisma as a rapper as she tells her side of the story take center stage", and that "Megan's got the last word" between her and Lanez.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Steffanee |title=The 5 Must-Listen Tracks Off Megan Thee Stallion's 'Good News' |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/the-4-must-listen-tracks-on-megan-thee-stallions-good-news |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=Nylon}} In a review for Stereogum, Tom Breihan said that Megan "just atomizes this motherfucker, clowning him for everything from his shallow social-media self-aggrandizement to his choice of weaponry".{{cite news |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Premature Evaluation: Megan Thee Stallion Good News |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2108160/megan-thee-stallion-good-news/reviews/premature-evaluation/ |access-date=March 13, 2021 |work=Stereogum |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201170041/https://www.stereogum.com/2108160/megan-thee-stallion-good-news/reviews/premature-evaluation/ |url-status=live }}

"Shots Fired" also had a strong fan and commercial showing, with many Twitter users praising the track upon its release.{{cite news |last1=Moniuszko, Sara M |first1=Sara M |title=Twitter users praise Megan Thee Stallion's new album 'Good News,' lead track 'Shots Fired' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/11/20/megan-thee-stallion-good-news-twitter-users-react-new-album/6353754002/ |access-date=March 13, 2021 |work=USA Today |date=November 20, 2020 |archive-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230041154/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/11/20/megan-thee-stallion-good-news-twitter-users-react-new-album/6353754002/ |url-status=live }} In the United States, "Shots Fired" debuted at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100, and at number 23 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart. Elsewhere, the song spent one week at number 25 on the Recorded Music NZ charts, and entered the Billboard Global 200 at number 162.{{Cite web|date=November 30, 2020|title=Hot Singles Chart|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2020-11-27|access-date=November 28, 2020|website=Recorded Music NZ|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130131259/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4981|url-status=live}}