Sleepy Hallow’s “A N X I E T Y” followed an unusual trajectory. Released September 15, 2023, as a standout single from his Boy Meets World album, Doechii’s feature went nearly two whole years without much notice before erupting in March 2025. A viral trend on TikTok took over from there, and the song eventually achieved the fame that was long overdue, leaving one wondering: what took so long?
Produced by Great John, “A N X I E T Y” is itself a sample tapestry, borrowing from Doechii’s earlier track “Anxiety”, which samples Gotye’s chart-topper in 2011, “Somebody That I Used to Know.” This multi-layering is what gives the song a richness that is uniquely its own, pairing contemporary-day hip-hop with flashes of earlier melodies. Underneath all this, however, is a raw expression of Sleepy Hallow’s internal turmoil with his mental health, something that would go on to touch the lives of millions.
When “A N X I E T Y” came out, it didn’t light the charts up. It made it to number 52 in September 2023, getting a respectable nod but never quite reaching blockbuster status. The critics were all about the reflective lyrics and the silky smooth interaction between Sleepy Hallow and Doechii, but the public wasn’t really interested. The song lingered in the background for a while, a sleeper hit waiting in the wings.
The heart of “A N X I E T Y” lies in its words. Sleepy Hallow doesn’t hold back, vividly depicting his struggles with lines like
"feel like I'm stuck in a maze"
and
"sometimes I feel like a slave to my feelings."
These lyrics capture a sense of being trapped, a sentiment he unpacked in an interview with Genius. “It’s like therapy for me,” he said, describing how the song became an outlet for his anxiety and inner demons.
Dig deeper, and the track reveals clever metaphors. Take
"free all my n****s, the Harriet way,"
a nod to Harriet Tubman’s legacy of liberation, hinting at Sleepy Hallow’s yearning to break free from mental and societal chains. Or consider
"Jacques Cousteau with the wave,"
possibly likening his emotional journey to the famed explorer’s dives into uncharted waters. These layers add richness to the song, inviting listeners to connect on multiple levels.
So, what was the cause for the long-overdue popularity boost for the song? The answer arrived in March 2025, when “A N X I E T Y” became a viral hit on TikTok. The song’s haunting beat and lyrics that spoke universally were the soundtrack for countless videos, making it a cultural phenomenon overnight. This was no fluke; TikTok has a track record for resuscitating old songs, as with such songs as Lil Dicky’s “Pillow Talking” in the past. With Sleepy Hallow, the platform was the perfect platform for a second act.
However, the TikTok trend was not the exclusive driving force behind it. In 2025, mental health discussions were louder than ever, with more people sharing their own anxiety experiences. The cultural movement likely made the song more powerful, with the subject matter more relevant than ever. Doechii’s subsequent decision to release her “Anxiety” song back onto streaming platforms stoked the fire, exposing the Sleepy Hallow version to a brand new audience.
Sleepy Hallow’s “A N X I E T Y” shows that sometimes tracks take time to find their people. Its journey from modest introduction to viral sensation is a testament to music’s power to bridge individual struggles with universal truths. With lyrics that speak so directly and a sound that is so emotive, the track is now more than a hit; it is a lifeline for individuals navigating their own mazes. Two years on, and its resonance now sounds louder than ever.
