Telekinesis (song)

"Telekinesis" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper and singer Travis Scott featuring fellow American singer SZA and fellow American rapper Future, released on July 28, 2023, as the penultimate track from the former's fourth studio album Utopia. The song was produced by Scott and BoogzDaBeast, with additional production from Jahaan Sweet, Hudson Mohawke, and Kanye West, as the song was originally for the latter's Donda (2021).
The song was originally a gospel song recorded for Kanye West's album Donda, first under the title of "Future Bounce", then renamed as "Future Sounds", and then renamed as "Ultrasounds". It previously also leaked and teased online. Changes in the final version include the production and exclusion of West's vocals. Despite being given to Travis Scott, the track's chord progression ended up being repurposed into West's song "Heaven and Hell", which did make its way onto Donda.
On January 8, 2025, songwriter Victory Boyd filed a copyright infringement legal complaint against Scott, SZA and Future, alleging that "Telekinesis" utilized elements of her 2019 song "Like the Way It Sounds" – reportedly written during the studio sessions for West's album Jesus Is King – without her permission. The suit alleged that Boyd, who is credited as a co-writer on the metadata for "Telekinesis", shared her original song with Kanye West, who then recorded a version titled "Ultrasounds"; West then shared the track with Scott without Boyd's "authorization, knowledge or consent". Boyd also sued watchmaker Audemars Piguet for using "Telekinesis" in a collaborative advertising campaign with Scott's Cactus Jack brand, despite her refusal to grant them a license.
Through most of the song, soft, wavy synthesizers are played in the production. During Travis Scott's chorus refrain, the instrumental uses "quick snare hits, deep bass, trill hi-hats, and industrial tones", coming in when he proclaims "the future of the bounce". Future's lyrics revolve around isolation increasing his drug addiction, while SZA laments losing a past lover, referencing the song "Marvins Room" by Drake. The track samples "Arena —- 83 bpm" by Wallis Lane.
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, with particular acclaim towards SZA's appearance. Complex's Stefan Breskin considered it the best song from Utopia, while Eric Skelton commented that the song "jumped out on first listen" and Mike Destefano called it a "close second" for him. Jessica McKinney and Destefano also regarded the song as having among the album's best features. Gabriel Bras Nevares of HotNewHipHop said, "Out of all the gorgeous moments on this new LP, 'Telekinesis' with Future and SZA is one of the most ascendant." He further stated "SZA's beautiful vocal performance and rapping paired perfectly with rising synths and string arrangements" and compared the song to Travis Scott and Beyoncé's "Delresto (Echoes)" in that "'Telekinesis' opts for consistent and elevatory progressions rather than a big payoff. As a result, it might not gratify you on impact, but every melody and second of its journey will work its way into you." Vivian Medithi of HipHopDX commented "Unlike the rest of Scott's leftovers, UTOPIA breathes new life into the track, if only by passing the baton to Future and SZA", before calling the song a "great example of why people bother with these records in the first place." Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre wrote that "Future is strong over the orchestral beat of 'Telekinesis,' and I like when he raps, 'Countin' so much money till my skin peel.' SZA is here, too, sounding good and sounding like she's collecting a check." Andre Gee of Rolling Stone commented that Scott had a "solid verse" in the song, and "When Future laments on 'Telekinesis' that he's 'takin' more drugs all alone in a mansion/Walkin' around tweakin' with the yop in my hands," you feel like someone's finally depicting what rich-nigga nihilism is supposed to sound like." Ben Devlin of MusicOMH wrote that "Scott's match-making reaches its apex" in the song.
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of Billboard ranked it as the best song from Utopia.