Composition
"Knock You Down" is a R&B song with a length of five minutes and twenty six seconds. The song also includes electronic tones, and derives from pop and hip-hop genres. The song is set in common time, and composed in a "moderate R&B groove." It is written in the key of G minor, and vocals span from F3 to D5. It follows the chord progression E♭–F–B♭–E♭–F–Gm. The song begins with a rap intro by Kanye West, accompanied by a "stabbing synth riff." According to Chris Williams of Billboard, The verses contain a "thumping bass-beat" while the chorus is in a "frenetic midtempo groove." Dan Nishimoto of Prefix Magazine said the song had a "4/4 Motown feel on the verses and stuttering drums on the chorus." Hilson performs the first verse and chorus, while Ne-Yo sings the second verse. West then has a rap interlude before Hilson sings an additional part before the song ends with the chorus by Hilson, accompanied by Ne-Yo. In West's lines, he references Michael Jackson and his song "Bad" in the lines "This is bad, real bad, Michael Jackson." Coincidentally, the song was released in numerous territories around the death of the singer. West also refers to the domestic abuse accusations against his Jackson's father, Joe, in the following lyric "Now mad, real mad, Joe Jackson." Lyrically, the song is about how a great love goes wrong.
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