Tit for Tat (Tate McRae song)

In July 2025, McRae ended her year and a half relationship with the Australian singer and rapper the Kid Laroi. On September 5, 2025, Laroi released the post-breakup single "A Cold Play", expressing his wish to repair his partner.^[4] Just three weeks later, McRae issued her response track titled "Tit for Tat".^[5] McRae wrote "Tit for Tat" during her Miss Possessive Tour stop in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 11, 2025, and recorded it seven days later on September 18 at her Dallas, Texas, stop.^[6] The song was subtly teased via a glitching tour screen that briefly displayed the title in its abbreviated form "T4T".^[7] She announced the track on September 24.^[8]

"Tit for Tat" is 2 minutes and 55 seconds long.^[9] The song was recorded at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Ryan Tedder produced the song, while Grant Boutin provided vocal production. He played keyboard, synthesizer, and programmed drums. Tom Norris mixed the song at Snackworld in Los Angeles, and Chris Gehringer mastered the song at Sterling Sound in Edgewater.^[10][11]

Described as a "simmering rhythmic pop track", it has been characterized as "an indignant kiss-off to an ex".^[12] The title derives from the British expression "tit for tat", which refers to retaliation, framing the song as McRae's response to Laroi's "A Cold Play". In the lyrics, she warns Laroi that if he continues releasing songs about her, she will share her own perspective. The track also alludes to Laroi moving on with a new partner, while reflecting that he was not the person she believed he would be. However, although most people think this track is about Laroi, Tate herself never actually confirmed that so it could be about anyone. ^[6]