Look At Me: XXXTentacion's Influence
Do you remember when XXXTentacion released his notable track "Look at Me?" Well, we now have been blessed with a third posthumous album titled "Look at Me: The Album." This comes just after the release of XXXTentacion's documentary on Hulu," Look at Me, XXXTentacion." The tracklist is divided into two sides. Side A consists of X's earliest singles that will debut on streaming platforms. Side B showcases his most popular tracks already on streaming platforms. The album concludes with "True Love," a single that first debuted on Kanye West's Donda 2 album.
Directed by Sabaah Folayan, the documentary takes a natural approach to XXXTentatcion's eventful life. The feature delivers never before seen footage of interviews with X, his family, and close companions. One critical event Folayan emphasizes is the domestic violence accusation towards X from his former girlfriend, Geneva Ayala. The doc showcased photos of her injuries along with stories of her escape. While in jail, his fan base increased, and Ayala became even more vulnerable as fans attacked her. Folayan wanted viewers to understand that the image he showcased to the media wasn't always the case behind closed doors. Such a captivating film, a must-watch, out now on Hulu.
Born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy to Jamaican parents, XXXtentacion's life from the beginning was a rollercoaster ride. From him being physically abused by his Father to in and out of the juvenile center in his teenage years. His grandmother raised him in the Pompano Beach area. X's interest in music began when he joined the school and church choirs. He released his first track at thirteen, titled "News/Flock."
X's closest collaborator, Ski Mask the Slump God, openly talks about how close he and X's friendship were. They both met in the juvenile center, and to see how it impacted their music career is incredible.
In June 2018, rapper X was killed outside a motorcycle dealership. The announcement shocked the world and sparked a wave of tributes from fellow artists, including Kanye West, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar. The late rapper Juice Wrld released a " Legends " track in honor of X's memory. The cover art consists of their messages to each other when they were alive—showing their respect for one another.
With over a billion plays on SoundCloud, XXXTentacion is arguably the most streamed artist in the history of the platform. While battling depression and bipolar disorder, he made it a point to let his fans know that they weren't alone. His music spoke for the individual who couldn't. X calls his fanbase a cult, believing the bond he shares with them is family-like. Like him or not, X's influence on rap has been extraordinary.