January 23 would have been XXXTentacion’s birthday. The controversial 20 year old rapper was murdered in June last year. The group of rappers he came up with honoured his legacy by completing and releasing the fourth installment of their “Members Only” series of mixtapes. X’s diverse musical style is only briefly showcased on this album.

X started his career as a Tumblr celebrity, gaining followers mainly through posting selfies. Eventually he used it to promote his music. While his first released track is in more of a traditional hip hop style, it uses reversed vocals and a negative outlook that both became trademarks of X’s music. He began rapping with friends such as Ski mask the slump god, who he met in prison, and together with a few other rappers gaining followers on Soundcloud, formed members only. His aggression and violence (a result of a very difficult youth) heavily influenced his early music, and were key contributors to his rise to fame. His negativity and aggressive sexuality attracted attention , positive and negative. But X harnessed it all and moved himself into the spotlight.

After taking time separate from the group to focus on his solo career. He began trying to fashion a new image as a positive influence through charity works and creating his own foundation. On his solo studio albums, the lyrics took a shift in tone. While still dark his focus changed to depression and trying to help those suffering from it.

Through the release of his first two solo albums, he rose to mainstream popularity. Which also brought about negative attention. In the form of a court case. Domestic violence allegations from a previous relationship were laid, and the image of the rapper was even more heavily damaged. Constantly flickering between his role-model persona and I don’t care attitude in interviews.  Spotify removed him from their streaming service as a result of the allegations.

While leaving a motorcycle dealership, X was shot in an attempted mugging. He was rushed to the hospital where he later died. Leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend and millions of fans worldwide. His music touched many, and left a lasting impact on the youth he was trying to help. Spotify put him back after his death, and he still reached the 3rd spot for artists streamed worldwide. Makes you wonder if he hadn’t been removed if he would have been first.

This past week has been a celebration of his life. His family and fans across the world released sky lanterns on his birthday, Lil Wayne released a music video for a song he made with x’s vocals after death and his son Gekyume was born. Finally, Members Only Volume 4 dropped, at the time of X’s death the group wasn’t all on good terms but they came together to put together a final project in the form of X’s second posthumous album. Bar one or two songs, it’s not exactly what his mainstream followers would be used to. It’s a return to a less pensive, more aggressive X, and therefore fittingly titled “Members Only”.

Image Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/weve-only-begun-to-understand-xxxtentacions-musical-legacy-665891/