XXXTentacion was a popular American rapper and singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the mid-2010s with his emo rap and SoundCloud rap music. He was known for his versatile musical style, which incorporated elements of trap, lo-fi, indie rock, punk rock, and R&B. He was also a controversial figure due to his legal troubles and allegations of domestic violence. He was shot and killed in Florida on June 18, 2018, at the age of 20.
Early Life and Career
XXXTentacion’s real name was Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy. He was born on January 23, 1998, in Plantation, Florida. He spent most of his childhood in Lauderhill, where he faced various challenges such as poverty, violence, and family instability. His father was incarcerated for much of his upbringing, leaving him in the care of his mother, who struggled with drug addiction. He had an older sister and a younger brother.
He began writing music after being released from a juvenile detention center, where he learned to play the guitar and piano. He started his music career on SoundCloud in 2013, using the stage name XXXTentacion, which he said meant “unknown temptation”. He posted his first track, “News/Flock”, in June 2013. He soon formed an underground collective called Members Only with other SoundCloud rappers such as Ski Mask the Slump God and Craig Xen.
He gained mainstream attention in 2016 with the release of his single “Look at Me”, which became a viral hit and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. He also released several mixtapes and EPs such as Revenge, Free X, and Members Only Vol. 3. He signed a distribution deal with Empire Distribution in 2017.
Albums and Awards
XXXTentacion released his debut studio album, 17, on August 25, 2017. The album received critical acclaim for its raw and emotional content, which dealt with topics such as depression, suicide, and abuse. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple-platinum by the RIAA. It featured guest appearances from artists such as Trippie Redd, Shiloh Dynasty, and Killstation.
His second studio album, ?, was released on March 16, 2018. The album showcased his musical diversity, incorporating genres such as rock, pop, reggae, and metal. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified quintuple-platinum by the RIAA. It spawned several hit singles such as “Sad!”, “Moonlight”, “Changes”, and “Jocelyn Flores”. The lead single, “Sad!”, posthumously reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 after his death.
XXXTentacion won several awards during his short career. He won the American Music Award for Favorite Album – Soul/R&B for 17 in 2018. He also won the BET Hip Hop Award for Best New Hip Hop Artist in 2018. He was nominated for ten Billboard Music Awards in 2019, winning three of them: Top R&B Album for ?, Top Rap Album for ?, and Top R&B Song for “Sad!”.
Death and Legacy
On June 18, 2018, XXXTentacion was shot by two armed men near a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The attackers fled the scene in an SUV after stealing his Louis Vuitton bag containing $50,000 in cash. Four suspects were arrested and charged with first-degree murder among other charges.
His death sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans and fellow artists around the world. His music sales and streams surged after his death, breaking several records on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. His posthumous third studio album, Skins, was released on December 7, 2018. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and featured a collaboration with Kanye West.
His son Gekyume Onfroy was born seven months after his death to his girlfriend Jenesis Sanchez. His mother Cleopatra Bernard also announced that he had left behind unreleased music that would be released in the future.
XXXTentacion is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of his generation and a pioneer of emo rap and SoundCloud rap genres. His music has been praised for its honesty, vulnerability, and creativity. His music has also been criticized for its glorification of violence, misogyny, and nihilism. He has been compared to artists such as Kurt Cobain , Tupac Shakur , Lil Peep , Juice WRLD , and Kid Cudi .
According to Wikipedia , XXXTentacion had over 38 million subscribers on YouTube, over 26 million followers on Instagram, over 8 million followers on Twitter, and over 5 billion streams on Spotify as of November 2021. He is one of the most streamed artists of all time and has received several certifications from the RIAA, including a Diamond certification for “Sad!” in August 2021.
