XXXTENTACION - the guy hip-hop needs right now.

Kanye West was made for twitter. His tweets gave a fascinating yet disturbing insight into his mind and creative process. The appeal lay in being able to witness his madness from a safe distance. Yet occasionally Kanye did tweet something on point.

On the 12th February last year he tweeted the following thought provoking quotes. "Stop trying to demonize real artist Stop trying to compromise art. That’s why music is so fucking watered down right now I miss that DMX feeling. I miss that feeling so that’s what I want to help restore. They want to control us with money and perception and mute the culture". Typo's and grammar issues aside Kanye might have been onto something.

Hip hop in 2017 is bigger than it has ever been. Back in the 90's it was a different story. Snoop (doggy) Dogg drew the ire of the Daily Mail for his misogynistic language. Dr Dre assaulted a female reporter, 2pac was charged with rape, Ol' Dirty Bastard became both a pop star and career criminal, DMX was a proud member of a notorious LA gang. Yet all these rappers and many more gained huge commercial success. Biggie and 2pac were ultimately killed by the lifestyle they portrayed. Yet modern rappers rarely have to feel in danger for their lives. In 2017 Snoop Dogg, and Ice Cube have no problem starring in family friendly PG movies.When 21 Savage, Kodack Black, Lil Uzi Vert or Future rap about 'fucking your bitch', they're not attacking anyone in particular. Migos may have rapped about stirring up crack with an Uzi yet Quavo's omnipresence in the pop charts reflects the fact that nobody is particularly bothered or thrilled by what the likes of Biggie told as a bare bones retelling of life on the streets.

Enter XXXTENACION, XXL freshman and the figurehead of Soundcloud rap music. Some may dismiss him as a meme rather than an artist and the controversies over his arrests, feuds with over rappers and domestic violence reports have overshadowed his music so far, but maybe not for much longer. 

The fact that many of his growing fan-base deny his domestic violence reports seems odd seeing as the appeal of XT surely lies in the violent music he makes and just how scary and unhinged he often appears to be. Much like Ol' Dirty Bastard  XXXTENTACION might not be the best rapper, but his reputation precedes him. His mugshot is the most widely spread picture of him and the cover of his breakthrough single 'Look at me!' This is the first rapper in a long time who actually seems dangerous. He shuns collaborations with bigger rappers and his music veers from trap, punk and even the occasional soft ballad. He displays a willingness to experiment which the likes of 21 Savage and Kodack black have failed to show. Despite the dyed dreads, he lacks anything in common with the current league of 'mumble rappers'. His recent XXL freestyle being proof that unlike Playboi Carti he is above simply saying 'Aye' after every verse. With no beat and only 50 seconds can manage to question American history, his own psyche, and dismiss the current rap scene including J Cole. The opening line being "And hell is a just a government creation, and all the information they solicit isn't even closer to the truth, it was clear since the alteration". It's a simple yet masterful freestyle that leaves you hanging on for more. The rest of his lyrical output veers from intense self hatred to violent imagery, over a barrage of noisy chaotic beats. If nothing else, his musical output shows that he isn't willing to compromise, and has no interest in big name guest verses or star producers.

XXXTENTACION might have just tapped into what made hip-hop appealing in the first place. His music is dark violent and unhinged as the man himself. He seems like the real deal. A psychopath with a mic, waging war against the safe radio friendly hits of Drake and J Cole. No rapper has divided opinion as much as XXXTENTACION for some time. Yet at the very least he has an edge and a sense of danger that is currently missing in rap music. Moody disaffected teens everywhere might have just found their new idol.

Links:
http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/kanye-west/news/twitter-rant-best-moments/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B9v_5pWjAg
http://chase.tv/xxxtentacion-turns-the-crowd-against-drake-during-his-rolling-loud-performance/