XXXTENTACION – SAD!

XXXTentacion has embraced brevity in his music. To see him dropping something longer than two minutes is a rare sight indeed. Today, the Florida rapper has released a dedication to the victims of the Parkland Shooting. While it’s indeed short, it’s perhaps the closest we’ve come to 17 X since the album dropped last year. Opting for a more melodic approach, X softly sings over a soothing, digital-woodwind instrumental. Vocally, it’s not quite mumble rap, but it’s adjacent; although he’s clear enough, his style of singing tends to allow for a little bit of stylistic mush-mouth.

Hope” is an effective insight into X’s talent, although it would perhaps benefit the rapper to begin developing a more focused production team. He clearly favors the DIY approach, but his natural ear for melody and flow could be elevated by a clearer sense of direction. That’s not to say his lo-fi aesthetic isn’t working, but it would be interesting to see what he might do with an actual budget.

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