"A collection of nightmares, thoughts, and real-life situations I've lived," explains Jahseh Onfroy aka XXXTentacion in the opening second of 17. The late Florida rapper, who met his tragic end earlier in 2018, originally released this debut album in 2017. It is a testament to his reach and influence, and in large, the changing landscape of the music industry; tracks like "Revenge," "Jocelyn Flores," "Fuck Love" featuring Trippie Redd, and more did crazy numbers with no label help, radio play, or any sort of a press push. Musically, X draws from emo, indie, and lo-fi, and his raw, earnest stories are told more in the vein of R&B or rock than rap. It's a startling look inside Onfroy's thoughts, steeped in depression & spewing melancholy. This is the very reason why the artist commands such a dedicated fan base, X's ability to tackle and share his lowest points—check out "Everybody Dies in Their Nightmares," "Orlando," & "Save Me" in addition to the aforementioned chart toppers

• black & white smash vinyl
• music label: Bad Vibes Forever 2018

reviewed by pocari papi 12/18