Watch XXXTentacion’s 2017 XXL Freshman Freestyle and Interview
XXXTentacion is the most controversial XXL Freshman of all time. His lo-fi breakout song "Look at Me" sounds like it's been gargled up and spit out of hell, distorted bass and all, and his abrasive delivery has left people thinking all he does is scream on records. Not the case.
In truth, the 19-year-old rapper from Broward County has soaked up sounds from a range of different genres; he cites Kurt Cobain, Gorillaz and his good friend Ski Mask The Slump God as just a few of his many influences, and his songs range from traditional backpack hip-hop ("Vice City") to guitar-driven emo ("Garrette's Revenge"). He's an anomaly in hip-hop right now, but he's been that way all his life.
"[I was] quiet. Misfit," he says when describing his time as a freshman in high school. "I'd fight a nigga if I had to, but I was just quiet. Everybody fucked with me, and if you didn't fuck with me, I fought you. And if I fought you and I won, then I went about my business. If you fought me and you won, which only happened like once, then we moved on."
XXL rolled out the 10th Spot voting process and X was released from jail two days later, after pleading no contest to charges including armed home invasion robbery and aggravated battery with a firearm. His fans blew up our voting page, pushing him to the top slot by thousands of votes. The people spoke, and now X is on his first-ever magazine cover.
Above, you can watch his interview, where he talks about what the cover means to him and what he's working on right now. Below, you can catch his freestyle. It's by far the most unique verse we've seen a Freshman spit in a minute.
And if you missed any of the freestyles and interviews featuring this year’s XXL Freshman class, check out their individual pages here: A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, PnB Rock, Playboi Carti, Ugly God, Madeintyo, Kyle, Kamaiyah, Kap G and Aminé.
See Behind-the-Scenes Photos of XXXTentacion at the 2017 XXL Freshman Shoot