ALBUM REVIEW: XXXtentacion Skins

Last June, one of the biggest and youngest influences to make moves in the hip-hop game passed away...

At the age 20, rapper XXXtentacion was assassinated in an alleged robbery that went wrong.

X impacted the music industry in multiple ways, making headlines for both his controversial past and unique sound.

It was only a year ago when the artist broke out from the underground scene into the mainstream after dropping the well-known track, ‘Look at Me!’ on SoundCloud.

Rap legends Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lemar, J Cole, T- Pain and Kanye West took to social media to share their condolences. It was clear that X had left a legacy in the world of rap.

But not everyone was happy. Receiving backlash, many people took to online to share how they felt about X’s history of violent crimes, including a record for taking part in a homophobic attack and allegations of beating, torturing and imprisoning his pregnant ex-girlfriend.

Negative past aside, X has earned his right as an established artist and although his memory was cut short, we were in for a surprise when the rapper’s posthumous album, 'Skins' debuted on December 7th.

X’s family released the album that features 9 tracks and a collaboration with rap King, Kanye West on the track, ‘One Minute’.

The sound of XXXtentacion has always been distinct and experimental but this album is like no other. His soul-baring lyrics and raw emotion are still apparent through his raspy vocals and powerful instrumentals but 'Skins', shows X in an entire new light.

Genre’s switch throughout the album, one moment you’ll be listening to a story-telling song with passionate lyrics, like ‘Train Food’, that mimics an Eminem style flow.

On other tracks like, ‘Woah (mind in awe)’ and ‘difference (interlude)’, you’ll be thrown into melodic harmonies, dreamy riffs and stripped back acoustic vocals.

Towards the end of the album to really mess with your head, X comes through with a W-HOLE different vibe. Illustrating his dark and twisted side on tracks like, ‘One minute’ and ‘Staring at the Sky’. Here, he takes you on a heavy-mental, punk journey filled with death growls, crashing symbols and electric guitar strumming. It's mad.

Once again, X reveals a whole new side to his complicated personality - the troubled genius. Walking through his shoes the rapper shows vulnerability, pain, anger, despair and psychedelic feelings.

If you had to sum up this album in three words, it would be poetic, memorable and unpredictable.