The Brave News

by Joshua Lucero

Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy – also known as XXXTentacion – was born in Florida and became a worldwide-known musician in 2017.

Tentacion has influenced many young people with his albums that are a true touching of the inner feelings of one’s heart. XXX – in the beginning of his career – was troubled with charges of domestic violence and facing prison time. In this part of his life, there were many fans who believed he was a lost cause, but in many ways XXX proved to the world that he was changing.

Look at me, which was released on Soundcloud in December 2015, was his rising start to the top. People fell in love with the energetic Broward County rapper and watched him evolve to take on several different aspects of music.

XXX would later die on June 18th, 2018 in Florida from a horrific shooting that would shock many. During his life, XXX released many well known albums, such as Revenge released in 2017, 17 released in 2017, and ? released in 2018. After his death, we were given two more albums, one titled Skins that was later released after his death.

Most recently, we were given XXXTENTACION Presents: Members Only, Vol 4 released on January 23rd, 2019, which would have been XXX’s 21st birthday.

Members Only, Vol. 4 is filled with lesser-known talent. The project has Tentacion working with a collaboration of artists, such as Ski Mask the Slump God, Rawhool Mane, Cooliecut, Craig Xen, Kin$soul, Bass Santana and more.

This album consists of 24 songs that last for an hour and five minutes. Out of 24 songs, XXX has one solo song titled Sauce! which reminds us of who he was with the line “Huh, do not be alarmed, this is just for fun.”

XXX has four other songs that he has collaborated with other artist. We are given a reminder of who Tentacion was, rather than remembering the negative aspects surrounding his name. Our remembrance of him is of an uplifting and happy person, which is implied within these songs.

The final song in Members Only, Vol 4 is titled Rebirth (2016) which is a snippet from XXX’s many words speaking on what life is to him.

Speaking on what people do in their life, there is always a reason behind the actions that create your life story. Tentacion goes on to say “the people who struggle the most or get it the hardest will succeed in the end, I promise you.”

People like X have came from a hard beginning, but the barriers that he had encountered are obstacles that are possible to overcome. This interpretation can go further into saying to never give up no matter the situation, because life will take care of you as long as you don’t give up on yourself.

Lastly, XXX unfortunately predicts his own death with the line “And if I end up getting shot and killed for what the f**k I’m doing, it’s ’cause I deserve it” in the album. This is one part of XXX that is known for being a touching artist who did more than make music, but connected to his fans on a personal level.