Tag: XXXTentacion

XXXTentacion’s Engineer Recalls Working on the Late Artist’s Hits

XXXTentacion’s producer Koen Heldens, an engineer born in the Netherlands, shared his experience working with the late rapper on some of his biggest hits. In a recent interview, he talked about X’s recording process and valuable lessons learned from their collaboration.

“When I heard ‘Jocelyn Flores’ for the first time, and it completely took me by surprise. I had this image of XXXTentacion as a face-tatted SoundCloud rapper, but the raw emotion in ‘Jocelyn Flores’ was completely different from what I expected. X also had another track for me to mix: ‘F**K Love’ featuring Trippie Redd. That’s how we started working together—almost by chance. X had a way of manifesting things quickly, and it felt like fate that I mixed ‘Jocelyn Flores’ on my birthday,” Heldens recalled.

He added, “In November 2017, we worked on A Ghetto Christmas Carol EP, which we completed in one weekend. I remember trying to clean up the 808s on the title track, but X and producer Ronny J insisted, ‘No, no, no, don’t clean it up! It’s supposed to feel like an electric guitar for white people but felt through the bass in the trunk.’ That experience taught me that sometimes being technically correct doesn’t serve the creative process—music is about emotion and feel.”

X’s killer says he doesn’t regret his actions

One of XXXTentacion’s killers Michael Boatwright reportedly expressed his lack of remorse in the killing of the Florida rapper, claiming that he is “not this evil person” that social media paints him to be.

Per DJ Akademiks, Boatwright took to social media to explicitly reveal that he doesn’t regret anything he has done.

“Y’all just judge me off this one thing y’all know bout me but y’all don’t even know the truth behind all this, I’m not this evil person that everybody think I am and nobody even known me as a person y’all believe in everything u see on social media, I’m not sorry for nothing I did. #itsstillfreeme,” Boatwright wrote.

Dot had supported X early in his career

XXXTentacion’s dad shares his gratitude to Kendrick Lamar for showing his son some love early in his career. When X dropped his debut album 17 in 2017, Dot promoted it on social media while praising the “Riot” rapper’s “raw thoughts.” He later claimed to have listened to the project five times.

“My name is Dwayne Onfroy, father of rapper known as XXXTentacion,” X’s pops said in a clip shared on Instagram. “I just want to say, first of all, thank you for giving my son a platform when he was an unknown artist […] he gave him a shoutout when his album was released.”

He also praised Dot for intervening when Spotify targeted his music because of his domestic violence charges. “You stepped up to the plate for him when a lot of people just stood by and stood back [while] Spotify had him under pressure [and] wasn’t even attempting to play his songs. Real king — I’ve always respected you for that. Always.”

X scores another multi-platinum single

XXXTentacion’s legacy lives on despite the rapper tragically passing away five years ago. This week, the late Florida rapper’s hit “Moonlight” was certified 8x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Produced by John Cunningham, the song was the third track on X’s 2018 album, ?, which has now been certified 5X platinum as well. serving as X’s second studio release, the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200.

X’s debut album reaches a new commercial height

XXXTentacion’s debut studio album 17 has been certified 3x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The certification comes just days after three of the men accused of killing the Florida native were sentenced to life in prison.

Released in August 2017 via Bad Vibes Forever and Empire Distribution, the record spawned some of X’s biggest hits like “F*ck Love” with Trippie Redd and “Revenge.” It emerged at No. 2 on Billboard 200 in the first week of release with 87K equivalent album units sold.

X’s killers have received their fate

Three people charged with the killing of XXXTentacion have been sentenced to life in prison. Per a report by WPLG, Michael Boatwright, Trayvon Newsome, and Dedrick Williams faced their fate on Thursday (April 6).

Prosecutors accuse the three along with Robert Allen, a co-defendant, of robbing X outside of a motorcycle shop in June 2018 before Boatwrite shot and killed him.

Robert received a lesser charge of second degree murder after he pleaded guilty to the crime last August and agreed take stand against his co-defendants.

X’s killers have been found guilty

Three people have been convicted of XXXTentacion’s 2018 murder outside a motorcycle shop. Per The New York Times, on Monday (Mach 20), Michael Boatwright, 28, Trayvon Newsome, 24, and Derrick Williams, 26, were found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury following over 27 hours of deliberation. They all face a mandatory life sentence.

Apart from CCTV footage, prosecutors also relied on the testimony of a fourth defendant, Robert Allen, who pleaded guilty last year and later took the stand against his co-defendants.

Prosecutors said Boatwright and Newsome were the triggermen, with the former letting off the fatal shot. Williams is believed to be the get-away driver.