No one combines jagged raps and silly hi-jinks like Xaviersobased. In “Pediatrician”, Xavier flashes back to his childhood seeing Noggin in the doctor's office, wearing KidRobot clothes and Spongebob Squarepants wallet in hand, while the wizard producer drops some low-end Satan-with-IBS on “horror bass” style. The surreal mix of cute youth references and aggro intensity is strangely addictive. Adorned with some pretty cool keys and air cymbals, it throws you into a blissful trance. While January Keep It Goin Xav it felt like a triumphant celebration of the scene around his collective 1c34, with 2 he goes solo and infuses this kind of giddy-but-super-rap with a new level of sinister psychedelia.
Xavier teased with 2 so many times that it started to feel like it would never be enough. When the tape finally dropped last week, it was because someone leaked it. So Xavier took it out on his own, even though it wasn't it still mixes properly. But this kind of crazy release moment that just ended is perfect for his music anyway, since it often has the fevered rawness of sloppy scraps.
If of 2021 With it felt like his demolition zone abrasive deformation, this sequel feels more like a lab gone mad. The hazy awfulness remains, but the sharp edge has softened. Cavernous drums reverberate over lost synth keys and vocals so delayed, Xavier hovers over the tracks like a benevolent ghost. His mysterious flow on “You See Me” curls upwards like a spiral staircase slowly climbing into the clouds. However, even at her most dreamy, gnats burrow inside. “linda.mp3” feels like mourning and walking on the moon at the same time. Warm rays of synthetic drape Xavier as he pleads with another artist to stop drinking lean.
While the tape offers a fair amount of hypnotic delights, there isn't much in the way of wild surprises. nyli and xion's twitchy-twinkly beat for highlight “what zit tooya” has already appeared on a Nettspend and phreshboyswag singing and simple tracks like “jaded” and “Softer” sound like they belonged on any xavierso-based tape of the last few years. Xavier is at his best when he leans into choppy, erratic juxtapositions, like on “Eight,” whose bassline tussles with synths like Greek gods defending Olympus. The track was produced by cranes and anarchy, a talented teenager from Florida who offers a glimpse of the next generation beyond Xavier: worldly disconnected things that need distorted rap as a starting point.
Despite the low tide of popularity since then Keep It Goin Xav, is still churning out tapes that feel like DIY community zines, filled with crazy thumbnails and an all-star roster of expert producers. Nothing is off-limits: study chat in the 1c library, sounds of mouse clicks or purring palates. The emo's violent threats and moments of vulnerability clash with cover page of a sullen purple fish of Spongebob Squarepants under the name āMr. What Zit Tooya.” As other SoundCloud newbies dilute their sound for a wider audience, it's sweet to watch someone who doesn't laugh. Even if he doesn't hit all the time, the vision is exciting.
from our partners at https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/xaviersobased-with-2