On August 25, 2017, Jahseh Onfroy a.k.a XXXTentacion, dropped his debut studio album 17.  Released by Bad Vibes Forever and Empire Distribution, the album included 11 tracks with the lead single “ Revenge”. 17 earned awards like the Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Album and the American Music Award for Favorite Album Soul/R&B. The album includes a variety of genres: ‎emo‎, alternative rock, ‎hip hop‎, ‎lo-fi‎, and ‎R&B‎. It reached number two on Billboard 200 and reached high charts in european countries. This a big accomplishment because he reached this level with no radio plays and no record label besides his own. This album featured only one artist known as Trippie Redd on the track “F*** Love”.

XXXTENTACION was born in Florida and was known as an “underground rapper”. He was featured on the XXL 2017 Freshman Class with other artists such as, Playboi Carti, Ugly God, Kamaiyah, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, PnB Rock, Madeintyo, Aminé, Kap G, and Kyle. He achieved viral sensation off of songs like,  ” #ImSippinTeaInYoHood ” and “ Look At Me”. He became an overnight sensation while he was in jail off the track, ”Look At Me” he dropped on SoundCloud. He would occasionally drop EPs including KIDS, ItWasn’tEnough, A Ghetto Christmas Carol, and Willie Wonka Was A Child Murderer. Most of his songs are dark and edgy. Most people see him as an angry screaming rapper but don't realize he's actually a versatile rapper. His versatility really shines through songs like “Riot” , “SAD!”,” I Don't Wanna Do This Anymore”,” Vice City”, “Freddy vs Jason”, “Gnarly Bastard”, “Numb”, and the “King's Dead (Freestyle)” featuring Joey Badass.

The album was released with a cover photo including polaroid photos scattered with dark poetry as the background. The album is called 17 itself as it is explained in the cover saying, “My sanity left me, when I was 17, I realized the pain is and will always be a cycle when I was 17”. The first track is an explanation of how the album is a collection of thoughts, nightmares, and real life situations he has lived. The second track is called “Jocelyn Flores” which hit No. 31 on Billboard 100. It's basically a song about how he felt when his friend committed suicide. I personally love this song like the rest of his songs. He expresses the pain he feels and not wanting to live anymore. X has been through some tough times on a personal level going from being allegedly being accused of assault by his ex to serving jail time a couple of times. He first spoke out about his friend’s suicide on instagram live saying that this affected him so much because he can relate to the struggles she was going through.  From battling suicide for a very long time to battling depression. He mentioned, “... to feel like a step away from and see it happen right next to you… I felt powerless”. X’s third track on the album is called, “Depression and Obsession”. A song about how his relationship with his ex, Geneva Ayala, was toxic. Moving on to his single called, “Revenge” he talks about how he would act on his revenge if he could on the people who did him wrong. He truly shows his emotions and expresses himself through his music. Moving on to his last track on the album the outro named,”Ayala” referring to his ex again. He sings, “She showed me the things love can't forget, oh it hurt now, made a list of my regrets, and you were the first, love, oh”. These lyrics explain how fake love was the main cause of all his pain saying he regrets being with his ex. I personally love X’s music and I’d give this album a 4 out of 5. I wouldn't say this album is the best ever to be created but I feel as if he was a work in progress. With this album I saw potential in him that over time he could have become someone great.

Whereas to X’s album after 17 the album ? shows far more versatility. This album is like a rollercoaster of emotions. It goes from really sad and low music to very hyped to almost heavy metal. For example the song, “I don't even speak spanish lol” would play out in the latin genre because of the spanish lyrics used in it such as, “Mamita vente, olvida la gente sé que tu cuerpo me pide calor..” This song has a more groovy and smooth flow to it. Another track that shows versatility is “Floor 555” where it's more of a metal feel to it and expresses anger. The track “Infinity 888” featuring Joey Badass has a New York type beat to it and this track just shows how X can switch his flow up and still sound dope. This song shows a little bit of folk, punk rock, rap, and hip-hop. I personally recommend listening to this song because it’s different from what he usually does. I also think Joey and X both did a fantastic job on how this song was created and on how it was delivered.  Then the flow changes to more of a loud and disruptive melody in the song, “ Pain = Bestfriend”. He's trying to capture the feeling of pain knowing that pain will always be your best friend because its always there. The second to last track is called ”Schizophrenia”. With this song I believe he captures the feeling very spot on with the screaming and the voices in his head and how someone is fighting for their sanity. Finally, the outro is called, “ Before I close my eyes “. He uses the lyrics, “Before I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, I hope it's not too late for me..”. The melody in this song is beautiful because it feels as if he's floating away in the distance asking for the lord's forgiveness. Comparing these two album I’d personally say album ? was so much better because of the different genres and flows he used. The album shows how X can get verstile. For me the feeling and emotion the album 17 captures, makes it a masterpiece.

It sucks to say he left too soon at the age of 20 , on June 18, 2018 after being shot in Florida by some robbers in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He had also barely found out he was going to be a father of a baby boy. Although X was a troubled teen he decided to turn his life around for the better. Inspiring the youth to do good things and he even decided to give out to the less fortunate. He has donated to many charities and was even working on planning a charity event before his tragic death. Many claim X to be a domestic abuser but no one really knows the truth. His ex accused him of beating her while she was pregnant but it was proven that she was never pregnant so what else could she have lied about. As for X’s music career I truly believe X was a work in progress and had so much more to give. He was supported by many artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Joey Badass, etc. After his passing, many celebrities were hit hard starting off with his best friend Ski Mask The Slump God, crying on instagram live the day he got shot. Other rappers also had something to say including Lil Pump, 6ix9ine, Kanye West, Joey Badass, Lil Xan, Juicy J, J Cole, 21 Savage, Diddy, Lil Yachty, T-Pain, Tyga, Big Sean, Rick Ross, Cardi B, Gucci Mane, and more. He was a very talented man and will forever be remembered by many.