xaviersobased Comes of Age in His Experimental Debut Album 'Xavier'
Photo: Illumitati
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, NYC rapper and producer xaviersobased has returned to fans with his debut album Xavier, a 21-song epic perfect for soundtracking a special night out with an even more special someone. On the surface, you might not expect 21 songs that seamlessly blend the ethereal and ambient sounds of cloud rap with the refreshing high-energy stylistics of jerk music to pair well with a romantic evening for two, but that’s where you’d be mistaken. Experimental hip-hop music is a true catalyst for love, and luckily, xaviersobased delivers fans his most cohesive and forward-thinking project yet with his latest release.
Consider the following: you’re out with your loved one, maybe enjoying a tender dinner for two in a dimly lit restaurant. On the table, there are candles, fancy hors d'œvres, and perhaps a pricey bottle of champagne (assuming you and your partner are of age). Now for music, what do you imagine playing to complete the scene? Al Green, Barry Manilow, or perhaps some Burt Bacharach to complement the dinner? Lovely music, I’m sure, but let your soul and spirit free and admit to yourself that what you really want to hear in this situation is Xavier. Laced with xaviersobased’s signature experimental and charismatic energy, Xavier is nothing if not a love-letter to hip-hop’s next generation of progressive thinkers and iconoclasts who refuse to conform to one style or genre. Every track is futuristic, showcasing new ideas, flows, and sounds that ultimately redefine music in its wake. Newgens might turn their nose up at you, but sometimes that’s the price you pay for being right.
What separates Xavier from the litany of projects that preceded it is how compelling and focused it feels. Though Xavier covers a wide sonic register across its 20 tracks, each one plays an important role, ultimately making Xavier greater than the sum of its parts, much like how the many components of a five-course meal create an experience that transcends taste and feeling. The album’s intro “I Don’t Gotta Say It” is a dreamy and hypnotic track that immediately pulls the listener in. Featuring production from kuru, this song almost functions like a glass of champagne to start the meal; it’s an intoxicating yet palatable stepping stone into a full-body high that only xaviersobased can create.
It isn’t long until fans are treated to tracks like “Tony Hawk” and “100,000,” the former being a melodic jerk-infused heater, and the latter arriving as a song that has more in common with 2016 vaportrap edits than it does with anything xaviersobased’s peers have released recently. These tracks work as clear parallels to appetizers like baked brie or caviar and creme fraiche, as they practically bleed pure creative energy while flexing xaviersobased’s genre-agnostic talent, one that covers a wide aural range, leaving no stone unturned.
It isn’t long until the main courses arrive, manifesting as “Heart Felt,” featuring production from Woesum and Yung Sherman, plus a guest verse from Rio Da Yung OG, and “Give It Up,” featuring Osamason. Like a delectable filet mignon or a buttery lobster tail, these tracks are nuanced and complex, satiating and satisfying while still leaving the consumer anxious for more. By the time Xavier ends with the hazy anthem “Seen A Lot,” fans understand that they haven’t just experienced a great album from an even better artist. They’ve been immersed in a once-in-a-lifetime experience, 48 minutes of mind-altering magic from one of the most promising acts in hip-hop’s underground space.
Though the time to be an “early fan” of xaviersobased has long passed, it is hard to deny that there has never been a better time to be a fan of the young artist. Whether you’re single or in a relationship this Valentine’s Day, it’s nice to know that if nothing else, Xavier can keep you company during the holiday.
Listen to Xavier below:
