XXXTentacion would have turned 25 right this moment, and to have fun the late rap star‘s birthday, his property launched a touching, guitar-backed ballad that includes Lil Uzi Vert, titled “I’m Not Human.”
The opening verse begins with XXX referencing Slipknot’s “Snuff,” as he sings, “Bury all of your secrets and techniques in my pores and skin/Come away with innocence/And depart me with my sins/Air round me feels identical to a cage.”
After the track’s refrain, Lil Uzi Vert joins for a second verse as they each repeat the chorus, “I’m not a human,” earlier than a solo verse from Lil Uzi the place the rapper displays, “Inform you that life will not be that deep/Paintin’ photos that I’m a freak, however I’m not a human/I’m bored with losin’, inflicting my bruises, people are customers.”
Sharing the one’s cowl artwork, XXXTentacion’s property wrote on Instagram, “A present from Jah…Thanks #liluzi.”
“One other yr with out you right here bodily. Nevertheless, you’ll at all times reside in our hearts and recollections,” the property added. “Your superb followers have continued to assist you and hold your legacy thriving. We’re eternally grateful for them and the occasions we’ve shared. Right here’s to persevering with to have you ever contact thousands and thousands of hearts all over the world.”
Again in 2021, Lil Uzi Vert shared that he felt “actually bizarre” about releasing a posthumous collaboration with XXXTentacion.
“Don’t get me flawed, it took me actually lengthy to do this with one other artist. I’m actually bizarre as a result of I perceive that they’re not right here residing and what if that’s not the imaginative and prescient they really need?” he stated on the time, per NME. “Particularly in the event that they actually fucked with me. What if that’s all flawed, I’d be pissed off if like they did all of it flawed and I’m not right here. However you recognize, if it really works out, it really works out.”
He additionally shared a tribute to XXX throughout her efficiency at One thing within the Water final yr.
“Relaxation in peace, XXX. Music was somewhat bit completely different round that point. And completely different in a great way. That was my solely competitors,” he stated onstage earlier than taking part in his songs. “Each time I dropped, he dropped. Or each time he dropped, I dropped. He would go No. 1 or I’d.”
XXXTentacion, actual identify Jahseh Onfroy, was shot and killed in Florida in 2018 when he was 20 years outdated. He was leaving a bike seller when a gunman opened fireplace.
XXXTentacion’s rise started on the finish of 2015 when the then-17-year-old rapper uploaded the monitor “Look At Me!” to SoundCloud. The track would develop into his calling card — on the time, it seemed like nothing else in hip-hop. XXXTentacion rapidly turned the face of SoundCloud Rap, a nascent, if ill-defined, style of music that sprang out of South Florida by way of a loosely affiliated assortment of younger artists that prized uncooked emotionality and bluntly practical songwriting over anything.
His profession, nonetheless, was additionally marred by psychological well being struggles and admitted home violence. On the time of his demise, the rapper was awaiting trial for the 2016 home abuse case after he was charged with beating his ex-girlfriend. Although he had pleaded not responsible and maintained his innocence, a secret recording was launched after his demise, wherein he admitted to home abuse and different violent acts.