?

by XXXTentacion

Overview

For a brief span of time, embattled Florida singer/rapper XXXTentacion was at the top of his game, riding a wave of success following the release of his sophomore effort, ?, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was certified gold. Three months after the arrival of ?, he was shot and killed outside a motorcycle dealership on June 18, 2018. For the tenure of his short career, controversy and division became synonymous with the troubled rapper, amplifying his reputation and notoriety among fans and detractors alike. On ?, his combination of cloud-rap introspection ("SAD!"), grunge-indebted yearning ("NUMB"), and metal-influenced rage ("Floor 555" and "schizophrenia") hits the proper emotional nerves, producing a visceral and often overwhelming experience. Guests include Joey Bada$$ on the classic hip-hop "infinity (888)," drummer Travis Barker on the emocore "Pain = BESTFRIEND," and PnB Rock on the trappy "SMASH!," which channels Post Malone and Migos in equal parts. Through the genre-blurring storm of emotions, XXX surprises with the vulnerable piano ballad "changes" and a tribute to the Parkland school shooting victims/survivors on "Hope." The tragically prescient "before I close my eyes" closes the album with XXX hoping "it's not too late for me." Like other artists who died before fully delivering on their potential, clues about cries for help or warning signs are often appropriate, especially when considering lifestyle choices and tangles with the law. Ultimately, it's just speculation for fans to keep the memory alive. Taken as is, ? is a fascinating and thoroughly engaging listen, swirling with passionate emotions that hint at the chance of something greater. As the de facto closer to the divisive rapper's catalog, it's also an appropriate and prophetic reflection of a life that simply caught up with him too quickly. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	07/13/2018
Label:	Bad Vibes Forever / Caroline
UPC:	0842812106729

Tracks

1. Introduction (instructions)
2. ALONE, PART 3
3. Moonlight
4. SAD!
5. The remedy for a broken heart (why am I so in love)
6. Floor 555
7. NUMB
8. infinity (888)
9. going down!
10. Pain = BESTFRIEND
11. $$$
12. love yourself (interlude)
13. SMASH!
14. I don't even speak spanish lol
15. changes
16. Hope
17. schizophrenia
18. before I close my eyes

Album Credits

Performance Credits

XXXTentacion   Primary Artist
Yoko Shimomura   Primary Artist,Piano
Matt Ox   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Daphne Chen   Violin
Leah Katz   Viola
Eric Gorfain   Violin
Travis Barker   Drums,Featured Artist
Judah   Featured Artist,Featured Artist
Joey Bada$$   Featured Artist
PnB Rock   Featured Artist
Jahseh Onfroy   Piano,Guitar
Rico Nasty   Featured Artist
Rio Santana   Featured Artist
Robbie Soukiasyan   Drums,Guitar
John Cunningham   Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Strings,Keyboards
Carlos Andrez   Featured Artist
Adolfo Mercado   Drums
Richard Dodd   Cello

Technical Credits

John Crawford   Composer,Composer,Engineer,Composer
Kevin Peterson   Mastering Assistant
Alejandro Rodriguez   Composer
J Dilla   Producer
Chris Spilfogel   String Engineer
Travis Barker   Composer
P. Soul   Producer
David Kutch   Mastering
Samuel Jimenez   Composer
Yoko Shimomura   Composer
Matt Malpass   Drum Engineering
James Yancey   Composer
Oren Kleinman   Composer
Aron Forbes   String Arrangements
Kevin Gomringer   Composer
Tim Gomringer   Composer
TM88   Producer
Jo-Vaughn Virginie   Composer
Samuel David Jimenez   Composer
Smash David   Producer
Rakim Allen   Composer
Omari Jabari   Composer
Ronald Spence, Jr.   Composer
Ronny J   Producer
Jeff Lacroix   Composer
Johnathan Carter Cunningham   Composer
XXXTentacion   Composer,Producer
Jahseh Onfroy   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Rico Nasty   Composer
Robbie Soukiasyan   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Matthew Grau   Composer
Koen Heldens   Mixing
John Cunningham   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming
Chris Quock   Assistant Engineer
Bryan Simmons   Composer
Denmarc Mangupag   Composer
Laron Wages   Composer,Producer
Den Beats   Producer
Alejandro Gabriel Angelo Rodriguez   Composer
Brandon Mychael Jameel Beazer   Composer
Carlos Andrez   Composer
Flavio Santana   Composer
Franck Bondrille   Composer
Juan Guerrieri-Maril   Composer
Judah Amar   Composer
Z3N   Engineer,Producer
Maria Cecilia Simone Kelly   Composer
Brandon Beazer   Composer
Dell Soda   Producer
Gabriel Travarez   Composer
James Pereira   Composer,Engineer
Shinya Nomachi   Assistant
Tre Pounds   Producer