Photograph: xxxtentacion/Youtube
Over the previous two years, the late rapper XXXTentacion (actual title Jahseh Onfroy) had skilled a tumultuous however comparatively speedy rise to success, punctuated by critical authorized points and disturbing acts of violence. He signed a file deal rumored to be value a whopping $6 million regardless of a video that surfaced displaying XXX hitting a fan within the head with a microphone on the Rolling Loud Pageant in Mountain View, California. At the time of his murder in June 2018, he was additionally awaiting trial for a 2016 domestic-abuse case, by which he was charged with aggravated battery of a pregnant girl, home battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and witness tampering. Taking within the full scope of those occasions is tough and overwhelming, so we’ve compiled a timeline to attempt to make sense of the scenario.
1998–2011: XXXTentacion grew up in Pompano Seaside and Lauderhill in South Florida. He lived together with his mom, who he mentioned “had it onerous,” and typically together with his grandmother. “My mother was simply in conditions the place she couldn’t care for me,” he mentioned in an interview on the No Jumper podcast. From a really younger age, he received concerned in violent conditions. “I’ve been preventing since I used to be a child,” he mentioned. When he was 6, he tried to stab a person who was “messing” together with his mom. He was additionally expelled from his first center faculty for preventing.
In his early teenage years, he developed a ardour for music. He was drawn to nu-metal and onerous rock in addition to rap, and tried to show himself methods to play the guitar and the piano. In center faculty, he mentioned his aunt and mom tried to encourage this curiosity by signing him up for refrain, however he ultimately received kicked out of this system for punching a classmate.
2012–2014: XXXTentacion attends highschool at Piper Excessive College in Dawn, Florida, earlier than dropping out within the tenth grade. Round this time, he says, he recorded and launched a music, however there isn’t a file of it on-line.
Someday in 2013–2014, XXXTtentacion spends round 9 months to a yr in a juvenile-detention heart for a gun possession cost. Throughout this time he meets fellow rapper Ski Masks the Hunch God. After being launched, the 2 go on to collaborate on a number of initiatives.
March 2014: XXXTentacion uploads his first music to SoundCloud. The observe is known as “Vice Metropolis.”
February 3, 2015: He releases one other EP referred to as Heartbreak Resort on SoundCloud.
Late 2014: XXXTentacion independently releases two EPs referred to as The Fall and Ice Home on-line. He later deletes them from SoundCloud.
April 20, 2015: XXXTentacion and Ski Masks the Hunch God launch a joint EP referred to as Members Solely Vol. 1
October 23, 2015: XXXTentacion and Ski Masks launch one other EP, Members Solely Vol. 2
November 16, 2015: XXXTentacion is charged for committing house invasion, theft, and aggravated battery, in accordance with court documents.
December 31, 2015: “Have a look at Me,” XXXTentacion’s first massive single, appears on SoundCloud.
January 29: “Have a look at Me” will get an official launch as a digital obtain. Whereas its SoundCloud numbers proceed to develop, the only doesn’t enter the Billboard charts for one more ten-and-a-half months.
April 24: XXXTentacion does his first long-form interview on the hip-hop podcast No Jumper (which Jon Caramanica of the New York Instances has described as “The Paris Review for the face-tattoo set”). He discusses his troubled previous and time in juvenile detention. He features a very graphic story about beating up a cellmate, whom he refers to as a “faggot,” describing each violent act in ugly element. After mentioning that he wiped the person’s blood on his face, Adam22, (full title Adam Grandmaison), the BMX rider and hip-hop podcast host, contributes an equally disturbing response — “Warpaint. That’s tight,” he says.
Mid-Might: In keeping with a sworn statement obtained by Pitchfork in September of this yr, XXXTentacion and his (former) girlfriend (and alleged domestic-abuse sufferer) first met.
Late Might: The primary occasion of home violence allegedly takes place. In keeping with his ex-girlfriend’s testimony, XXXTentacion threatened to penetrate her vagina with a “barbecue cleaner” or a “barbecue fork.”
July: XXXTentacion and his then-girlfriend transfer to Orlando.
Mid-July (roughly): The second incident of alleged home violence happens. XXXTentation allegedly kicked, punched, tackled, and “stomped on” his ex-girlfriend, as a result of he heard her singing one other artist’s music, the testimony in Pitchfork states. He additionally threatened to “minimize out,” her tongue, the sufferer mentioned.
August 9: XXXTentacion is arrested for his 2015 theft and assault costs. He’s held at Broward Regional Detention Middle in Fort Lauderdale.
September 16: XXXTentacion agrees to house arrest, and is launched from jail. Quickly after, he allegedly assaults his ex-girlfriend once more after she confesses to sleeping with one other man. In keeping with her testimony, he put a knife to her throat, strangled her “a bit of bit,” and threatened to hit her with a glass bottle.
Late September: XXXTentacion and his then-girlfriend transfer to Sweetwater, Florida. XXXTentacion is accused of strangling her on two events round this time, the testimony in Pitchfork states.
Early October: XXXTentaction’s ex-girlfriend finds out that she is pregnant together with his little one.
October 6–8: Over the course of two days, a number of cases of home violence allegedly happen. In keeping with XXXTentacion’s ex-girlfriend’s testimony, he threatened to kill her and her unborn little one earlier than elbowing, punching, and kicking her. When she requested different residents of the pair’s residence to take her to the hospital, XXXTentacion refused to let her depart. She recollects him saying that she wanted to attend till her face (which was severely overwhelmed) had healed. XXXTentacion and his housemates then drive her to a different residence, the place they depart her in a bed room and confiscate her cellphone. She is trapped there for 2 days till, on October 8, she manages to flee and speak to the police.
October 8: XXXTencacion is arrested in Miami-Dade County, and charged with aggravated battery of a pregnant girl, home battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and witness tampering. He pleads not responsible, however is detained by Broward County for violating his home arrest settlement. A trial for the domestic-abuse costs is about for Might 1 (this trial later will get pushed again to October 5, after which December 11).
January 1: Adam22 proclaims that he’s managing XXXTentacion. “xxx is out in a pair weeks and that i’m managing him,” he tweets. Over the subsequent few months, whereas XXXTentacion is in jail, Adam22 makes use of his personal Twitter account to replace followers on XXXTentacion’s standing and well-being.
January 17: A$AP Rocky shares his help for XXXTentacion on Instagram live. “Free my n***a X, I can’t wait til you come house,” he says.
January 28: Drake previews “KMT” at a present in Amsterdam. Followers evaluate it to “Have a look at Me” on social media. Pigeons and Planes posts a snippet of the 2 songs aspect by aspect.
February 1: Danny Brown quotes lyrics from XXXTentacion and Ski Masks the Hunch God’s “RIP Roach” on Twitter.
February 14: “Have a look at Me” enters the Billboard Scorching 100 at No. 95.
February 18: In an interview with DJ Semtex aired on OVO Sound radio, Drake denies copying “Have a look at Me.” “The opposite day, I dropped this music with Giggs and I’m seeing all this shit on my IG underneath some random image of individuals being like, ‘Fuck you, you took this child’s circulation’ or no matter. I’m like, ‘What’s taking place to me proper now?’ So I’m attempting to learn and work out who they’re speaking about.”
March 26: XXXTentacion pleads no contest to the costs of armed home-invasion theft and battery, and is launched from jail on probation.
March 29: In an interview on Miami’s 103.5 The Beat, XXXTentacion accuses Drake of stealing his circulation. “He isn’t a person. I feel he’s a bitch, that’s a bitch transfer,” he tells the interviewer.
April 7: XXXTentacion hosts a “shock” present in Miami, which turns right into a riot. Police intervene, shut down the present, and escort XXXTentacion out of the constructing.
April 22: “Have a look at Me” peaks at No. 24 on the Billboard Scorching 100.
Might 12: XXXTentacion releases a music referred to as “Searching for a Star,” which is produced by Diplo.
Might 17: XXXTentacion releases his debut mixtape, Revenge, by way of Empire Distribution. It consists of eight songs which he had beforehand launched on SoundCloud, and doesn’t garner a lot press protection by itself. Opinions by XXL, VIBE, and Revolt, current it as a set of highlights moderately than a brand new physique of labor. It peaks at No. 44 on the Billboard 200.
June 7: XXXTentacion is knocked out onstage at a present in San Diego. Within the brawl that ensues, somebody will get stabbed. Followers blame rapper Rob Stone for the incident.
June 13: XXXTentacion seems on XXL’s 2017 Freshman Class cowl because the “tenth Spot” winner — the one spot on the checklist that’s fan-selected. In keeping with XXL, “His followers blew up our voting web page, pushing him to the highest slot by hundreds of votes.” In gentle of his domestic-violence costs, the choice to characteristic him on the checklist is met with important resistance from XXL readers and different music publications.
June 14: XXXTentacion punches a fan at a present in Salt Lake Metropolis.
June 26: XXXTentacion and Ski Masks the Hunch God launch their Members Solely Vol. 3 EP.
Early August: “Have a look at Me” is licensed platinum. In a now-deleted Instagram submit, XXXTentacion posts an image of the RIAA certification with a caption saying: “say what you need, however you’ll at all times be pressured to just accept that I’m out right here residing my ‘personal’ life.”
August 25: 17, XXXTentacion’s first album is launched by way of Empire Distribution. It debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. One weblog, DJ Sales space (which is a part of the Complicated Community), refuses to overview the album and posts an official assertion, saying, “We felt we might now not stand on the sidelines, watching rap’s ugly embrace of sexual assault.” Meaghan Garvey writes in regards to the album for Pitchfork, and provides it a blended overview, making an attempt to articulate its deserves and perceive XXXTentacion’s fan base, whereas additionally acknowledging his troubling private historical past. “The explanations it’s tough to hearken to can overshadow the necessity to hearken to it,” she says.
Kendrick Lamar cosigns the album on Twitter. “Take heed to this album in the event you really feel something,” he writes. “Uncooked ideas.”
September 2: XXXTencacion’s free present in Tampa will get canceled attributable to an overcrowding threat (2,000 individuals confirmed as much as a 750 capability venue, XXL reported). The gang riots and chases XXXTentacion’s automotive. Police intervene.
September 8: Pitchfork releases excerpts from XXXTentacion’s ex-girlfriend’s testimony.
September 17: The “Have a look at Me” video is launched. It features a shot of XXXTentacion hanging from a noose.
September 28: XXXTentation’s October 5 domestic-abuse trial will get postponed.
October 5: A brand new trial date is about for December 11.
October 19: XXXTentacion indicators a cope with Caroline, a subsidiary of Capitol Data, Billboard reports. One supply says that the deal is value $6 million.
October 20: XXXTentacion proclaims, via Instagram story, that he’ll donate “over a 100 thousand {dollars}” to domestic-violence-prevention packages.
October 21: Throughout a his efficiency on the Rolling Loud pageant within the Bay Space, XXXTentacion will get into one other combat with a fan. A video of the incident reveals XXXTentacion hitting the gang member within the head together with his microphone. In a video released on Twitter later that night, XXXTentacion argues that he was punched first and acted in self-defense.
October 26: XXXTentacion posts a message on his Instagram story stating that he’s now not signed to Capitol Data. “Terminating my cope with ‘capitol data,’” he writes in a single message, adopted by one other saying “Should you can match my alleged earlier contract, and add free worldwide journey & free worldwide keep I might be completely satisfied to be in enterprise with you, I’m at the moment a free agent, nicely, I at all times was.” Quickly after, a rep from XXXTentacion’s camp denies the claim, saying that “XXXTentacion is signed to Caroline/Capitol Music Group.”
October 27: In another Instagram story, XXXTentacion says that he “is not going to be making or releasing any music.” “I’m bored with being mentally abused for attempting to assist individuals, I’m bored with the hate, I’m carried out,” he writes.
October 29: XXXTentacion says, by way of Instagram story, that he’ll return to music if Ski Masks The Hunch God agrees to be his good friend once more. “Inform Ski Masks to be my good friend once more and I’ll make music. Inform him to be my good friend once more,” he mentioned within the (now deleted) submit. A pair days later, in a video, responded, “I’ll at all times love that alien-looking n***a named XXX, however I’ve to distance myself as a result of no person would see me as a person,” and “On high of that, that n***a loopy as hell.” Then, he wrote on an Instagram story: “It is a one who has earlier than threaten[ed] my household, instructed me I used to be imagined to be sacrificed on some loopy shit,”
November 2: XXXTentacion posts a snippet of a brand new music on Instagram, with a caption studying: “mentioned I used to be going to cease making ‘music’ however… I don’t think about this ‘music.’”
November 26: XXXTentacion announces that he plans to host an “anti-rape” occasion at this yr’s Artwork Basel in Miami.
December 1: XXXtentacion and his legal professionals submit a doc, allegedly signed by his ex-girlfriend, to the DA’s workplace in hopes of getting his domestic-assault case dropped. Accoring to TMZ, the doc states that XXXtentacion’s accuser is refusing to cooperate with prosecutors and desires to drop the case.
December 15: XXXTentacion is jailed forward of his abuse trial, with seven new costs added, together with completely different levels of witness tampering and witness harassment. According to TMZ, prosecutors imagine the rapper coerced his ex-girlfriend into signing the beforehand submitted paperwork that claimed she wished the costs dropped. His bail is denied. He now reportedly faces “a long time in jail, at minimal, if convicted.”
December 20: TMZ reports that XXXTentacion might be launched from jail and serve home arrest for 2 months forward of his trial. His legal professional David Bogenschutz instructed the positioning that the choose will permit the rapper to go to an area recording studio to meet his contractual obligations throughout this time.
January 10: In keeping with a report within the Los Angeles Times, a number of nameless sources with data of XXXTentacion’s signing to Capitol Data in October, urged that many staffers on the label opposed the deal. Nevertheless, two of the Instances’ sources mentioned that in a workers assembly, Capitol president Steve Barnett “instructed executives that Onfroy’s surging recognition would assist the corporate have an even bigger market share in hip-hop and acknowledged the controversy across the artist, encouraging these with considerations to voice them.”
March 16: XXXtentacion releases his second studio album, ?, by way of his label Unhealthy Vibes Ceaselessly. The album is distributed by Caroline Distribution, which is a part of Capitol Data. It debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart, promoting the equal of 131,000 models in its first week.
March 21: XXXtentacion is launched from home arrest, in order that he can go on tour, TMZ reports. In keeping with the article, XXX’s authorized group argued that he would wish touring earnings to “keep afloat,” as a result of his earnings from file gross sales weren’t enough.
March 25: XXXTentacion’s sophomore album, ?, debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, giving SoundCloud rap its first No. 1 album.
March 26: “Unhappy,” one of many two singles from ?, reaches No. 7 on the Billboard Scorching 100, changing into XXXtentacion’s first top-ten music.
Might 10: Spotify removes XXXTentacion’s music from its playlists in accordance with a brand new Hate Content material and Hateful Conduct coverage. His reps difficulty a press release itemizing different artists accused of abuse, asking in the event that they can even be penalized.
June 1: Spotify scraps its hate content policy following complaints from trade insiders. XXXTentacion’s music is reinstated on its playlists.
June 5: XXXTentacion is the topic of an extensive profile in the Miami New Times detailing his alleged abuse, together with interviews together with his accuser. In it, XXXTentacion dismisses feminism, saying “Girls might even see or really feel that they’re belittled, however you’re solely belittled if you wish to be belittled.” He makes use of Hillary Clinton for example: “She ran [for president] and he or she wasn’t killed for it. That claims every thing.” He says that, within the post-#MeToo period, allegations “can go off rumour” and “girls are virtually extra highly effective than males.”
June 18: XXXTentacion, 20, is reported dead following an alleged drive-by shooting outdoors of a motorbike store in Deerfield Seaside, Florida. He was awaiting trial on the time of the capturing.
This submit has been up to date all through.
