Banging production and an edgy sound can’t save Lil Xan from falling victim to emptiness, shallowness, and most of all, rap clichés.   

Question – are you ready for TOTAL XANARCHY? Regardless of your answer, Lil Xan releases his debut album on April 6, 2018.  Take one look at the cover and you must ask yourself – is this kid okay? While prejudging or judging a book only by its cover is wrong, the California rapper is part of a new-school of rappers built on more fluff than substance.  Ad-libs and repetition are front and center, while substance – other than drug references – is hard to come by.

“The Man” thrives off clichés.  On the intro, Lil Xan makes it clear, “I f*ck dat bih, yeah, I f*ck dat bih, yeah.” Tired. On the hook, he is incredibly cocky and over confident: “God damn, god damn Lil Xanny the man.” Again, cliché to the nth degree.  The verses don’t change the trajectory.  On the first verse, he asserts haters hate him because he’s successful.  Among his successes is the fact that he “f*cked his dream ho.” Given the fact that she is a ho, “That bih don’t love me, she just want dick, aye.” $teven Cannon arrives for the second verse.  Unfortunately, that’s not a rank-up.  His focus is sex, at one point coming right out and saying, “I need fellatio.”

Final Thoughts 

The good news is “The Man” is a banger.  The production and malicious, sketchy sound of this record is a pro.  BUT, Lil Xan isn’t the least bit ‘bigger picture’ or transcendent.  Listening to “The Man” leaves you empty as opposed to fulfilled by any means. Sexcapades only go so far.

Lil Xan • TOTAL XANARCHY• Columbia • Release: 4.6.18

Writers: Diego Leanos, Matthew Day, Miguel Curtidor & Steven Scruggs « Producers: Danny Wolf & DJ Fu

Photo Credit: Columbia