Rapper and producer Xaviersobased is firmly rooted in the DIY tradition of New York skate culture. His vast Soundcloud back catalogue brings to mind the graffiti art and Xerox-copy zines of generations prior. While he hasn’t always landed his sonic tricks, his restless experimental approach has positioned him as a pioneer in the underground scene – and on his debut album ‘Xavier’, the 22-year-old is ready to show the wider world what he’s all about.
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Xaviersobased – real name Xavier Lopez – brings together his eclectic micro-genre influences, elements from previous projects and his distinctive off-kilter lyrics for ‘Xavier’, his most polished work yet. Lopez, who founded underground collective 1c34, takes clear inspiration from trailblazers like Lil B, Chief Keef and Yung Lean, and his penchant for joyful, sometimes euphoric beats is on full display here. Although ‘Xavier’ doesn’t have the same reckless experimentation of earlier releases, the album isn’t short of playful production moments.
The pulsing wall of sound on ‘Clorox’ and dreamy skittering beats on songs like ‘Negative Canthal Tilt’ keep the 20-track album feeling fresh. The rapper’s muddy, twinkling mixes pair well with his idiosyncratic lyrics, at once brazen, vulnerable and optimistic. He shows his hyper-awareness while boasting about his money and hedonistic lifestyle, serving up outlandish lines like: “Hoes on my dick ’cause I got that self-hatred”. The strength of his lyrics come from this duality, light-heartedly embodying the dissociated rapper persona and the sensitivity beneath it. His distorted, off-beat flows definitely won’t be for everyone, but underscore his lyrics’ knowing nonchalance.
The album also demonstrates Xaviersobased’s grasp on countless past and burgeoning musical styles. On ‘Minute’, for example, he ventures into electroclash, while deploying a beat his mother, who worked as a house DJ in the ’80s, would be proud of. On ‘Heartfelt’, co-produced by Yung Sherman and Woesum, Lopez brings out a new side of guest feature Rio Da Yung Og, who sounds uncharacteristically wistful over what sounds like a beautiful cosy game OST injected with 808s. The album is at its strongest in the second half, where features from frequent collaborators like OsamaSon and Ksuuvi help bring the energy.
‘Xavier’ works best as an introduction into this innovative rapper-producer’s world, an accessible encapsulation of Xaviersobased and of the new NYC underground he’s helped build. While the album has less surprises than fans might expect, its highpoints show his boundless versatility and playfulness. Despite now being signed to a major label, Xaviersobased is still unapologetically himself – one of the most fun and likable artists in the US underground scene today.
Details
Record label: 1-chance / Surf Gang Records
Release date: January 30, 2026
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