Craig Xen
Craig Xen | |
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Craig Xen in 2019 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Craig J. Gordwin |
Born | Houston, Texas U.S. | October 24, 1994
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2013–present |
Labels | Empire, Bad Vibes Forever, Cruel World |
Formerly of | Members Only |
Website | craigxen |
Craig J. Gordwin (born October 24, 1994), known professionally as Craig Xen, is an American rapper, best known for his collaborations with XXXTentacion and hip hop collective Members Only.[1]
Early life
Gordwin was born on October 24, 1994, in Houston, Texas. He was raised Catholic and frequented a Catholic school until 6th grade.[2] In an interview with Adam22 in February 2016, he stated that he was raised by his mother while his father spent time in jail and that he started rapping when he was 6 years old with his cousin.[3] He grew up listening to Screwed Up Click, Green Day, Linkin Park, Eminem and Lil B, the last one being one of his biggest musical inspiration.[4][5] The last name in his stage name, Xen (formerly Zen) came from the time he was in high school when Xen was interested by spirituality, used hallucinogens and practised meditation.[6]
Career
Craig Xen released his first song, "H.D.A.B.", in April 2013 on SoundCloud featuring his cousin Kay Rillo.[3][7] In 2015, before joining Members Only, he was a member of the Schemaposse collective, which included rappers JGRXXN, Lil Peep and Ghostemane, until their dissolution.[8] In February 2016, he released the song "Good Fellas" featuring Pouya and Shakewell.[9]
In 2016, Craig Xen joined the hip hop collective Members Only, which was originally a duo between XXXTentacion and Ski Mask the Slump God. Xen appeared on 4 songs from the mixtape Members Only, Vol. 3, released on June 26, 2017.[10][11] The hip hop collective's debut album, Members Only, Vol. 4, was released on January 23, 2019, by Empire.[12] The project debuted at number 18 on the US Billboard 200[13] and Craig Xen appeared on 8 songs.[14]
During the year 2016, Xen released few songs like "Death to He Who Cross Me",[15] "Six Men, One Casket"[16] and "Blueberry Lemonade" featuring Lil Peep and Nedarb.[17] Craig Xen was featured on XXXTentacion's single "I Wonder If Bloods Watch Blues Clues".[18][19] Another collaborative single, "Crucify Thy Infant, Son of Whore" with XXXTentacion and Garette Revenge was released in May 2017.[20] His first studio album, Voltage,[21] was released by label Cruel World in October 2017. His second studio album, Hell Bent,[22][23] was released in May 2018 by Empire with singles like "Killa" featuring Yung Bans[24] or "Murder" featuring Wifisfuneral.[25]
Craig Xen was featured alongside Lil Skies on Gnar's song "Death Note".[26] The music video for the song was directed by Cole Bennett and was published on Lyrical Lemonade YouTube channel on June 4, 2019.[27][28] Craig Xen's first extended play, Broken Kids Club, was released in June 2019 by Cruel World and Empire.[29][30] The project is supported by songs "Run it Back!" with XXXTentacion[8][31][32] and "Stain" featuring Ski Mask the Slump God and Smokepurpp.[29][33] A music video for the project's song "Cry Baby, Cell 17", directed by JMP, was published on July 17, 2019[34][35] and another music video for the song "Run it Back!", also directed by JMP, was released on July 30, 2019.[36][37] was released. Craig Xen was featured on the song "The Only Time I Feel Alive" from XXXTentacion's posthumous album Bad Vibes Forever, which was released in December 2019.[38][39]
Discography
Studio albums
- Members Only, Vol. 4 (2019) with Members Only
- Why (2020)
Mixtapes
- Infinite ☥ Militia (2015) with Kay Rillo
- CHAPTER ONE – ENTER REALM (2015) with GG Neeks
- CHAPTER TWO – THE ORACLE (2015) with GG Neeks
- Decay (2015)
- Brute (2015)
- Xen (2015)
- DARKWATER (2015)
- 5 ★ THREAT (2015)
- Resilient (2016)
- Waist Deep (2016)
- Revelation (2016)
- Martyr (2016)
- Members Only, Vol. 3 (2017) with Members Only
- Voltage (2017)
- Hell Bent (2018)
- PROTECT ME FROM MYSELF (2019)
Extended plays
- Broken Kids Club (2019)[40]
- God is Watching (2020)
Singles
- Bare Flesh (2016)
- Voltage (2016)
- Succubus (2016)
- Chopstix (2018)
- Stain (2018)
- Run It Back! (2019) with XXXTentacion[41]
References
- ^ Cline, Georgette (June 18, 2019). "Craig Xen's Tribute to XXXTentacion One Year After His Death: "You've Helped So Many People"". XXLmag.com. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- ^ "Craig Xen". Notion. July 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ a b "No Jumper – The Craig Xen Interview". YouTube. Archived from the original on July 26, 2016.
- ^ "Meet Craig Xen: A Houston Native with a Different Agenda". Social Status. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ "Craig Xen Discography". DatPizz. May 18, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ Hastings, Ben (January 19, 2020). "Craig Xen — Fall in love with me". Medium. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ Craig Xen & Kay Rillo – H.D.A.B., retrieved May 25, 2020
- ^ a b "SCHEMAPOSSE". Genius. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ Craig Xen (Ft. Pouya & Shakewell) – Good Fellas, retrieved August 3, 2020
- ^ Weinstein, Max (April 16, 2017). "XXXTentacion Reveals 'Members Only Vol. 3' Cover – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "XXXTENTACION & Ski Mask the Slump God Share New Project, 'Members Only Vol. 3'". HYPEBEAST. June 27, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "XXXTentacion's Members Only 'Vol. 4' Project: Listen". Billboard. January 23, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ XXXTENTACION Presents: Members Only, Vol. 4, January 23, 2019, retrieved May 25, 2020
- ^ Craig Xen – Death to He Who Cross Me, retrieved August 3, 2020
- ^ Craig Xen – Six Men, One Casket, retrieved August 3, 2020
- ^ Craig Xen (Ft. Lil Peep & NEDARB) – Blueberry Lemonade, retrieved August 3, 2020
- ^ XXXTENTACION (Ft. Craig Xen) – I wonder if bloods watch blue's clues (Patty Cake), retrieved August 3, 2020
- ^ Mixtapez, My (September 7, 2018), Mixtape of I Wonder If Bloods Watch Blues Clues by XXXtentacion, retrieved August 3, 2020
- ^ Craig Xen (Ft. Garette Revenge & XXXTENTACION) – Crucify Thy Infant, Son of Whore, retrieved August 3, 2020
- ^ "Craig Xen – Voltage". Discogs. October 6, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ "Craig Xen – Hell Bent". Discogs. May 18, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
- ^ Brandon Pickus. "Craig Xen – "Hell Bent" [Rhyme Risers] // Rhyme Hip Hop". Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "Watch the Wild Animated Video For Craig Xen and Yung Bans' "Killa"". Complex. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ Craig Xen (Ft. wifisfuneral) – Murder, retrieved August 3, 2020
- ^ "Lil Skies Joins GNAR & Craig Xen On "Death Note"". HotNewHipHop. June 10, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ Brandon Pickus. "Gnar – "Death Note" feat. Lil Skies & Craig Xen [MUSIC VIDEO] // Rhyme". Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "Gnar – Death Note ft. Lil Skies & Craig Xen (Dir. by @_ColeBennett_)". YouTube. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020.
- ^ a b "Craig Xen Establishes The "Broken Kids Club" & Details His Favorite XXXTentacion Memories". HotNewHipHop. June 20, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Craig Xen". Notion. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ Centeno, Tony M. (June 12, 2019). "XXXTentacion Appears on New Song With Craig Xen". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ "XXXTentacion Posthumously Connects With Craig Xen For 'Run It Back': Listen". Billboard. June 13, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ Burks, Tosten (September 7, 2018). "Craig Xen "Stain": Listen to New Song With Ski Mask & Smokepurpp – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ BWW News Desk. "Craig Xen Releases Video For 'Cry Baby, Cell 17'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "Craig Xen Releases Video For "Cry Baby, Cell 17"". The Hype Magazine. July 18, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ Craig Xen & XXXTentacion: Run It Back!, retrieved July 19, 2020
- ^ Mendez, Marisa (July 30, 2019). "Craig Xen Visits XXXTentacion's Gravesite in "Run It Back" Video". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ "Tracklist revealed for XXXTentacion's final posthumous album 'Bad Vibes Forever'". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. December 4, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ XXXTENTACION & Craig Xen – THE ONLY TIME I FEEL ALIVE, retrieved August 3, 2020
- ^ "Craig Xen Releases Video For 'Cry Baby, Cell 17'". BroadwayWorld.com. July 17, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- ^ Rindner, Grant. "Craig Xen Releases Rowdy "Run It Back!" With XXXTENTACION". Genius.com. Genius Media Group Inc. Retrieved November 3, 2020.