Review: Lil Xan’s “TOTAL XANARCHY” Is The Show, Afterparty & Hangover

    We’re currently full steam ahead inside rap music’s (and its fans’) unwavering infatuation with vibes over verses and Lil Xan has gracefully maneuvered himself to the forefront of the movement.

    His persona is akin to most of his peers: unassuming, carefree, nonblack and druggy. The assumptions surrounding his name are accurate — it is indeed derived from the abused prescription-turned-party pill Xanax (a guise he has been working to shed in the months leading up to his album release).

    After rising big with his SoundCloud single “Betrayed,” an intoxicating shotgun rush of a next-gen rap song, the 21-year-old Californian born Diego Leanos has neatly added on to his discography with TOTAL XANARCHY. The tirelessly lit debut album will go the distance in separating his talent from his nameless peers but won’t propel him to the same ranks of a Travis Scott or Rae Sremmurd just yet.

    With his soon-to-be-former-name borrowed from a prescription drug and his rise to fame seemingly coming outta nowhere, it doesn’t take an enthusiast following the young and reckless up-and-comer to predict the depth of Xan’s music. Every song on TOTAL XANARCHY delves heavily in post-modern trap synths supplied by Bobby Johnson Beats, Ronny J and DJ Fu, among others, and boasts superficial subject matter that hones in on states of euphoria.

    The kicker? Most records accomplish their goal within the 2-3-minute mark, making for an extremely fluid auditory experience.

    The project kicks off with a barrage of turn-up tracks and digestible speaker busters that aptly set up visions of a rowdy Xan show. 2 Chainz pops in for a golden co-sign on “Tick Tock,” which is powered by increasing bass explosions that peak with mechanical clashes ripe for cooking dances. In all its repetitive glory (the hook of “I wake up/ I throw up/ I feel like I’m dead” virtually dominates the song), “Wake Up” is an undeniably catchy mix of crunked-up mumble rap that personifies Xan down to the bottom of the medicine vial.

    Equipped with drowsy articulation tinged with a melodic pinch of raspiness, Xan is far from an astute lyricist but isn’t actually a slouch on the mic in terms of flow and rhyme schemes. Sporting a blissful cameo from Charli XCX, “Moonlight” serves as the album’s most sturdy composition as Xan makes seemingly simplistic lyrics such as “White Mercedes, whip it/ Do 150, hope I do not crash/ Fuck that bitch and hit the dash (dash)/ Fuck that bitch and hit the dash” sound like poetry in three-wheel motion. From the expansive refrain to DJ Fu and G Koop’s sonic capturing of a nighttime oceanside view, the record puts down pavestones on the path to longevity, whereas an utterly generic number in the noisy “Diamonds” does not.

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    Like most rappers built for this generation, Xan is more an entertainer than an MC — a partier more than a poet. Even with a runtime that’s just under three-quarters of an hour, TOTAL XANARCHY can get exhausting due to the content’s 1.5-dimensional wavelengths.

    In spite of fighting his inner addiction on breakout hit “Betrayed” or album opener “Who I Am” (“Xans don’t make me what I am/Xans gon’ mess up all my friends,” he groans on the bubbly beat), at this pace, our one-manchild high runs the risk of a complete burnout — smack dab in the public eye.

    It’s this underlying sense of fearlessness that makes the concept of Lil Xan exciting and scary at the same time. It’s madness. Matter fact, it’s XANARCHY.

    66 thoughts on “Review: Lil Xan’s “TOTAL XANARCHY” Is The Show, Afterparty & Hangover

    1. Really? 3.5/5? you mean 3.5/10?

      This guy is straight garbage, and his music is a sad excuse for hiphop. The album cover is straight kiddy porno. Ugly-ass needs a mask like DOOM.

      This dude needs to pull a Lil Peep to save himself the embarrassment. How the fuck this inbred goblin became famous is beyond me-

      and HHDX, please abort this site if this is what you consider a passable album.

    2. Ok so I just watched the video to wake up and the shit is garbage wtf really my 9 year old son could make that and what’s with the 2 min songs him lil pump and 6ixnine at least if it’s gon b a short song u better go hard

      1. Lil’ Xan is easily the best MC hip hop has produced since Rakim. I actuallyc ried listening to this, and then thanked Allah and Muhammad that such a tremendous talent could shine down fromt he heavens and bless hip hop fans the world over. In fact, I havent had this much fun since I last stuck my penis into my Camel Clyde’s bunchole while reciting choice verses from the Holy Quran. Allah fuckbar!!!

    3. these are some strong words Trent…damn near fighting words…i’ve been listening to hip hop hard since the 80s and i’ve worked hard to keep an open mind with rappers to this day, but this guy is worse than any pm dawn…worse than any stitches…worse than anything i’ve heard…i worked hard to come around on lil pump and tekashi 69…but this guy is the worst i’ve ever heard…and you know what bugs me Trent, is that you’re making me listen to this kids album…i’m going to listen to this kids album fully 3 times…and if it’s not anywhere near the 7 out of 10 that you are saying then i will never read a single word you write again…if it is near to this 7 out of 10 i’ll praise your critical skills…but fuck me, am i not looking forward to this challenge…

    4. and this white boy call 2pac music trash, are you serious, i can even fine a name to call his music. only question i have is why do this white boy get a pass to even temp to make hip hop music, his wack ass.

    5. YOU know what everyone at HHDX need to get hit by a bus and maybe it will knock some sense into you guys. How da fuck you guys gave this retard (the album cover speaks for itself) 3.5 but on April 1 y’all have Trae da Truth 3.4 and said it could be better when it was a good body of work. The album cover alone looks like a pedo dream come true and yet y’all actually giving it some positive points like Xan isn’t a slouch on the mic but next sentence y’all quote the most basic lyrics ….fuck is wrong with y’all? Nah all jokes aside get hit by 2 buses . What’s next lil skies is the next Nas?

    6. This shit is actually pretty good. Kid looks like a geek and I genuinely fear for these kids safety with all the drug shit. Keep Pacs name out your mouth though. 1

    7. fuck you guys for even reviewing this album while so many actual hiphop/rap albums come out every week that you don’t even touch

    8. i listened to 2 out of the 3 posted tracks, and to be honest…i wish i hadn’t wasted my time. this kid has to be one of the WACKEST getting shine right now. those aren’t flows!!! this bullshit can not be worthy of being considered Hip Hop, or this child being an emcee. this generation has created a serious lack of quality with its artists. this is an embarrassment and should be called out as such.

    9. Fuck DX for reviewing this and passing up on real Hiphop releases such as Ugods new album. I hope the paycheck was large enough for writing this piece of drivel.
      First you say he’s not a slouch on the mic and even talk about rhymeschemes to then use this turd of a bar as an example?
      White Mercedes, whip it/ Do 150, hope I do not crash/ Fuck that bitch and hit the dash
      FOH DX, at least pretend you have some integrity left.

    10. is that jizz flying towards his pasty face on the cover.
      this little baby looks like he has never even seen an r rated movie.
      Rappers used to get their name LIL because they were actually little.
      Like lil bow and lil wayne. actually very young when they started. Not this guy it is definitely because of his small genitallia. I don’t know if I am ok with a generation of little punks runnin around all happy about their little viennas.

    11. WTF this is pure garbage how much dx get paid to post this nonsense pill popping dope fiend mumble slurring words dribbling like a dog on the carpet rehab patient elert retarded can’t remember the day of the week make nas wanna be a gospel singer Garbage

    12. These DX “music critics” are so scared to speak their mind in fear that they’ll be labeled “old” or “lame” that they’ll give BS albums like this a 3.5 review rating. Bunch of spineless followers.

      1. Exactly. Trying to break this bullshit down on an intellectual level, fuck outta here! All this new shit is exactly the same, and it’s ALL garbage. Just cause kids like it doesn’t mean there’s some deeper artistic value grown people are missing, it’s trash, and that’s it…

    13. The reason shit like Lil Xan is the new normal is because “hip hop heads” do not SPEND MONEY TO SUPPORT THE ACTS THEY CHAMPION!!! You guys talk alot shit about whats real and not but when the gus you say are real drop albums they go triple wood. This has always been the case and is exactly why Teenagers and Suburban kids dictate who is hot right now not “hip hop heads”

      1. FAXXXX!!! I been saying this. It’s like “real heads” or “hip-hop heads” is scared to support the music when it drops!! You ain’t said nothing but fact here bruh. and Trent, you know it, they know it, EVERYBODY knows that you are dead wrong for this review. Hip-Hop DX is officially on notice…

    14. yall just give anybody at least a 3.5 huh? lmao this shit sounds just like every other ” lil whoever” . one long ass song and not a good one with thee exact same production style. smh this is definitely the time for these wave riding no talent catz to get their money. like I always say though originality equals longevity fads come and go…

    15. #banlilxan #lilxanban This is ridiculous! These artists are pushed by the labels even though they’re horrendous and lack an ounce of talent, and these blogs are kept in check by the labels. That’s why you get HHDX giving Lil Xan a 3.5 album rating! Are you serious, HHDX. Go ahead and delete this comment; we know you will.

    16. Who Listens to this besides Children? I rap Better than this clown. No Apology is out on iTunes by GoldDe

      1. While I disagree with the review. There are both terrible. It’s not a competition to see which one is more terrible.

      1. PRhyme 2 is trash, worst album I’ve ever heard bro. Primo needs to work with Nas or some other experienced rapper.

    17. The fact that heads call this man out by name on his review speaks volumes, I don’t remember seeing that, ever.

    18. Garbage. This album is terrible. too many gimmicks instead of lyricism. I understand this is a “new school” album. but this is definitly not his best material

    19. Even HotNewHipHop was better at rating this album than you guys……. SMH.

    20. I was skeptical at first but the production is so hypnotic and keeps on giving. He’s not an amazing lyricist but I feel it’s stule over substance. He has so much potential and I cannot wait for album 2. In fact if anyone has any doubts of this dudes potential check out Colorblind colab with Diplo. In-cred-ible!!

    21. Absolutely, positively & undeniably Wack asf…..like seriously WTF?
      So many other white rappers that deserve props more than this clown.
      I’m not even a fan of Mac Miller and he thrashes this guy lyrically.

    22. this child needs to go home and develop a talent for something… anything… because he has none at the moment. Quite an achievement to be this useless

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