''X'' is the second studio album by American rapper
Ken Carson
Kenyatta Lee Frazier Jr. (born April 11, 2000), known professionally as Ken Carson, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He rose to prominence following the release of his second studio album '' X'' (2022), which be ...
, released through Opium and
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Mus ...
on July 8, 2022. In the United States, the album entered at number 115 on the
''Billboard'' 200. The deluxe version, titled ''Xtended'', was released on October 31, 2022.
Critical reception
''X'' was released to mixed reviews, with critics feeling that the album lacked originality and sounded like a poor imitation of Opium label boss, fellow rapper, and the album's executive producer
Playboi Carti
Jordan Terrell Carter (born September 13, 1996), known professionally as Playboi Carti, is an American rapper. Carter was initially signed to local underground label Awful Records prior to signing with ASAP Mob's AWGE Label under Interscope R ...
's album ''
Whole Lotta Red
''Whole Lotta Red'' is the second studio album by American rapper Playboi Carti. It was released on December 25, 2020, by Interscope Records as well as ASAP Rocky's AWGE label. Work on the album commenced in late 2018 and concluded in November 202 ...
''. Anthony Malone of ''
HipHopDX
''HipHopDX'' is an online magazine of hip hop music criticism and news. The website's current president and publisher is Sharath Cherian and the Head Of Content is Jerry L. Barrow. ''HipHopDX'' is the flagship publication of Cheri Media Group.
...
'' stated that Carson lacked identity and creativity, saying, "Lacking variety from the beats and any real force from the artist himself, ''X'' is a repetitive listening experience. There are moments of fun: the short and succulent 'Money Hunt'; the energetic flexing in 'Get Rich or Die'; and Destroy Lonely's verse on 'MDMA'. But it's not enough to justify the 20-track output."
''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
'' reviewer Alphonse Pierre said that "Carson lacks the curiosity, imagination, and irreverence to do anything more than lay down the same glazed Auto-Tune raps, with only rare attempts to liven them up", and that "''X'' is such a slog that the smallest signs of taste are cause for celebration. The pitch change at the end of 'Get Rich or Die' is something! When he's listing off his drugs on 'PDBMH', the
Auto-Tune
Auto-Tune (or autotune) is an audio processor introduced in 1996 by American company Antares Audio Technologies. Auto-Tune uses a proprietary device to measure and alter pitch in vocal and instrumental music recording and performances.
Auto-Tu ...
is turned up and in that instant the sped-up flow is slightly (emphasis on 'slightly') reminiscent of
oungThug!" but that overall the album was "forgettable".
YouTube music critic
Anthony Fantano
Anthony Fantano ( ; born October 28, 1985) is an American music critic and YouTuber who runs the YouTube channel The Needle Drop and its tie-in website. He discusses and reviews music from a variety of genres in his YouTube videos and on his we ...
gave the album a rare 0 out of 10, panning its songwriting and production and concluding that "Ken Carson's new album is devoid of redeeming qualities".
Track listing
Charts
References
2022 albums
{{2020s-hiphop-album-stub
Interscope Records albums