EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
EARMILK EARMILK
EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • Documentaries
  • Film Reviews
  • News

'Look At Me!' provides a nuanced look at the controversial life of XXXTentacion

  • May 27, 2022
  • John Peterson
Total
0
Shares
0
0

There were few figures in the late 2010's music landscape that were more polarizing than XXXTentacion, aka Jahseh Onfroy, the generational, diamond-selling artist whose controversies paralleled his achievements.  Told through the stories of his closest friends, family, and business associates, as well as unseen footage from Onfroy himself, upcoming biopic Look At Me! is a rare exploration of the troubled mind behind a generational artist, a film that doesn't shy away from the parts of X that made him who he was.  Produced by Fader Films, the Sabaah Folayan-directed film is an appropriately nuanced dive into the uncompromising true, and at times hard to watch, story of Onfroy.

For any good documentary, a healthy dose of narrative objectivity is required.  Look At Me! is no different as it very much focuses on the highs and the lows of Onfroy, juxtaposing the subdued side of X against the raucous, rockstar stage presence.  Most importantly, the doc doesn't shy away from confronting the elephant in the room, the shocking and indefensible violence and abuse on which much of the rise of X's career is attributed.  Interviews with victim and ex-girlfriend Geneva Ayala put center stage on the tabloid headlines of domestic abuse, unfathomably terrible to imagine until the graphic images and stories presented on-screen provide incontrovertible context.  The film makes no excuse for these allegations, nor does it intend to, it just presents X as he was; a deeply brilliant, deeply troubled young man with innumerable personal demons that both aided and hindered the expression and interpretation of his art.

Conversely, the doc also touches on the positive effects of X's music; shifting a spotlight on the generation of kids who related to and thoroughly absorbed his lyrics about struggles with demons, depression, and bipolar disorder.  The possibility that his music may have saved countless lives because of Onfroy's focus on connecting with and lifting up his fans when they came to him at their lowest moments is all too real and a symptom of his artistry that must always be taken into account.  The bottom line is that X cultivated an inescapable legion of fans who were able to cope with and possibly even overcome their depression because of their connection with their idol.  This is a very real and positive symptom of the music that contributes to the discussion to be had when drawing a line between art and artist.

At the end of the day, Look At Me! is an entry point into a deeper discussion into an incredibly controversial but also universally relevant figure who just happens to be one of the best-selling artists of this century.  Domestic violence and struggles with mental health are both epidemics in pop culture today and the X doc shines additional light on why artists with prominent dark sides have become some of the most successful artists to date.  It'd be impossible to tell Onfroy's story tactfully enough to not raise some eyebrows and generate some controversy, but the beauty of the film is that it gives the audience the tools to have these discussions on X's life and legacy with more accuracy and understanding.

Look At Me! is set to stream exclusively on Hulu on May 26 and is sure to generate a spirited discussion in pop culture for weeks to come.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • Fader Films
  • Look At Me!
  • Sabaah Folayan
  • xxxtentacion
John Peterson

A&R, artist management, and overall music nerd

Previous Article
  • Hip-Hop
  • Music Videos
  • Rap

Louisville's The Homies share refreshing visual for "Shake"

  • May 26, 2022
  • Jacob Saltzberg
View Article
Next Article
  • Hip-Hop
  • Post-Punk
  • Punk
  • Rap

Dave Coresh returns with energizing single "PYMFB"

  • May 27, 2022
  • Jacob Saltzberg
View Article
You May Also Like
View Article
  • Interviews
  • Music Industry

Joe Buscema chats late night late night drive home, music gatekeepers, challenges in the industry and more! [Interview]

  • April 30, 2025
Eric Schroeder
View Article
  • Indie
  • Indie Pop
  • Indie Rock
  • Music Industry
  • New Music
  • Pop
  • Rock

Eric Schroeder delivers a raw, irresistible story through life's highs and lows for "Cat's Game" [Album]

  • April 11, 2025
View Article
  • Film Reviews
  • Interviews

[Interview] Alex Hafner delves into K-series 'When the Stars Gossip' and his journey so far

  • April 8, 2025
View Article
  • Dance
  • Electronic
  • Events Stage
  • News

Silver Hayes announces huge programme for Glastonbury 2025

  • April 3, 2025
View Article
  • Exclusive
  • Feature
  • Hip-Hop
  • Interviews
  • Mainstage
  • New Music
  • News

Star Bandz on the rise with deluxe release of "Estrella", upcoming tour, and more [Interview]

  • March 30, 2025
View Article
  • Events
  • Events Stage
  • Feature
  • Festival
  • News

Shabang 2025 needs to be on your summer music festival radar

  • March 21, 2025
View Article
  • Music Industry
  • News

"SYNC" is a new live real time DJ experience by James Hype

  • March 17, 2025
View Article
  • Festival
  • Mainstage
  • New York Events

5 Must-Hear Emerging Artists from the 2025 New Colossus Festival

  • March 9, 2025
Popular Music
  • Stephen Stanley
    Stephen Stanley takes a leap of faith with soul-stirring new album "trustfall"
    • May 8, 2025
  • Sherwøød
    Sherwøød lets silence speak loud in “Dear B”
    • May 8, 2025
  • Deena Theodora dives into temptation and inner conflict on "Sin City"
    • May 8, 2025
  • Marcus Anthony Mack
    Marcus Anthony Mack’s “Unconquerable Soul” is a meditative triumph of spirit and sound
    • May 8, 2025
  • Rumia
    Rumia finds power in vulnerability on sophomore album "Old Enough to Save Myself" [Album]
    • May 8, 2025
Recent Scoops
  • Matt Oakley is redefining country music with heart, soul and modernity
    • May 5, 2025
  • Texas’ Blacktop Mojo does rock music the way it should be done
    • April 29, 2025
  • Tha Rapper Haiti blends authentic style with musical passion
    • April 28, 2025
  • Glorybots redefines rock with latest album 'mad.end'
    • April 10, 2025
Community Voices
  • From Machismo To Mujeres: Women As The Face Of Reggaeton
    • July 14, 2022
  • Tyler the creator
    4 things I learned on the 'Call Me If You Get Lost' tour
    • March 31, 2022
  • 4 things every artist needs to think about in 2022
    • January 27, 2022
  • The TikTok Takeover of Hip-Hop
    • January 11, 2022

EARMILK EARMILK
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
All Milk. No Duds.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.