‘He brought a lot of people together.’ Fans honor XXXTentacion at ‘Bad Vibes’ exhibit
The memory of XXXTentacion is alive and well.
Fans of the slain rapper flocked to Wynwood Thursday during Miami Art Week to get a first look at a multi-sensory museum curated by his estate, an all-day celebration of the Friday release of his final album, “Bad Vibes Forever.”
A combination of rare photos, memorabilia and art installations, the exhibition served as a shrine to an artist who many fans say inspired them to be better people in spite of his violent history.
His music gave fans “a way to not feel alone,” Daniel Dominguez, 26, said. “He definitely moved a lot of us and saved a lot of us in the process.”
“He brought a lot of people together,” Sasha Dunkley, 31, added.
Born Jahseh Onfroy, XXXTentacion gained fame in early 2017 with his breakthrough hit “Look At Me!” The song peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and only strengthened his case as one of the best artists on the Florida Soundcloud rap scene. While the Plantation-born artist’s aggressive rapping style became his early calling card, a healthy chunk of his music also addressed mental health issues such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Onfroy’s life was cut short on June 18, 2018, when he was gunned down outside of a motorcycle shop in Deerfield Beach. He was only 20.
XXXTentacion’s legacy, however, is complicated. At the time of his death, the Plantation-born artist had yet to stand trial on numerous charges, including aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, witness tampering and false imprisonment. This opened up a conversation on the relevancy of his domestic abuse case in light of his death.
Similar to the exhibit’s portrayal of Onfroy, his loyal fan base remembers the multi-platinum artist as a “troubled person” who was in the midst of righting his wrongs.
Onfroy “was on the road to making himself a better person,” said 18-year-old Keidy Vega.
“He knew he had a troubled past but he definitely wanted to change that and that’s what he wanted for all of us,” Dominguez continued.
Regardless of how history will remember him, the “Moonlight” rapper’s impact was undeniable. Fans, rocking their favorite XXXTentacion gear, arrived as early as 5 a.m. despite warnings that the line wouldn’t start for at least another five hours. At its peak, the line stretched nearly half a block.
Mid-interview, Dominguez rolled up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo scrawled across his wrist. The inscription read “Let’s Pretend We’re Numb,” an XXXTentacion song from 2015 that encourages listeners to not bottle up their feelings. Dominguez, who says he, too, struggled with depression, explained that he got the tattoo to remind himself of the importance of self-expression.
“Ever since he passed, more of us carry his legacy. Nobody’s going to carry it on if we don’t.”
This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 6:00 AM.
