Craig Xen

Craig J. Gordwin (born October 24, 1994), known professionally as Craig Xen, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is best known for his collaborations with XXXTentacion and American hip hop collective Members Only.[2]

Craig Xen
Craig Xen in April 2019
Background information
Birth nameCraig J. Gordwin
Born (1994-10-24) October 24, 1994
Houston, Texas U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2013–present
LabelsEmpire, Bad Vibes Forever, Cruel World
Associated acts
*Ski Mask the Slump God
Websitehttps://www.craigxen.com/

Early life

Gordwin was born on October 24, 1994 in Houston, Texas. He was raised Catholic and frequented a Catholic school until 6th grade.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5][6] The last name in his stage name, Xen (formely Zen) came from the time he was in high school when Xen was interested by spirituality, used hallucinogens and practised meditation.[7]

Career

Craig Xen released his fist song, "H.D.A.B.", in April 2013 on SoundCloud featuring his cousin Kay Rillo.[8][9] 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.[10] In February 2016, he released the song "Good Fellas" featuring Pouya and Shakewell.[11]

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.[12][13] The hip hop collective's debut album, Members Only, Vol. 4, was released on January 23, 2019 by Empire.[14] The project debuted at number 18 on the US Billboard 200[15] and Craig Xen appeared on 8 songs.[16]

During the year 2016, Xen released few songs like "Death to He Who Cross Me",[17] "Six Men, One Casket"[18] and "Blueberry Lemonade" featuring Lil Peep and Nedarb.[19] Craig Xen was featured on XXXTentacion's single "I Wonder If Bloods Watch Blues Clues".[20][21] Another collaborative single, "Crucify Thy Infant, Son of Whore" with XXXTentacion and Garette Revenge was released in May 2017.[22] His first studio album, Voltage,[23] was released by label Cruel World in October 2017. His second studio album, Hell Bent,[24][25] was released in May 2018 by Empire with singles like "Killa" featuring Yung Bans[26] or "Murder" featuring Wifisfuneral.[27]

Craig Xen was featured alongside Lil Skies on Gnar's song "Death Note".[28] The music video for the song was directed by Cole Bennett and was published on Lyrical Lemonade YouTube channel on June 4, 2019.[29][30] Craig Xen's first extended play, Broken Kids Club, was released in June 2019 by Cruel World and Empire.[31][32] The project is supported by songs "Run it Back!" with XXXTentacion[10][33][34] and "Stain" featuring Ski Mask the Slump God and Smokepurpp.[31][35] A music video for the project's song "Cry Baby, Cell 17", directed by JMP, was published on July 17, 2019[36][37][38] and another music video for the song "Run it Back!", also directed by JMP, was released on July 30, 2019.[39][40] 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.[41][42]

Discography

Studio albums

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)
  • Why (2020)

Extended plays
  • Broken Kids Club (2019)[43]
  • God is Watching (2020)

Singles

References
  1. Rindner, Grant. "Craig Xen Releases Rowdy "Run It Back!" With XXXTENTACION". Genius.com. Genius Media Group Inc. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  2. 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.
  3. "Craig Xen". Notion. July 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  4. "No Jumper - The Craig Xen Interview". YouTube.
  5. "Meet Craig Xen: A Houston Native with a Different Agenda". Social Status. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  6. "Craig Xen Discography". DatPizz. May 18, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  7. Hastings, Ben (January 19, 2020). "Craig Xen — Fall in love with me". Medium. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  8. "No Jumper - The Craig Xen Interview". YouTube.
  9. Craig Xen & Kay Rillo – H.D.A.B., retrieved May 25, 2020
  10. "SCHEMAPOSSE". Genius. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  11. Craig Xen (Ft. Pouya & Shakewell) – Good Fellas, retrieved August 3, 2020
  12. Weinstein, Max. "XXXTentacion Reveals 'Members Only Vol. 3' Cover - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  13. "XXXTENTACION & Ski Mask the Slump God Share New Project, 'Members Only Vol. 3'". HYPEBEAST. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  14. "XXXTentacion's Members Only 'Vol. 4' Project: Listen". Billboard. January 23, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  15. "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  16. XXXTENTACION Presents: Members Only, Vol. 4, retrieved May 25, 2020
  17. Craig Xen – Death to He Who Cross Me, retrieved August 3, 2020
  18. Craig Xen – Six Men, One Casket, retrieved August 3, 2020
  19. Craig Xen (Ft. Lil Peep & NEDARB) – Blueberry Lemonade, retrieved August 3, 2020
  20. XXXTENTACION (Ft. Craig Xen) – I wonder if bloods watch blue's clues (Patty Cake), retrieved August 3, 2020
  21. Mixtapez, My, Mixtape of I Wonder If Bloods Watch Blues Clues by XXXtentacion, retrieved August 3, 2020
  22. Craig Xen (Ft. Garette Revenge & XXXTENTACION) – Crucify Thy Infant, Son of Whore, retrieved August 3, 2020
  23. "Craig Xen - Voltage". Discogs. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  24. "Craig Xen - Hell Bent". Discogs. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  25. Brandon Pickus. "Craig Xen - "Hell Bent" [Rhyme Risers] // Rhyme Hip Hop". Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  26. "Watch the Wild Animated Video For Craig Xen and Yung Bans' "Killa"". Complex. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  27. Craig Xen (Ft. wifisfuneral) – Murder, retrieved August 3, 2020
  28. "Lil Skies Joins GNAR & Craig Xen On "Death Note"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  29. Brandon Pickus. "Gnar - "Death Note" feat. Lil Skies & Craig Xen [MUSIC VIDEO] // Rhyme". Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  30. "Gnar - Death Note ft. Lil Skies & Craig Xen (Dir. by @_ColeBennett_)". YouTube.
  31. "Craig Xen Establishes The "Broken Kids Club" & Details His Favorite XXXTentacion Memories". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  32. "Craig Xen". Notion. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  33. Centeno, Tony M. "XXXTentacion Appears on New Song With Craig Xen". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  34. "XXXTentacion Posthumously Connects With Craig Xen For 'Run It Back': Listen". Billboard. June 13, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  35. Burks, Tosten. "Craig Xen "Stain": Listen to New Song With Ski Mask & Smokepurpp - XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  36. "Craig Xen Releases Video For "Cry Baby, Cell 17"". Vents Magazine. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  37. Desk, BWW News. "Craig Xen Releases Video For 'Cry Baby, Cell 17'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  38. "Craig Xen Releases Video For "Cry Baby, Cell 17"". The Hype Magazine. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  39. Craig Xen & XXXTentacion: Run It Back!, retrieved July 19, 2020
  40. Mendez, Marisa. "Craig Xen Visits XXXTentacion's Gravesite in "Run It Back" Video". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  41. "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.
  42. XXXTENTACION & Craig Xen – THE ONLY TIME I FEEL ALIVE, retrieved August 3, 2020
  43. "Craig Xen Releases Video For 'Cry Baby, Cell 17'". BroadwayWorld.com. July 17, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
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