Xavier (album)

Xavier is the debut studio album by American rapper Xaviersobased. It was released on January 30, 2026, through 1-chance, Surf Gang and Atlantic, consisting of 20 tracks, including the lead single, "iPhone 16" along with the streaming exclusive bonus track "Party At My Place".^[1][2] The album features collaborations with notable artists such as Skrillex, OsamaSon, Zaytoven, Rio da Yung OG and Dylan Brady.

In 2025, Xaviersobased signed a record deal with Atlantic Records and surprise-released Once More through 1-chance and Surf Gang as his major debut label release.^[3] The EP was promoted with a music video for "Worth It" and a North American headlining run, the Riverside Tour, which ran from November to December 2025 and featured stops in major U.S. and Canadian cities.^[4] Ending the tour later with the release of a promotional single "Walk to Me" with a music video.^[5][6][7]

The promotional touring continued into 2026 with the announcement of the Riverside Tour 2.0, expanding his live presence through Europe, featuring support from his collective members, Ksuuvi and Backend.^[8]

On January 19, 2026, Xaviersobased would later tease a snippet on social media together with the album's title stating: "#Xavier".^[9][2] It was later accompanied by the release of his self-produced lead single "iPhone 16", which dropped on January 23, 2026, together with a music video.^[1][2]

Released on January 30, 2026, the album marks Xavier's first studio album to be released under a major label, with its production shifting toward a more professional sound. In his The Fader cover story, Xavier explained that while he was not attempting to change his core sound, he was focused on "upping the sound quality" and making the music more professional. He noted that the goal for this project was to "still [push] the sound, but now we could put this in the club," effectively aiming to "package it better" for a wider audience.^[6] His manager, DJ Rennessy, described the release as a landmark moment for them, stating, "It definitely feels like we solidified ourselves with that album."^[10]

The creation of the album coincided with a period of personal challenges, as despite his rising fame, Xavier revealed in the accompanying documentary that he was experiencing housing instability, saying, "I'm homeless right now. We trying to get a crib right now."^[11] Despite this, he remained committed to his "based" view on artistic freedom, saying that he never "played into" TikTok algorithms to find success, instead viewing the project as an "inflection point" after a two-year hiatus from releasing music.^[6]

On February 3, 2026, Pitchfork reviewed the album, stating, "Xavier is toned down a smidge, but it's him. And in a mainstream rap landscape where everyone's on podcasts doing rap-is-dead discourse and stars are racing to become the next Trump puppet, it's refreshing to see an album completely on its own wavelength inching its way toward the upper echelon of rap. There's a reality where Xavier rapping about shopping at skate shops on Canal Street or overthinking interactions with bottle girls over the "Wheel Man" claps that sound like drowned-out reggaeton could get as much attention as a Kai Cenat stream. It's even possible that there's a future where the most important thing about rap is still the music."^[12] Joe Houghton of NME wrote how Xavier is one of his most polished forms of work as of yet. He writes how Xavier isn't as reckless as some of his other works, but it still features a playful amount of production throughout. The album also showcases Xaviersobased's ability to "grasp on countless past and burgeoning musical styles."^[13]

Houghton writes how the "pulsing wall of sound" on "Clorox" and the "dreamy skittering beats" on songs like "Negative Canthal Tilt" help keep the album fresh. He also wrote how Xaviersobased's "muddy, twinkling mixes pair well with his idiosyncratic lyrics, at once brazen, vulnerable and optimistic." While showing off his hyper awareness, he also outlandishly flaunts his wealth and hedonistic lifestyle, with lines such as "Hoes on my dick 'cause I got that self-hatred" demonstrating that very well. The power of his lyrics comes from this contrast: a detached, playful rapper persona layered over real sensitivity. Houghton affirms how Xaviersobased's distorted, off-beat flows aren't for everyone, but they reinforce the lyrics' effortless, knowing attitude. The album also showcases Xaviersobased's ability to "grasp on countless past and burgeoning musical styles." With "Minute" diving into the genre of electroclash, something "Xaviersobased's mother would be proud of."

On "Heartfelt," co-produced by Yung Sherman and Woesum, Lopez shows a different side of Rio Da Yung Og, who sounds way more reflective than usual over a beat that feels like a cozy video game soundtrack with heavy 808s. The album really hits its stride in the second half, where features from regular collaborators like OsamaSon and Ksuuvi bring the energy up. Xaviersobased works best as an entry point into this innovative rapper-producer's world, giving a solid snapshot of Xaviersobased and the new NYC underground he's been shaping. It might not surprise longtime fans, but the highlights of his album show how versatile and playful Xaviersobased can be. Even with a major-label deal, Xaviersobased hasn't changed — he's still one of the most fun and likable artists in the US underground right now.^[13] Konstantinos Pappis of Our Culture Mag wrote how "Party At My Place" is abrasive.^[15]

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[16]