In another era, this information might have been enough to derail these artists’ careers before they gained any traction. So while both of these artists operate under heavy clouds of suspicion and distaste, they are finding wide and dedicated audiences. 6ix9ine, on the other hand, is often more reminiscent of New York hardcore than New York hip-hop. Many of XXXTentacion’s songs don’t feel like much more than demos, experiments that under other circumstances might be thickened up for broader appeal. If these artists were being fully embraced, these rough edges might be sanded down, but instead they’re left unchallenged.

Source: New York Times March 21, 2018 19:26 UTC