Craig Xen (original) (raw)

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American rapper (born 1994)

Craig Xen
Birth name Craig J. Gordwin
Born (1994-10-24) October 24, 1994 (age 30)Houston, Texas U.S.
Genres Hip hoplo-fitrap metal
Occupations Rappersongwriter
Years active 2013–2020 2024–present
Labels Empire, Bad Vibes Forever, Cruel World
Formerly of Members Only • Schemaposse
Website craigxen.com

Musical artist

Craig J. Gordwin (born October 24, 1994), known professionally as Craig Xen, is an American rapper. He is best known for his collaborations with XXXTentacion and hip hop collective Members Only. He retired from the music industry in 2020. He returned in 2024 with the release of the singles "lost without u" and "Back For You".[1]

Gordwin was born on October 24, 1994, in Houston, Texas. He was raised Catholic and frequented a Catholic school until 6th grade.[2] 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.[3] He grew up listening to Screwed Up Click, Green Day, Linkin Park, Eminem and Lil B, with Lil B being one of his biggest musical inspirations.[4][5] He has stated that the last name in his stage name, Xen (formerly Zen) came from when he was in high school and was interested by spirituality, used hallucinogens and practiced meditation.[6]

Due to not being able to find employment and not wanting to be a drug dealer, Craig Xen released his first song, "H.D.A.B.", in April 2013 on SoundCloud featuring his cousin Kay Rillo. Xen then moved to Los Angeles, California to further his career.[3][7] In 2015, before joining Members Only, he was a member of the Schemaposse collective, which included rappers JGRXXN, Lil Peep and Ghostemane, before being kicked out of the group until their dissolution.[8] In February 2016, he released the song "Good Fellas" featuring Pouya and Shakewell.[9]

In 2016, 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. He was also a part of XXXTentacion's The Revenge Tour.[10][11] The hip hop collective's debut album, Members Only, Vol. 4, was released on January 23, 2019, by Empire.[12] The project debuted at number 18 on the US Billboard 200[13] with Xen appearing on 8 songs. Xen announced his departure from the group after the album's release.[14]

During the year 2016, Xen released the songs "Death to He Who Cross Me",[15] "Six Men, One Casket"[16] and "Blueberry Lemonade" featuring Lil Peep and Nedarb.[17] Xen was also featured on XXXTentacion's single "I Wonder If Bloods Watch Blues Clues".[18][19] Another collaborative single, "Crucify Thy Infant, Son of Whore" with XXXTentacion and Garette Revenge was released in May 2017.[20] His first studio album, Voltage,[21] was released by label Cruel World in October 2017. His second studio album, Hell Bent,[22][23] was released in May 2018 by Empire with singles like "Killa" featuring Yung Bans[24] or "Murder" featuring Wifisfuneral.[25]

Craig Xen was featured alongside Lil Skies on Gnar's song "Death Note".[26] The music video for the song was directed by Cole Bennett and was published on the Lyrical Lemonade YouTube channel on June 4, 2019.[27][28] Craig Xen's first extended play, Broken Kids Club, was released in June 2019 by Cruel World and Empire.[29][30] The project is supported by songs "Run it Back!" with XXXTentacion[8][31][32] and "Stain" featuring Ski Mask the Slump God and Smokepurpp.[29][33] A music video for the project's song "Cry Baby, Cell 17", directed by JMP, was published on July 17, 2019[34] and another music video for the song "Run it Back!", also directed by JMP, was released on July 30, 2019.[35][36] 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. After being featured on the album, he subsequently retired from music but returned in 2024, releasing the singles "lost without u" and "Back For You".[37][38]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Craig Xen". Notion. July 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "No Jumper – The Craig Xen Interview". YouTube. Archived from the original on July 26, 2016.
  4. ^ "Meet Craig Xen: A Houston Native with a Different Agenda". Social Status. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  5. ^ "Craig Xen Discography". DatPizz. May 18, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  6. ^ Hastings, Ben (January 19, 2020). "Craig Xen — Fall in love with me". Medium. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Craig Xen & Kay Rillo – H.D.A.B., retrieved May 25, 2020
  8. ^ a b "SCHEMAPOSSE". Genius. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  9. ^ Craig Xen (Ft. Pouya & Shakewell) – Good Fellas, retrieved August 3, 2020
  10. ^ Weinstein, Max (April 16, 2017). "XXXTentacion Reveals 'Members Only Vol. 3' Cover – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  11. ^ "XXXTENTACION & Ski Mask the Slump God Share New Project, 'Members Only Vol. 3'". HYPEBEAST. June 27, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  12. ^ "XXXTentacion's Members Only 'Vol. 4' Project: Listen". Billboard. January 23, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  13. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  14. ^ XXXTENTACION Presents: Members Only, Vol. 4, January 23, 2019, retrieved May 25, 2020
  15. ^ Craig Xen – Death to He Who Cross Me, retrieved August 3, 2020
  16. ^ Craig Xen – Six Men, One Casket, retrieved August 3, 2020
  17. ^ Craig Xen (Ft. Lil Peep & NEDARB) – Blueberry Lemonade, retrieved August 3, 2020
  18. ^ XXXTENTACION (Ft. Craig Xen) – I wonder if bloods watch blue's clues (Patty Cake), retrieved August 3, 2020
  19. ^ Mixtapez, My (September 7, 2018), Mixtape of I Wonder If Bloods Watch Blues Clues by XXXtentacion, retrieved August 3, 2020
  20. ^ Craig Xen (Ft. Garette Revenge & XXXTENTACION) – Crucify Thy Infant, Son of Whore, retrieved August 3, 2020
  21. ^ "Craig Xen – Voltage". Discogs. October 6, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  22. ^ "Craig Xen – Hell Bent". Discogs. May 18, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  23. ^ Brandon Pickus. "Craig Xen – "Hell Bent" [Rhyme Risers] // Rhyme Hip Hop". Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  24. ^ "Watch the Wild Animated Video For Craig Xen and Yung Bans' "Killa"". Complex. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  25. ^ Craig Xen (Ft. wifisfuneral) – Murder, retrieved August 3, 2020
  26. ^ "Lil Skies Joins GNAR & Craig Xen On "Death Note"". HotNewHipHop. June 10, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  27. ^ Brandon Pickus. "Gnar – "Death Note" feat. Lil Skies & Craig Xen [MUSIC VIDEO] // Rhyme". Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  28. ^ "Gnar – Death Note ft. Lil Skies & Craig Xen (Dir. by @_ColeBennett_)". YouTube. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Craig Xen Establishes The "Broken Kids Club" & Details His Favorite XXXTentacion Memories". HotNewHipHop. June 20, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  30. ^ "Craig Xen". Notion. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  31. ^ Centeno, Tony M. (June 12, 2019). "XXXTentacion Appears on New Song With Craig Xen". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  32. ^ "XXXTentacion Posthumously Connects With Craig Xen For 'Run It Back': Listen". Billboard. June 13, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  33. ^ Burks, Tosten (September 7, 2018). "Craig Xen "Stain": Listen to New Song With Ski Mask & Smokepurpp – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  34. ^ BWW News Desk. "Craig Xen Releases Video For 'Cry Baby, Cell 17'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  35. ^ Craig Xen & XXXTentacion: Run It Back!, retrieved July 19, 2020
  36. ^ Mendez, Marisa (July 30, 2019). "Craig Xen Visits XXXTentacion's Gravesite in "Run It Back" Video". XXL Mag. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  37. ^ "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.
  38. ^ XXXTENTACION & Craig Xen – THE ONLY TIME I FEEL ALIVE, retrieved August 3, 2020
  39. ^ "Craig Xen Releases Video For 'Cry Baby, Cell 17'". BroadwayWorld.com. July 17, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  40. ^ Rindner, Grant. "Craig Xen Releases Rowdy "Run It Back!" With XXXTENTACION". Genius.com. Genius Media Group Inc. Retrieved November 3, 2020.