Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy, known professionally as XXXTentacion, was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He was born on January 23, 1998, and became one of the most talked-about young artists of the late 2010s.
His music mixed emo, trap, rock, and R&B in a way few other artists were doing at the time.
X, as fans called him, built a huge following on SoundCloud before breaking into the mainstream. His life was also marked by serious legal trouble, and he was killed in 2018 at just 20 years old.
Who is XXXTentacion?
XXXTentacion was a Florida-based rapper who rose from SoundCloud to the top of the Billboard charts in only a few years. He was known for blending genres like hip-hop, punk rock, and nu-metal into something new.
Critics often called him one of the key figures behind the “SoundCloud rap” and emo-rap movements.
His songs dealt openly with depression, anxiety, and inner conflict. That honesty connected deeply with a young fanbase.
He released two studio albums during his life, 17 and ?, both of which charted highly in the United States. Two more albums came out after his death.
Early Life of XXXTentacion
Onfroy was born in Plantation, Florida, to Jamaican parents, Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy and Cleopatra Bernard. His father named him after the Bob Marley song “So Jah Seh.” Both his father and grandfather were Rastafarians.
He spent most of his childhood in Lauderhill, Florida. His mother struggled financially, so his grandmother, Collette Jones, raised him for much of his early life.
School was difficult for him. He got into frequent fights, was expelled from a school choir, and was later expelled from Margate Middle School after several physical altercations.
XXXTentacion Age
XXXTentacion was born on January 23, 1998, and died on June 18, 2018, at age 20. He would have turned 28 in January 2026 had he lived. His short life still produced a large and influential body of music.
XXXTentacion Ethnicity and Nationality
XXXTentacion was American, born and raised in Florida. His parents were both Jamaican, giving him Caribbean heritage. In a 2017 interview on The Beat, he also said he believed he had Egyptian, Syrian, and Indian ancestry, though this was not independently confirmed.
XXXTentacion Education
XXXTentacion attended Margate Middle School before later enrolling at Piper High School. He dropped out during the tenth grade to focus on music. He often said school did not fit how he learned or thought.
XXXTentacion Career
XXXTentacion’s career moved fast. He went from an unknown SoundCloud upload to a number-one album in under five years.
Early Career
XXXTentacion released his first song, “News/Flock,” on SoundCloud in June 2013. He later removed it and considered “Vice City” his true first release. While in a juvenile detention center, he met fellow artist Stokeley Goulbourne, who later became known as Ski Mask the Slump God.
The two became close friends and started making music together. Onfroy also formed a collective called Members Only, which grew around him in Florida.
Breakthrough with Look at Me! and 17
A song called “Look at Me!” became his first real hit. It first circulated online in late 2015 and was officially released in 2017, eventually passing over a billion streams.
His debut studio album, 17, arrived on August 25, 2017. It reached number two on the Billboard 200 and showed a slower, more emotional side of his music compared to his earlier work.
? and Mainstream Success
His second album, ?, came out on March 16, 2018. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The single “Sad!” reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and after his death it climbed all the way to number one.
Around this time, he also signed a multi-million dollar distribution deal with Empire Distribution. His sound was gaining wider recognition just as his life was cut short.
XXXTentacion Discography
XXXTentacion released two studio albums while he was alive. His discography also grew after his death.
His main studio albums are 17 (2017) and ? (2018). Two posthumous albums followed: Skins (2018) and Bad Vibes Forever (2019).
Skins reached number one on the Billboard 200 after its release. Bad Vibes Forever entered the top five on the same chart.
XXXTentacion Awards and Recognition
XXXTentacion received major recognition even after his death. He won a BET Hip Hop Award and an American Music Award. He also earned 11 Billboard Music Award nominations across his career.
His single “Sad!” was certified Diamond in the United States in August 2021. That is one of the highest certifications a song can receive.
XXXTentacion Wife and Girlfriend
XXXTentacion was not married. He was in a relationship with Jenesis Sanchez at the time of his death.
Sanchez was pregnant with his child when he died in June 2018. Their son was born several months later.
XXXTentacion Children
XXXTentacion had one son, Gekyume Onfroy, who was born on January 26, 2019. Gekyume was born just days after what would have been his father’s 21st birthday.
Jenesis Sanchez, Gekyume’s mother, has continued to share updates about him publicly from time to time.
XXXTentacion Net Worth
XXXTentacion’s estimated net worth was $5 million at the time of his death in 2018, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His income came mainly from album sales, streaming royalties, and touring.
His catalog has kept earning money since his death through streaming and licensing. Exact current figures tied to his estate are not publicly confirmed, since posthumous income varies from year to year based on streaming activity and catalog deals.
XXXTentacion Death
XXXTentacion was shot and killed on June 18, 2018, in Deerfield Beach, Florida. He had just left a motorcycle dealership when a vehicle blocked his car in the parking lot.
Two armed men approached and robbed him before shooting him. He was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital.
Several men were later arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the case. One of them, Robert Allen, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in 2022 and agreed to testify against the others in exchange for a reduced sentence.
XXXTentacion Legacy
XXXTentacion’s influence did not end with his death. Artists including Billie Eilish, Juice WRLD, and Trippie Redd have named him as an influence on their own music.
An official documentary about his life, titled Look at Me, was released on Hulu in May 2022. In July 2026, an animated feature inspired by his life and creativity, called Make Out Hill, was also announced in partnership with his estate.
The Bottom Line
XXXTentacion built one of the fastest-rising careers in hip-hop before his life was cut short at 20. His album ? reached number one on the Billboard 200 just months before his death.
He was known for blending genres and writing openly about depression and mental health. That honesty is a big part of why his music still resonates with young listeners today.
His catalog has continued to grow through posthumous albums, documentaries, and new projects tied to his estate. We hope you enjoyed reading about XXXTentacion. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!