EDWARD SKELETRIX

Edward Skeletrix is not everyone's cup of tea. His vocal experimentation, eerie persona, and unique sound tend to deter listeners who prefer traditional rap flows. But this idiosyncratic bubble he's created around his music and life has dubbed him one of, if not the most unique, artists not only in the underground, but in music as a whole. 

Edward King Bass IV of Florida began making music in 2013, with a primary focus on beat production. In an interview with Emwell, a well-recognized rap interviewer who hosts the Well Well Well podcast, Skeletrix revealed that his most popular beat from his youth was stolen by the legendary rapper XXXTentacion. Despite it being used without his consent, Skeletrix expressed that it was actually a dream come true for XXXTentacion to use his beat.

Furthermore, in the same podcast, Skeletrix shares humorous yet alarming stories about his rise in the fashion and music industries, such as a stint as a worker in a mental asylum that was later investigated for patient neglect, among other incidents. Around this time, Skeletrix began working with clothing, showcasing the same unique edge that his music has in his designs. He later moved from Florida to New York City to allow his fashion designs to gain traction and flourish in the cultural Mecca of NYC. 

Skeletrix continues to talk about his early days, telling Emwell that his best friend and roommate at the time, Brennan Jones (now a popular rapper), moved to NYC with him as well. On multiple occasions, Jones mentioned his discomfort with his lack of popularity. Skeletrix said that Jones would "talk about it every day", resulting in Skeletrix essentially creatively directing him into a rap career. He ended up giving Jones an ultimatum: "Don't ever mention anything about clout or going up or any of that if you don't make a video right now… We're going to make a video and you're rapping". 

Following this, Jones shot a rap video, which was edited by Skeletrix, resulting in Jones's first smell of virality. The success of the video prompted Skeletrix to secure a deal with a record label on Jones's behalf, marking the beginning of Jones's ascent to the top and solidifying Skeletrix and Jones as a unique rap duo.

Skeletrix proceeded to be Jones's creative director while his brand Syckli was taking off alongside his music, which was getting him near 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. 

Over time, with Skeletrix and Jones living together and making music together, a Spotify account called "Vyzuriah" emerged, where the duo would release songs Jones had made under the explicit creative direction of Skeletrix. Shortly after, a series of events happened, resulting in the bad-blooded split of the duo, even prompting Emwell to invite Skeletrix onto the podcast to explain the entire conflict first-hand. 

Skeletrix's history and music are not the only reasons why he is flourishing in the underground rap community. His uncomforting, almost uncanny-like persona has set him apart from the thousands of other lesser-known rappers trying to make it. 

Anyone who listens to Skeletrix has likely noticed how he often utilizes artificial intelligence to promote his music, even incorporating it into album/single covers, such as Skeletrix Island or Museum Music. 

In his other song covers, he often employs his own style of photography, which mimics AI, featuring out-of-place characters and objects in high-resolution settings that set the stage for an equally confusing yet incredible piece of music. This confusion is a gimmick he practices with all of his music and persona. He once even created a character named Hubert Skeletrix that went viral on TikTok and Instagram, of which he later sold framed pictures on his website. 

Prior to the Emwell interview, there was not much known about Skeletrix, which made his fanbase practically obsessed.

Nothing about Skletrix is ordinary. His music is calculated. Whether it comes to his vocal performance, album cover, or the beats he chooses, he always steers away from the norms of rap music. 

His beats are chaotic, ethereal, and aggressive. Filled with sounds listeners have never heard before, he offers a new musical experience to anyone brave enough to listen. 

Insanely complex drums, accompanied by wide harmonies and melodies, add a cinematic essence to his music, making songs feel as if they could be played in the background of a movie or specific events in the listener's life. Some songs fit perfectly with a workout, others fit with driving, and some fit with sports. 

Skeletrix's beat catalog embodies a broad collection of experiences that, despite not resembling the typical industry sound, draw in the listeners and relate to their lives. 

He follows the same formula with his vocals, which are far from anything I have heard in my life. 

Every song, every snippet, and every project carries a multitude of choruses, bridges, and verses that provide the beat with the final component required to make them next-level. 

Skeletrix's vocal range is nothing short of impressive. Frequently transitioning from bass-heavy low notes to high notes in choruses is not out of the ordinary. His lyrics are often almost inconceivable due to the flows and vocal expressions he uses. 

Personally, I did not like Skeletrix initially, but over time he has become one of my favorite artists. There is no doubt about it; his music is not for everyone. Between the first time I listened to him and now, I have explored the realm of underground music, broadening my music palette. Only because of that, I was able to adapt and begin appreciating the incredible aspects of Skeletrix's music. 

Listening to Skeletrix is like a revelation. Listening to his music reveals sounds that you didn't even know existed, but you begin to like them. It is a whole new universe of music that is entirely solitary for Skeletrix. I got so interested in him as a person and his music that I consumed videos explaining his history, and listened to unreleased music on his second account, Im A Monster, and his archive Edward Skeletrix Archive. 

This infatuation brought me excitement and curiosity, fueling my desire to discover new music and produce new types of beats I hadn't considered before. Due to this, anyone with a desire to discover unique music that offers a whole new universe of sounds to explore should consider listening to Edward Skeletrix. 

My personal and subjective rating: 5/5.