Scarlxrd | |
---|---|
Birth name | Marius Listhrop |
Also known as | Mazzi Maz |
Born | Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England[1][2] | 19 June 1994
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 2016–present |
Marius Listhrop (born 19 June 1994), better known by his stage name Scarlxrd (pronounced "scarlord"), is an English rapper. He is known for his unusual musical style combining elements of trap music and heavy metal. Formerly a YouTube personality, Scarlxrd began a career in music as the vocalist for nu metal/rap rock band Myth City, before creating his Scarlxrd alter ego.
Career
edit2013–2014: YouTube beginnings
editBefore he started a career in music, Listhrop began uploading videos on YouTube as Mazzi Maz. His personality on the site was described as a "perky" and "super-smiley YouTuber" who recorded and published vlogs in his bedroom.[1][3] He often collaborated with friends and fellow YouTube personalities Sam Pepper and Caspar Lee.[1] From late-2013 to mid-2014, Listhrop and Pepper embarked on a worldwide comedy-music tour, "WDGAF Tour".[4][5] As of 2017, Listhrop has removed all of his Mazzi Maz videos from his YouTube channel and has since rebranded it to his Scarlxrd persona. In a 2017 Interview, Listhrop described his time as a YouTube personality and posting videos on the site "soul-destroying".[1]
2014–2016: Myth City
editIn 2014, Listhrop founded the nu metal/rap rock band Myth City, in which he performed as the lead vocalist.[1][3][6] Listhrop also described the band's sound as a fusion of rap music and grind metal.[3] The band's YouTube channel quickly gained a following mainly consisting of Mazzi Maz fans, who gave the group a mixed reception; fans responded positively to Listhrop's unclean vocals, but were confused on the contrast between the band's harsh musical style and Listhrop's "smiley" YouTube videos.[1] Myth City released their self-titled debut EP on 28 February 2015.[7]
2016–present: Debut and breakthrough
editIn August 2016, Scarlxrd debuted his new moniker with the release of "Girlfriend". The music video depicts an unmasked Scarlxrd rapping over a "humid, tropical hip-hop track".[1][8] By the end of 2016, he released two albums スカー藩主 and Rxse. After the release of two more albums, Cabin Fever and Chaxsthexry, in April 2017, Scarlxrd began wearing a black surgical mask in his music videos and released the video for "Chain$aw" on 31 May; a week later, he released the music video for "King, Scar".[9] On 23 June, he released the music video for "Heart Attack" and the video quickly gained popularity; Scarlxrd credits his consistency of releasing music videos, specifically the videos for "Chain$aw" and "King, Scar", for the video's popularity rise.[9] On 29 September, Scarlxrd released his fifth studio album Lxrdszn.[10]
In April 2018, it was revealed that Scarlxrd would be featured on Carnage's second studio album, Battered Bruised & Bloody, released on 13 April; Scarlxrd performed on the song "Up Nxw".[11] On 4 May, Scarlxrd released his sixth studio album Dxxm.[3][12]
Artistry
editScarlxrd has described his music as "trap-metal" and is often connected with the SoundCloud rap movement.[3][13][14] NME described his style to include "screamed vocals, claustrophobic trap beats and ear-shredding bursts of distorted guitar".[1] Scarlxrd grew up listening to heavy metal music and cites hip hop artists including Missy Elliott, Nelly and Eminem as influences.[1] He also stated that he formed Myth City after being influenced by rock bands Linkin Park and Rage Against the Machine.[3]
His visual aesthetic within his music videos and clothing style is heavily influenced from Japanese culture, especially anime. His signature surgical mask was inspired by the Japanese manga Tokyo Ghoul.[3] He wears the mask to distance himself from his YouTube image.[6] Scarlxrd also cited American heavy metal band Slipknot as an inspiration towards his visuals.[3]
Discography
edit- スカー藩主 (2016)
- Rxse (2016)
- Cabin Fever (2017)
- Chaxsthexry (2017)
- Lxrdszn (2017)
- Dxxm (2018)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Bassett, Jordan. "The strange tale of Scarlxrd, the perky vlogger turned rap-metal overlord". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
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(help) - ^ "X's Over O's: Scarlxrd Has Arrived". Nubi. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
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(help) - ^ a b c d e f g h Morton, Luke. "Scarlxrd: The New Sound of the Underground". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
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(help) - ^ Campbell, Tina. "Sam Pepper: Meet the internet music and comedy sensation soon set to tour the UK". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "UK YouTube Stars To Launch Comedy Show at Avalon Sept. 13". Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ a b Washington, Daquan. "Who is Scarlxrd?". Drill King. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
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(help) - ^ "Myth City by Myth City on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ scarlxrd - GIRLFRIEND. 27 August 2016 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b Who the Fxck Is scarlxrd?. 4 May 2018 – via Vice.
- ^ "Lxrdszn by Scarlxrd on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Migos, Lil Pump and More Will Appear on Carnage's 'Battered, Bruised & Bloodied' Album". XXL. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
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(help) - ^ "Dxxm by Scarlxrd on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ "Carnage "Battered Bruised & Bloody" Review". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
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(help) - ^ "6ix9ine's debut album is as fun as he is ridiculous". The Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
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