BLK ODYSSY ft: Wiz Khalifa - XXX (Official Video)
Photo Credit: Bethany Reed
Riding high off the back of their immersive NPR Tiny Desk Concert, the genre-melding artist BLK ODYSSY follows up January’s pop-rock inspired ‘Want You’ with the audio joyride that is new single ‘XXX’ featuring Wiz Khalifa. The record releases via EARTHCHILD/EMPIRE. The song is accompanied by a surreal music video that leans into the 90’s house party aesthetic, directed by Luis De Péna.
Continuing to elude strict categorisation, ‘XXX’ is the second offering from the latest incarnation of BLK ODYSSY which sees them leaning into a more uptempo sound, driven by frenetic live drums and dynamic guitars. This new instrumental direction combined with frontman Juwan Elcock’s heartfelt croon summons all the feelings of yearning and excitement found in a cult Midwest Emo banger. Rap superstar Wiz Khalifa’s appearance on the track not only builds on the song’s narrative of hedonistic romance, but is an indication towards the heights of stardom that BLK ODYSSY are destined to arrive at.
Speaking on the track BLK ODYSSY had this to say, "XXX is such an exciting track to me because it’s reminiscent of a really cool time in culture. It reminds me of early 2000's blink 182, but also weirdly early 2000's era OutKast. We love to bridge genre gaps, so having Wiz on the track to bring modern day hip hop to this world feels special."
In what feels like a meteoric rise to critical acclaim, BLK ODYSSY first caught the world’s attention with the mystifying BLK VINTAGE in 2021. The sprawling LP which fused Funk, Soul, R&B and Hip-Hop delved into topics of grief, desire and a holistic accounting of what it means to be Black in America. BLK VINTAGE: THE REPRISE released the following year, with added songs featuring the likes of George Clinton, Mereba, Benny The Butcher and Baby Rose. Sophomore release DIAMONDS & FREAKSsaw his storytelling taken to the next level, with the concept album being presented as an erotic novel split into four chapters. Again, the project featured a cast of stellar collaborators including Bootsy Collins, Keisha Plum, Rapsody, Kirby and The Alchemist.
The subsequent DIAMONDS & FREAKS tour was an extensive run of dates that saw the whole band play across North America, Europe and included a sold-out debut show in London at Hoxton Hall. The live show brought to life the concepts explored across their two albums, inviting fans along on a dizzying, psychedelic journey. Exhibiting the exceptional showmanship and musical talents of each member of the band (including an iconic guitar solo from prominent member and guitarist Alejandro Rios), the night was a captivating showcase of the many layered elements of the BLK ODYSSY experience.
Kicking off 2024 with an awe-inspiring Tiny Desk Concert on NPR, BLK ODYSSY presented the first offering from their new era, the Tyler Johnson (Harry Styles) co-produced single ‘Want You’.
Refusing to be pigeonholed into the ‘slept-on’ category and with a coordinated effort to explore all corners of Black music’s influence, the release of ‘XXX’ speaks to BLK ODYSSY’s continued desire to push their artistry in new and exciting directions.