Scarlxrd

Scarlxrd
Scarlxrd in 2018
Background information
Birth name Marius Listhrop
Also known as
  • Mazzi Maz
  • Scar
Born (1994-06-19) 19 June 1994
Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England[1][2]
Genres
Occupation(s) Rapper
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2014–present
Labels
Associated acts

Marius Listhrop (born 19 June 1994), known professionally as Scarlxrd (pronounced "scarlord"), is a British rapper. He is known for his unusual musical style combining elements of trap music and heavy metal. Formerly a YouTube personality known as Mazzi Maz, Scarlxrd began a career in music as the lead vocalist for nu metal band Myth City, before debuting as a rapper under his Scarlxrd moniker.

He rose to prominence after the music video for his single "Heart Attack" gained significant attention, holding over 40 million views since it’s release.

Career

2013–2014: YouTube beginnings

Before 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][4] 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".[5][6] By 2017, Listhrop removed all of his Mazzi Maz videos from his YouTube channel and has since rebranded it to his Scarlxrd moniker. In a 2017 Interview, Listhrop described his time as a YouTube personality and posting videos on the site as "soul-destroying".[1]

2014–2016: Myth City

In 2014, Listhrop founded the nu metal/rap rock band Myth City, in which he performed as the lead vocalist.[1][4][7] Listhrop also described the band's sound as a fusion of rap music and grind metal.[4] 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.[8]

2016–present: Debut and breakthrough

In August 2016, Scarlxrd debuted his new moniker with the release of "Girlfriend". The music video depicts him unmasked and rapping over a "humid, tropical hip-hop track".[1][9] By the end of 2016, he released two albums, his self-titled album (stylised in Japanese characters as 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$aw" on 31 May; a week later, he released the music video for "King, Scar".[10] On 23 June, he published the music video for "Heart Attack" and the video quickly gained popularity; he credits his consistency of releasing music videos, specifically the videos for "Chain$aw" and "King, Scar", for the video's popularity rise.[10] On 29 September, he released his fifth studio album Lxrdszn.[11]

In February 2018, it was announced that Scarlxrd would perform at the 2018 Reading and Leeds Festivals.[12] In April, it was revealed that he would be featured on Carnage's second studio album, Battered Bruised & Bloody, released on 13 April; Scarlxrd performed on the song "Up Nxw".[13] On 4 May, he released his sixth studio album and major label debut Dxxm via Island Records.[4][14]

Artistry

Scarlxrd wearing his signature surgical mask in 2018

Scarlxrd has described his music as "trap-metal" and is often associated with SoundCloud rap artists.[4][15][16] NME described him as a "rap metal overlord" and his style to include "screamed vocals, claustrophobic trap beats and ear-shredding bursts of distorted guitar",[1] as well as calling it a fusion of metal and "nihilistic rap".[17] 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.[4]

He is known to replace the letter "o" with "x", which is shown in his stage name and song titles. Scarlxrd's visual aesthetic within his music videos and clothing style is heavily influenced from Japanese culture, especially anime. His signature surgical mask, which he wears to distance himself from his YouTube image,[7] was inspired by the Japanese manga Tokyo Ghoul. Scarlxrd also cited American heavy metal band Slipknot as an inspiration towards his visuals.[4]

Discography

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
BG
[18]
スカー藩主 —
Rxse
  • Released: 9 December 2016[20]
  • Label: Lxrd Records
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Cabin Fever
  • Released: 1 April 2017[21]
  • Label: Lxrd Records
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Chaxsthexry
  • Released: 1 April 2017[22]
  • Label: Lxrd Records
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Lxrdszn
  • Released: 29 September 2017[23]
  • Label: Lxrd Records
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Dxxm 180

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bassett, Jordan. "The strange tale of Scarlxrd, the perky vlogger turned rap-metal overlord". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "X's Over O's: Scarlxrd Has Arrived". Nubi. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "Unleash your fury with trap metal revolutionary SCARLXRD's explosive 'DXXM' - AFROPUNK". May 23, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Morton, Luke. "Scarlxrd: The New Sound of the Underground". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  5. ↑ Campbell, Tina. "Sam Pepper: Meet the internet music and comedy sensation soon set to tour the UK". Metro. UK. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "UK YouTube Stars To Launch Comedy Show at Avalon Sept. 13". HuffPost. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 Washington, Daquan. "Who is Scarlxrd?". Drill King. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Myth City by Myth City on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  9. ↑ scarlxrd – GIRLFRIEND. 27 August 2016 – via YouTube.
  10. 1 2 Who the Fxck Is scarlxrd?. Vice. 4 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Lxrdszn by Scarlxrd on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "More acts announced for Reading & Leeds Festival 2018". NME. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  13. ↑ "Migos, Lil Pump and More Will Appear on Carnage's 'Battered, Bruised & Bloodied' Album". XXL. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "Dxxm by Scarlxrd on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  15. ↑ "Carnage "Battered Bruised & Bloody" Review". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  16. ↑ "6ix9ine's debut album is as fun as he is ridiculous". The Observer. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  17. ↑ "10 new acts that'll blow your mind at Reading & Leeds this weekend". NME. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  18. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Scarlxrd – Dxxm". Ultratop. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "スカー藩主 by Scarlxrd on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  20. ↑ "Rxse by Scarlxrd on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  21. ↑ "Cabin Fever by Scarlxrd on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  22. ↑ "Chaxsthexry by Scarlxrd on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "Lxrdszn by Scarlxrd on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  24. ↑ "DXXM by Scarlxrd on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
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