Skins
by XXXTentacion
  • Record Label: Empire
  • Release Date: Dec 7, 2018
User Score
3.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 186 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 186
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 186
  3. Negative: 102 out of 186
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  1. BlackManta
    Dec 11, 2018
    2
    Not a fan of this XXXTentacion album. Hopefully his next album will be better
  2. jaket24
    Dec 9, 2018
    7
    While this album does fall short of XXXTentacion's 2 prior albums, skins does have a decent amount to offer. From Rock, to Rap, to Pop to Metal this album goes across multiple genres, and does it well. Compared to its contemporary's "Skins" is an album that fairs pretty well with all circumstances being taken into account.
  3. vanessa13
    Dec 18, 2018
    1
    Was very disappointed in this album. For having such a loud and polarizing personality, his music is quite the opposite. Awful production, lack of originality or substance, lyrics to leave no mark. Forgettable.
  4. Agrondelx
    Aug 16, 2019
    0
    This is a tremendous mess of an album which only exists because of money-greedy producers.
  5. ChrisSoTru
    Dec 17, 2018
    5
    XXXTentacion releases his first posthumous album after the polarizing releases of 17 and ?.

    On the surface, it's a continuation of a much more mature and self-conscious X, contemplating his life and the decisions he has made as an artist along the way, repeated in a cycle for most of his songs. There are highlights that perfectly capture hos aesthetic, such as Train Food and what are    XXXTentacion releases his first posthumous album after the polarizing releases of 17 and ?.

    On the surface, it's a continuation of a much more mature and self-conscious X, contemplating his life and the decisions he has made as an artist along the way, repeated in a cycle for most of his songs. There are highlights that perfectly capture hos aesthetic, such as Train Food and what are you so afraid of, empowering and raw in emotion. At best, however, it is a mixed project that appears either incomplete, or just minimalist. Skins is easily listenable, and can be praised for it's range of genres and sounds in this album. However, it is not as special as many suspect it to be.

    A mixed, but respectable project for the short-lived XXXTentacion, whose music will be celebrated by those looking forward to lo-fi and emo rap.    … Expand
  6. Aplucity
    Apr 12, 2019
    1
    X is hit or miss for me and this album is a huge miss. The only close to good song in this album is Train Food and that song is still extremely weak. We will never get another Revenge :(
  7. QuintonKnight
    Feb 27, 2019
    3
    The so called songs on the album are not songs. There drafts of songs. This album is a draft of an album. Unfinished. I can’t even give it a 4 because of terrible songs like One Minute and just plain bad songs like Staring at the Sky. As a fan of XXXTentacion, I’m very disappointed.
  8. spenceryang8
    Feb 3, 2019
    2
    Skins is one of the year's least gratifying albums, but out of everyone involved in its creation, XXXTentacion is probably the least at blame.

    FAV TRACKS: TRAIN FOOD

    LEAST FAV TRACK: WHOA (MIND IN AWE)
  9. rextree
    Feb 19, 2019
    1
    These songs were just thrown together with limited tools. Limited tools worked for The White Stripes, but not for X. No one is going to remember these "songs" because they aren't just that... songs.
  10. sandwichcipher
    Apr 6, 2019
    7
    The album was good. But a lot of the songs felt like it wasn't completed. "difference (interlude)" definitely felt incomplete. It should had a lot towards it.

    Favorite: Train Food, woah (mind in awe), One Minute, BAD!, Staring At The Sky, I don't let go, what are you so afraid of?

    Least favorite: difference (interlude)
  11. AntoineLeTurc
    Jun 10, 2019
    6
    Skins feels incomplete, some tracks like Train Food gives the listeners an idea of how great the project could've been if X hadn't passed away so suddenly. Unfortunately despite the potential the project had, some awful creative choices made to complete the unfinished tracks drags down the project. There is also a clear lack of vision and content to the album compared to Come over whenSkins feels incomplete, some tracks like Train Food gives the listeners an idea of how great the project could've been if X hadn't passed away so suddenly. Unfortunately despite the potential the project had, some awful creative choices made to complete the unfinished tracks drags down the project. There is also a clear lack of vision and content to the album compared to Come over when you're sober pt2, which makes us ask ourselves whether releasing these tracks together and calling it an album was really a good idea. Regardless tracks like BAD!, Train Food, Guardian Angel, staring at the sky and parts of One Minute makes the whole experience interesting enough and enjoyable.… Expand
  12. thedaywalker
    Dec 11, 2018
    1
    XXX has released 3 albums and i'm still failing to see what is so appealing about his music... Skins is just unnecessary cash grab, by whoever is gonna profit from the sales of it.

    It is clearly compilation of unfinished work, with plenty songs with X just making some "melodic" sounds to the mic, over some amateurish beat selection and blend samples. The song one minute sees Kanye    XXX has released 3 albums and i'm still failing to see what is so appealing about his music... Skins is just unnecessary cash grab, by whoever is gonna profit from the sales of it.

    It is clearly compilation of unfinished work, with plenty songs with X just making some "melodic" sounds to the mic, over some amateurish beat selection and blend samples.

    The song one minute sees Kanye West just attention seeking and a very out of place, screaming XXX, the instrumental does not fit with what XXX wanted to achieve. Together with the single BAD! Which i can barely call a song, with so little said and what was said was basically said mumbling.

    Small highlights are the 2 first songs, Guardian Angel and Train Food, that show a more rapping XXX, more sharp with his delivery, even though lyrically it's nothing out of this world, but those 2 songs are definitely more pleasing to listen to then the rest of this album, unfortunately they aren't good enough to make this album any less of a drag to listen to. Really my least favorite album this year

    Favorite Tracks: Guardian Angel, Train Food
    Least Favorite Tracks: Rest of the album    … Expand
  13. GrantD243
    Dec 11, 2018
    4
    I mean, it's not downright terrible and I probably will listen to it occasionally, but it's extremely short and quite forgettable.
  14. TurkeyBoi
    Jan 31, 2019
    3
    Yeah, no.
    This isn't finished, and anyone who claims to think this even sounds like a fully fleshed project is lying to themselves. There are a couple of gems in here, but for the most part, Skins sounds like it doesn't need to exist. Kanye's victim blaming on 'One Minute' doesn't help anything, either.
    FAVOURITE TRACKS: Train Food, What Are You So Afraid Of LEAST FAVOURITE TRACK: One    Yeah, no.
    This isn't finished, and anyone who claims to think this even sounds like a fully fleshed project is lying to themselves. There are a couple of gems in here, but for the most part, Skins sounds like it doesn't need to exist. Kanye's victim blaming on 'One Minute' doesn't help anything, either.

    FAVOURITE TRACKS: Train Food, What Are You So Afraid Of
    LEAST FAVOURITE TRACK: One Minute (feat. Kanye West)    … Expand
  15. basedreview
    Dec 8, 2018
    1
    Yet again, X's albums are not but a compilation of songs loosely tied together. Another noticeable similarity with his previous work is that the quality of any given individual song is representative for the whole album. One could describe previous albums as messy, difficult, trashy, but never, as in this case, unfinished. Train food is an obvious Eminem rip-off. The Kanye Track soundsYet again, X's albums are not but a compilation of songs loosely tied together. Another noticeable similarity with his previous work is that the quality of any given individual song is representative for the whole album. One could describe previous albums as messy, difficult, trashy, but never, as in this case, unfinished. Train food is an obvious Eminem rip-off. The Kanye Track sounds like Limp Bizkit revivalism. There are like 3 loops across the album of him groaning over some lofi beat you could find on "24/7 lofi jams to study to" live-streams on YouTube. He even reuses the Jocelyn Flores sample and just adds one verse to it. 4th grade song-writing. Mediocre beat choice. Vocals that make you grimace. Not even finished.… Expand
  16. srtgoren
    Dec 8, 2018
    1
    This is the worst album I’ve heard this year. Mediocre beats, lyrics aren’t good and the album isn’t even finished. Disappointed.
  17. robbingg
    Dec 23, 2018
    10
    Great project, and definitely a good project to end off X's career with. This album is very versatile like his other 2, blending multiple genres. The length of this project also makes it very replayable, and there's not a single song on it that I would call "bad."
  18. erolsabadosh
    Dec 8, 2018
    10
    I honestly expected this to be rougher and less fully formed but I'm happy with how it came out. I don't think it's quite as good as ? or 17 because it's too short, but it's a worthy addition to his catalogue nonetheless. Guardian Angel is instantly one of my new favorite X tracks, it's hauntingly beautiful with its reversed sample from Jocelyn Flores and rapid fire lyrics wrought withI honestly expected this to be rougher and less fully formed but I'm happy with how it came out. I don't think it's quite as good as ? or 17 because it's too short, but it's a worthy addition to his catalogue nonetheless. Guardian Angel is instantly one of my new favorite X tracks, it's hauntingly beautiful with its reversed sample from Jocelyn Flores and rapid fire lyrics wrought with pain. Train food is perhaps one of the most poetically disturbing tracks by X and has a sparse beat over the top of the sound of rain while X narrates a bleak violent story that creeps under your skin slowly. Whoa follows with one of his most upbeat beats and feel-good vibes to elevate the mood, and it's also become one of my new favorites. BAD! has a great beat and sample, it's a simple track, perhaps my least favorite overall but still great. Staring at the Sky starts with a catchy hook over acoustic guitar before exploding rock guitars and drums come in and X screams the rest of the chorus. This vibe bleeds over into the most arresting track here, One Minute featuring Kanye West, which you're likely to either love or hate. I personally think it's an absolute banger, with a crazy beat, insane lyrics from West and one X's best scream-along choruses in a three minute onslaught. difference is labelled as an interlude but is a nice track and works well enough in what sounds like demo form, showing off X's singing chops. I don't let go is a jam; with a bumping club beat and a subdued but extremely catchy vocal. What are you so afraid of? is the final track, the whole album clocking in at an all-too-brief twenty minutes, and is a sparse bittersweet refrain that will likely leave fans teary-eyed. I'm glad that this album was released even if it does feel like it could have been so much more had he not died and it's sad that the world lost a young talent that clearly had so much more to give. RIP.… Expand
  19. Zyneex
    Dec 10, 2018
    10
    Easily a good album. You could really feel what way he wanted to go. It might not be as good as ? or 17, but still a nice final album.

    If you're a fan of X, don't listen to the haters ;)
  20. Natereater
    Dec 10, 2018
    10
    Whether or not this album achieves the level of his other albums is not important. This album is the work of a dead man. His other works speak for his greatness in life, this speaks for his lost potential. His lost potential is definitely a 10/10.
  21. Jdawgg
    Jan 21, 2019
    10
    Skins is a great album. The best part was when I went to the concert for Skins, that was fire. Skins is my favorite album from X so far.
  22. Hendo250
    Apr 7, 2021
    8
    this album is a 8 this album is a 8 this album is a 8 this album is a 8 this album is a 8
  23. Retrodox
    Feb 15, 2019
    6
    Inconclusive and oddly put together incoherent at times it has boatloads of potential and I love every song on this album besides one minute but this is wildly unfinished and misdirected.As well as not really mirroring anything the Artist is typically adept to in terms of style or music making there is nothing wrong with the content it just doesn't fit at all.
  24. destr0
    Dec 19, 2018
    7
    From beyond the grave X's new album has better production, while he tries to dig deeper into his feelings. Unfortunately, it definitely was rushed with a runtime of just 19 minutes, it would have to be all killer no filler. It isn't however. It definitely shows that X was killed during the making of this album. This is like the corpse of a great album, which we all knew he had in him.From beyond the grave X's new album has better production, while he tries to dig deeper into his feelings. Unfortunately, it definitely was rushed with a runtime of just 19 minutes, it would have to be all killer no filler. It isn't however. It definitely shows that X was killed during the making of this album. This is like the corpse of a great album, which we all knew he had in him.
    The overall aesthetic is great however and for an album in which the artist is dead, it does it quite well.
    RIP X    … Expand
  25. daniboyofc
    Jan 31, 2019
    7
    The last work of X is really good, but I doesn't felt the same thing as listening "17" for the first time. But I love his last work.
  26. clem666
    Aug 21, 2020
    3
    'SKINS' is clearly oozing XXX's energy. From the beginning we are attracted by his way to deliver lyrics, sing, rap and his instrumentals. This feels privy and definitely reflects the work made by XXX during his life.

    The other side of this project is saddly darker than the depression the artist has fought all his life. It is not an assumption that 'SKINS' took shape from greedy    'SKINS' is clearly oozing XXX's energy. From the beginning we are attracted by his way to deliver lyrics, sing, rap and his instrumentals. This feels privy and definitely reflects the work made by XXX during his life.

    The other side of this project is saddly darker than the depression the artist has fought all his life. It is not an assumption that 'SKINS' took shape from greedy producers and the owners of XXX's music. They effortlessly took pieces of his work and shamelessly commercialized it. 80 % of the songs on the album feels like unfinished tracks. 'Guardian angel' and 'Train food' are the only two tracks which look like being finished. And one of them is a remix/remake of another very popular XXX's song. That's just a sad mess.

    I feel torn by this album because a part of me was (and still is) happy to listen to projects XXX was working on before he suddenly passed out. But another part of me didn't (and still don't) want it because I know everytime I stream it the money goes to wrong people. And that part of me feels betrayed because these people just spit on XXX's fans by serving them a cold and moldy dish for a dishonest remuneration. The thing is I can't (and won't) stop listening to 'SKINS' even if I know that. These people just made the best of the cheap shots.    … Expand
  27. JordanMaertens
    Jun 19, 2019
    5
    This album by XXXTentacion felt unfinished, and it didn't quite have the "X feel". It felt as if X was half-way through making the album, but because of his death, he wasn't able to perfect the album.

    A lot of the songs feel empty, as if they were only "blueprints" for a final product that X was going to create; for example, "Whoa (mind in awe), was apparently going to have another    This album by XXXTentacion felt unfinished, and it didn't quite have the "X feel". It felt as if X was half-way through making the album, but because of his death, he wasn't able to perfect the album.

    A lot of the songs feel empty, as if they were only "blueprints" for a final product that X was going to create; for example, "Whoa (mind in awe), was apparently going to have another feature, but in the final "cut" it didn't, meaning that half the song is just instrumental. Also songs like "BAD" are way too, even for an X song.

    Although the Album feels unfinished, one song feels finished: Guardian Angel. My guess for this is that because it is his "most usual sounding song" on the album, it didn't take him as long to create, but also the fact that it is the first song on the album; he may have worked chronologically on the album, going through each song on the album, one by one improving each one each time. These speculations are the reason I think Guardian Angel was complete, and the others were not.

    I feel like X's overall goal for this album was to create an album that is unlike X's usual style, which means that it would've taken x longer to perfect the songs to a standard he likes, but due to his passing this wasn't possible; for example, if skins was an album similar to his older sound, then I feel like it would've been way more polished, due to him knowing exactly how he would've wanted it to sound, and how to do it.

    Due to his untimely death, I will give him the benefit of the doubt, and add a +1.    … Expand
  28. IlanBrem
    Jun 21, 2019
    6
    Guardian Angel 7/10 x's flows and lyrics in this are really good but the bit is not really good.
    Train Food 8/10 the story here is really interesting and the beat is fine but not really good but x's delivery and storytelling makes this song really interesting.
    whoa (mind in awe) 6/10 the beat is really good but x didn't do a lot with it, he can make this delivery work but even at its    Guardian Angel 7/10 x's flows and lyrics in this are really good but the bit is not really good.
    Train Food 8/10 the story here is really interesting and the beat is fine but not really good but x's delivery and storytelling makes this song really interesting.
    whoa (mind in awe) 6/10 the beat is really good but x didn't do a lot with it, he can make this delivery work but even at its best the delivery isn't great.
    BAD! 6/10 the beat is less good then "whoa" but x's delivery works here a lot better.
    STARING AT THE SKY 2/10 i like the guitar in this but the metal comes out of nowhere and honestly sounds like a parody.
    ONE MINUTE 7/10 Kanye works surprisingly good with this beat which is okay but no more and here x's metal delivery works better with the build up.
    difference (interlude) 6/10 it is fine but it is hella out of place after two metal songs.
    I don't let go 8/10 the beat is really good x's flow, singing and delivery works here really good easily the best song on the album.
    what are you so afraid of 7/10 it is a beautiful song but it is so out of place after a mumble rap song and it just makes me think about how good this album could've been.
    overall 5.7 this was a disappointment and the album sounds unfinished.
    RIP jah.    … Expand
  29. fhzJester
    Aug 21, 2019
    5
    The album is bad and that's a fact, I loved some songs but all the album looks incomplete and this make it bad
  30. leumassregor
    May 24, 2021
    3
    It's unfortunate they released this obviously unfinished album. Jah is a fantastic writer, producer, and all around great rapper. This album obviously would of been amazing if he was still here to work on it. It is a bit disrespectful that the label and Jah's parents released his unfinished work.

    The only thing I enjoyed was the diversity of music genres on this album, which X always    It's unfortunate they released this obviously unfinished album. Jah is a fantastic writer, producer, and all around great rapper. This album obviously would of been amazing if he was still here to work on it. It is a bit disrespectful that the label and Jah's parents released his unfinished work.

    The only thing I enjoyed was the diversity of music genres on this album, which X always seems to do well.    … Expand
  31. Mellowry
    Aug 17, 2021
    4
    I think this album is still a little bit better than the "Bad Vibes Forever" Record. Songs like 'One Minute' with Kanye sounds weak, a song with a guitar riff that couldn't be any more mediocre for over 3 minutes with a funny style of X sort of breaking down in a rage, but a LOT of Kanye's lyrics on this are definitely beyond awful. 'Bad' sure had some vibe, even tho it is still the sameI think this album is still a little bit better than the "Bad Vibes Forever" Record. Songs like 'One Minute' with Kanye sounds weak, a song with a guitar riff that couldn't be any more mediocre for over 3 minutes with a funny style of X sort of breaking down in a rage, but a LOT of Kanye's lyrics on this are definitely beyond awful. 'Bad' sure had some vibe, even tho it is still the same Loop over and over, but i can understand the hype about it, like the video, the contest back then, it was all pretty cool, but this record is far from good. Nobody would've asked for this, everyone took it and liked it because it was "there" and because X just passed away a few months prior to the release and everybody wanted to know what he was working on. It is just slightly better than "Bad Vibes Forever" because it fits X's style more, BVF felt totally thrown together and had nothing to do with his style, because it should sound like his music evolved. The label misinterpretated a lot of his work, on BVF, such as with Skins, and what sense does it make using snippets to lay over some beats and stamping it as an album except making large amount of profit from it... Tentacion really deserved better.… Expand
  32. KEIVID
    Sep 9, 2021
    10
    o álbum é muito subestimado, tem um grande potencial, ex: era um álbum postuma X não tava presente na finalização do álbum e mais o álbum por maioria só tem faixa solo do X, oque é positivo
  33. leuk
    Nov 7, 2021
    8
    Despite this not being everything that X would have wanted, the project as a whole was a fitting tribute. I found all of the songs to be meaningful and enjoyable, encompassing the diversity and passion that X always brought to the table. Although it would have been changed heavily to be perfected by X and suit his unique style, Skins is an excellent album and does not deserve the hate it receives.
  34. CordRafael
    Feb 17, 2022
    7
    so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil
  35. lildickgirl666
    Mar 30, 2022
    7
    Su primer álbum póstumo que dejó a más de uno confundido, sin duda no es un álbum malo, pero se queda muy corto en comparación con sus demás proyectos
  36. CameronF305_
    Jun 19, 2022
    10
    Long live x. This body of work isn’t his best, but there are some true touching songs on here
  37. KaOsPro23
    Aug 15, 2022
    8
    It's perfect, it seems to me one of X's best albums, but the problem is: the album is too short, I would love if there was more content, but well, in itself, perfect
  38. 305Records
    Mar 5, 2023
    8
    Feels unfinished but had some great songs. I’m happy they released it and I feel like this album is over hated

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Most Discussed Album of 2018
72
#72 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
44

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 9
  3. Negative: 3 out of 9
  1. The Observer (UK)
    Dec 17, 2018
    40
    There’s nothing here quite as aurally arresting as Moonlight, off XXX’s ? LP, but his recasting of Slim Shady as an eclectic depressive indelibly coloured this year.
    Read full review
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    Dec 14, 2018
    60
    Some of Skins is good, some of it is not good. Musically, the tone is, mostly, consistent and effective, and the album’s overall effect is that of a sickly, vivid insight into a troubled life. And there’s not much else to say about it.
    Read full review
  3. Pitchfork
    Dec 14, 2018
    30
    The album never makes a case for X as anything other than a thinly subversive figure and never even rationalizes the baggage that comes saddled with it. X’s musical legacy will forever be interlinked to violence. Skins is merely a shallow attempt to overwrite that legacy gone awry.
    Read full review
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