Kanye West reportedly defends XXXTentacion on the latter’s upcoming posthumous album.
‘Skins’ marks the first full-length record to be released since the Florida rapper’s death in June. The 20-year-old was shot and killed while leaving a motorcycle dealership in Broward County.
Earlier this week, West was revealed as the sole feature on the album, which is released on Friday (December 7). He appears on the track ‘One Minute’, on which he appears to defend XXXTentacion. Complex reports West opens the song by rapping: “So much hate at the top, it’s a lonely place.”
Later, he is quoted as saying: “Now your name is tainted by the claims they paintin’/The defendant is guilty, no one blames the plaintiff.”
XXXTentacion had been accused of domestic abuse by his ex-girlfriend last year. He pled not guilty to the charges but confessed to domestic abuse and other violent acts in a secret recording.
Yesterday (December 4), it was confirmed that West had designed a three-piece merchandise collection in honour of the late rapper. It will be unveiled at the official album listening party tonight in Miami.
In October, XXXTentacion’s mother collected a posthumous award on behalf of her son at the American Music Awards. His album ’17’ was named Favourite Album – Soul/R&B at the ceremony in Los Angeles.