It’s all happening for Xaviersobased right now. At just 22, the Harlem rapper has already spent years being treated as a figurehead of the hyper-online underground rap world, helping to usher in breakout stars like Nettspend and popularise microgenres such as jerk and digicore. But in the months since the release of his debut album Xavier in January, he has started to breach containment, emerging from niche online forums and cropping up on For You Pages around the world. “Life is changing drastically,” he tells me when we finally sit down for our interview. “From the first tour to the second was such a difference. It just keeps growing every day.”

At the centre of Xavier’s appeal is a run of positive rap anthems that channel-surf between hyperactive pop, party-ready jerk rap, melodic pluggnb and the warm distortion of underground rap. It’s a genre-diffuse approach that partly explains why Xavier and his contemporaries are increasingly grouped under the broad umbrella of “underground rap”, rather than the microgenres that dominated discussion in previous years – it’s their Gen Z instincts, not industry labels, that guide them. “I never really identified with any subgenres, to be honest. I just made what I wanted,” Xavier explains. “My music just sounds like what is going on in my head – it’s chaotic, but also chill. It’s a weird mix.”

Online, his fans seem to speak of him as if he were a close friend, recreating his likeness in video games like Minecraft, worshipping old unfinished SoundCloud uploads, and poking fun at his lighthearted, happy-go-lucky persona. “It’s not just that they connect with it, they’re a part of it, too,” says Xavier. “It’s like a renaissance right now. All the fans make music, all the fans make clothes, everyone’s just doing shit. I definitely see myself in the mulattos [among them] for sure.” 

Still, all the online fanfare in the world couldn’t have prepared me for the chaos that unfolded at Xavier’s performance at EartH Hackney later that night. Having already sold out the 1200-capacity venue weeks in advance, the streets of Dalston were flooded with hundreds of additional fans hoping – and failing – to make it in on the night, creating an electric energy that I’ve yet to see at any UK Ug rap show. Walking home amid the throng of shirtless teenagers who had made it into the moshpit, I caught snippets of fans affectionately referring to the star as ‘Xav’, praising his performance with sprinklings of American slang (‘based’, ‘turnt’) and speaking with the hushed euphoria that often accompanies one’s first live gig experience. Xavier really seemed like the people’s champ that night.

Below, rising underground rap godfather Xaviersobased breaks down five of his internet obsessions, from his favourite YouTube channels to his love of Nickelodeon. 

FAVE SONG: “CAME DOWN COURT BANGING” – JETTT4

Xaviersobased: This shit right here is fire. The beat is just mad simple and he sounds fire talking shit on it. I like the video for it too. 

FAVE VIDEO GAME: NBA 2K26

Xaviersobased: I’ve been playing a lot of 2K26. The state of the game right now is very bad, but I do like the dribbling system and I been getting better at it, too. I just been on the game, locked in recently. Ksuuvi brought his PS5 [on tour], so I’m going to be on this one for sure.

FAVE SKATE PART: DANIEL SHIMIZU, THAT’S LIFE (2004)

Xaviersobased: As of recently, this is one that I watched and fucked with his swag OD. He was just snapping. He’s wearing the Dunks and the flared jeans. I always say I want to skate more, but I find it tough. I just never can. Last time I went, I just kept getting recognised. 

FAVE TV SHOW: HOUSE OF ANUBIS (2011)

Xaviersobased: My favourite TV show that I’ve watched as of recently is House of Anubis. It actually takes place out here [in England]. It’s a Nickelodeon show, an old one. It’s just like Zoey 101 with magic. 

FAVE YOUTUBE CHANNEL: IMPECTUAL

Xaviersobased: I been watching the homie Impectual on YouTube. He’ll be doing [NBA] 2K videos. I’ve actually been watching a lot of gaming shit. Also, the Pro Skater shit – shout out THPS Videos. This channel right here is fire also. 

Scroll up for some shots of Xaviersobased’s Riverside tour so far.