YungXray, “KICKBACK"
YungXray is an underground artist from the rising city of New Haven, Connecticut. His latest project is a single & music video release for the track “KICKBACK”, dropped respectively on October 25th & 26th, 2024. This 2-minute rap-anthem to the color 'BLACK' showcases one of Xray's best verses yet amongst a crazy, dark, & distorted trap beat produced by “prodbychewy”.
KICKBACK opens with a vocal sample of a woman asking, “What’s your favorite color…”, before YungXray pops in with his booming and dominant performance, answering her by saying;
“Whip black, fit black, b*tch black… everything I lost, I can get it back… used to shop at Ross, now I’m lit like a, lit like a… KICKBACK”
When asked about the inspiration and creation process behind “KICKBACK”, YungXray explains, “One day I was in the studio, and I wanted to make a song about how much I love the color black, and how much I wear it, and surround my self with the color black."
This heavy black theme and aesthetic is mirrored in the "KICKBACK (Official Music Video)", as YungXray dons an all-black outfit and performs to the camera in dark aesthetic locations. Digital distortion & retro VHS overlay edits set a dualistic tone with the contrasting HDR professional quality shots, representing the clean and quality vocal performance of Xray contrasting with the heavy, dark, & distorted instrumental.
Also known by the alias “X Kidd” & his legal name “Arnold Little”, YungXray’s musical journey began 13 years ago when he first discovered his passion for writing lyrics. He explains that “Music was my way of coping through depression after I went through a series of losing people that matter to me.”
A decade later, he sparked this passion & emotional outlet into a career with his first SoundCloud upload. Starting strong in the New Year of 2021, YungXray published “Yu Gi Oh!” on January 8th, featuring an upbeat instrumental of digital chimes produced by GeoGotBands, and a stylistically reverbed vocal performance.
The lyrics, “Got my cards right just like Yu-gi-oh, I can’t trust a thing, I’m in the studio,” mark the opening verse of YungXray’s SoundCloud discography.
3 additional songs, “Dolce Gabbana (prod. Paryo)”, “CDG Play (Prod. Evann)”, and “Keepin it real! (Prod. DeeThePlugg)", were posted to YungXray’s SoundCloud page throughout the remainder of 2021 & into February of 2022.
Following a one-year hiatus without any new music, YungXray uploaded his first all-platform release on Valentine’s Day 2023. This love-song single, “Oh Wow”, was produced by lilfari.
In a similar upbeat production style to his debut “Yu Gi Oh!”, 2023’s “Oh Wow” shines with a strong improvement in Xray’s vocal performance, both in terms of confidence and mixing.
Artwork for the track features a black and white high-contrast image of a couple taking a ‘mirror selfie’, overlaid with the name “Oh Wow!”, and a Valentine’s ‘heart’ making the exclamation point. “One day I’ll make you my wife… Oh my god, I might just give her a ring.”
He has since featured on multiple tracks from Hamden, CT, artist "Romedilly", in addition to releasing 3 more singles to his SoundCloud and other streaming platforms; “YEUH (prod. Devilship)” from June 25th, 2023, “GLITTER (Feat. Romedilly)” from April 6th, 2024, and concluding with the latest single, “KICKBACK” on October 25th, 2024.
His music is already making a real-world impact. YungXray shared this quote with with us, “Believe it or not, considering how small my fan base is, I've had people walk up to me and ask me for pictures or even let me know that I’ve changed their lives with my music, helping others, makes me feel good, so i try to do it as much as I can.”
Acknowledging and inspired by this love and support from fans, in addition to his recognition of the positive effect they gain from listening to his music, YungXray says, “My friends inspire me, and also the people that listen to my music inspire me, there is a lot of people out there who deal with alot of issues and i hope that my music can bring them closure.
In an exclusive interview with RSO Underground, YungXray spoke on the current state of Connecticut and New Haven’s music culture, saying that “the music scene here is on a rise, there's a lot of artist/creators in this area that are really talented and I think that they deserve more recognition. Connecticut may be a small state but it holds a large amount of talent."
YungXray also shares a message to the world of, “be yourself, don’t try to impress anyone else or make them happy because it’ll make you sad, but when you only try to please yourself it’ll make you happy.”
RSO Underground Interview with YungXray
Who are you?
YungXray aka X Kidd, also known as Arnold Little
Where are you from? (How is the music scene there?)
Im from New Haven, Connecticut, the music scene here is on a rise, theres a lot of artist/creators in this area that are really talented and i think that they deserve more recognition. Connecticut may be a small state but it holds a large amount of talent
Why did you get into the music/creative industry?
Music was my way of coping through depression after i went through a series of losing people that matter to me
Who and what inspires you?
my friends inspire me, and also the people that listen to my music inspire me, there is a lot of people out there who deal with alot of issues and i hope that my music can bring them closure.
Do you have any stories of your artistic journey to share?
believe it or not, considering how small my fan base is, ive had people walk up to me and ask me for pictures or even let me know that i’ve changed their lives with my music, helping others, makes me feel good, so i try to do it as much as I can
What song/project are you currently promoting and what is the story behind it?
its my song KICKBACK, one day i was in the studio, and i wanted to make a song about how much i love the color black, and how much i wear it, and surround my self with the color black
whip black, fit black, 🖤🤟🏾
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Ive been writing music for 13 years
Where can we find your music and art?
Everywhere, spotify, apple music, soundcloud. etc
instagram: @yungxray
twitter: @yungxray
What is your message to the world?
be yourself, don’t try to impress anyone else or make them happy because it’ll make you sad, but when you only try to please yourself it’ll make you happy🖤
Check out YungXray Everywhere!
"KICKBACK" (Official Music Video)
