Internet-era rapper xaviersobased is poised to make a major splash this week with the announcement of his debut studio album, Xavier — a 20-track project set to arrive on January 30, 2026, via 1-chance / Surf Gang Records. The news arrives as the artist revives his highly energetic live presence with the Riverside 2.0 Tour, signaling a pivotal moment in his ascent from underground sensation to a broader audience.
A Milestone Album for a New Wave Rapper
Xavier represents xaviersobased’s first official full-length album after years of influential mixtapes, EPs, and collaborative releases and stands as his most ambitious musical offering to date. The project includes his recent single “iPhone 16,” which dropped on January 23, 2026, showcasing his signature blend of experimental hip-hop, jerk-adjacent rhythms, and unconventional vocal styles that have distinguished him in today’s online rap landscape.
The album’s 20-track slate reflects both his prolific creative output and a potential stylistic broadening beyond earlier work. While the full tracklist hasn’t been publicly released yet, the inclusion of “iPhone 16” — described by critics as a brazen, hypnotic blend of sparse percussion and ethereal synths — hints at the album’s experimental edge.
Artwork Rooted in Personal Geography
The cover art for Xavier features a painted depiction of a bench and lamp in Riverside Park, a locale near the rapper’s Upper West Side upbringing. The imagery underscores the album’s personal thread — tying the artist’s early environment to his current musical moment and rooting the project in a specific New York City context.
Building on a Legacy of Underground Influence
Before Xavier, xaviersobased built his reputation through a string of DIY releases, collaborations, and a strong internet presence. His surprise-released 2025 EP once more was praised for its polished yet raw style that pulled from underground subgenres ranging from cloud rap to pluggnB and jerk. That release helped broaden his visibility and laid groundwork for his next chapter.
Riverside 2.0 Tour: From Fort Lauderdale to Europe
To support the album rollout, xaviersobased is hitting the road with the Riverside 2.0 Tour, a continuation of his earlier touring efforts that blends U.S. club and mid-size venue dates with an upcoming European leg. The tour kicks off in Fort Lauderdale on March 6 and includes stops in cities such as Denver, Phoenix, Houston, and Richmond before heading overseas with shows in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, and Warsaw.
Supporting acts on the tour include fellow underground artists ksuuvi and 1c’s Backend, adding collective momentum and introducing broader audiences to rising voices within the DIY rap sphere.
For fans of xaviersobased’s dynamic live shows — known for their high energy, immersive sound, and crowd-driven intensity — the tour offers a rare opportunity to experience his music in person, deepening engagement with the material from Xavier.
The Significance of Xavier
Xavier isn’t just another project for xaviersobased — it’s an inflection point. It marks his transition from prolific underground creative to a more formally recognized artist within the broader hip-hop ecosystem, backed by established labels and a well-organized global tour.
The album and tour combine personal narrative, sonic experimentation, and an expanding fanbase cultivated through internet culture — a fusion that reflects both the artist’s unique voice and larger trends in contemporary rap where authenticity and DIY roots increasingly intersect with industry infrastructure.
As the release date approaches and the tour announcement builds momentum among fans, Xavier is positioned to be one of the most talked-about hip-hop releases of early 2026, especially within communities that champion boundary-pushing, genre-fluid artistry.
