When The NOTORIOUS Big died at the hands of thugs in March, 1997, his mentor Puffy Combs was determined to keep his music alive. Jamaican producer Jon FX wants to do the same with the late SoFlo rapper XXXTentacion, with one of his last tracks, “Arms Around You.”
Five months after the rapper’s tragic death, XXXTentacion’s “Arms Around You” has entered the Billboard charts at number 14 on its Streaming Songs chart, number 28 on the Hot 100 singles chart and number 18 on Digital Song Sales. Released on October 25, “Arms Around You” also features fellow rappers Lil Pump, Swae Lee and Maluma. Jon FX shares production credits with Skrillex and Mally Mall.
The South Florida-based Jon FX said the song represents everything he envisioned for the troubled XXXTentacion. “My duty to Jahseh is to take him out of the hip hop stigma and into the world’s eyes. Reggae fusion is the only format at this time to achieve this,” he said.
Jon FX had close ties to the troubled artist who was born in South Florida to Jamaican parents. They first met six years ago when XXXTentacion was looking to kick off his career. “I’m Yours,” a song with Sizzla, was one of the first songs they worked on.
Jon FX also contributed to “?,” XXXTentacion’s second album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Album Chart in March. He co-produced and co-wrote the hit song “I Don’t Even Speak Spanish LOL.”
He recalls them going into the recording studio in South Florida two years ago and laying tracks for “Arms Around You.” Eventually, Lil Pump, who attended XXXTentacion’s funeral, Maluma and Swae Lee were brought in.
In June, Broward County Police reported that XXXtentacion, whose real name was Jahsey Onfroy, was shot and killed by one of two gunmen at a Deerfield Beach auto dealership. The 20-year-old entertainer was gunned down while in the driver’s seat of a BMW sports car. Four men have been arrested in connection with his murder.
XXXTentacion had a number of brushes with law enforcement. They included assault and false imprisonment charges from a 2016 incident with his pregnant girlfriend. He pled not guilty to the charges but spent six months in jail.
