Look at Me (2022 film)

Last updated

Look at Me
Look at Me film poster.png
Official release poster
Directed by Sabaah Folayan
Produced by
  • Cleopatra Bernard
  • Chloe Campion
  • Bob Celestin
  • Darcy McKinnon
  • Solomon Sobande
  • Rob Stone
Starring
Edited by
  • Chris McNabb
  • Luis Carballar
Music byXXXTentacion
Production
company
Distributed by Hulu
Release dates
  • March 15, 2022 (2022-03-15)(SXSW)
  • May 26, 2022 (May 26, 2022)(Hulu)
Running time
113 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Look at Me is a 2022 documentary film, directed by Sabaah Folayan. It focuses on the life and death of the rapper and singer Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy, known as XXXTentacion. The film's title is named after his breakthrough single. It premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 15, 2022, and was released on Hulu on May 26, 2022. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

The film was first announced on June 18, 2019, the first anniversary of the murder of XXXTentacion. The film began production around April 2017. [7] The documentary contains footage from X's last years, and contains appearances from numerous friends and family of his, including his mother Cleopatra Bernard, girlfriend Jenesis Sanchez, ex-girlfriend Geneva Ayala, and best friend and fellow rapper Ski Mask the Slump God. It also includes interviews with rappers from XXXTentacion's hip hop collective, Members Only such as Bass Santana, Cooliecut, and Kid Trunks. The documentary received widespread acclaim from critics and fans following its release.

On May 23, 2022, it was announced on by XXXTentacion's estate on his Instagram account that a compilation album, titled Look at Me: The Album would be released alongside the documentary. [8] The album was released on June 10, 2022, and was preceded by the single "True Love" with Kanye West.

Synopsis

The film overviews both favorable and controversial aspects of X's life and legacy.

The film features first-time interviews from X's ex-girlfriend, Geneva Ayala, who had accused him of domestic abuse in 2016. X was awaiting trial at the time of his death for charges stemming from the accusations levied by Ayala, who reveals for the first time in the documentary that she did not want X to go to jail in the first place, saying she "wasn't aware that it was all going to crumble down onto him like that." The film includes a meeting with X's mother, Cleopatra Bernard, and Ayala, in which Bernard said that she believes Ayala's accusations, commenting, "Jahseh was wrong for what he did. There's no excuse for that, period. But I just want the world to know that he wasn't that same person anymore, but the past is still part of his story." Bernard states that she believes X would have eventually publicly apologized to Ayala, but that, "He just never had a chance." Ayala commented that "a weight had finally been lifted by knowing that [X's] family doesn't hold a grudge against her." Commenting on the film, director Sabaah Folayan said, "We felt like having lost Jahseh so soon, the best thing that we can do was find a way to pull out the lessons of his life and to try to continue his mission." [9] [10] [11]

Cast

All star as themselves. Relation to XXXTentacion listed after each casting.

Soundtrack

Look at Me: The Album is a compilation album that released alongside the documentary, which released on June 10, 2022. It was preceded by the release of a collaboration single with Kanye West entitled "True Love". [12] The album is split into two halves, and contains only songs that have already been released in some capacity; some on prior albums, and some were previously SoundCloud exclusive.

See also

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<i>Bad Vibes Forever</i> 2019 studio album by XXXTentacion

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Ronald Oneil Spence, Jr., professionally known as Ronny J, is an American record producer, singer, rapper, and songwriter. He has worked with well-known artists such as Denzel Curry, XXXTentacion, Token, Lil Pump, Bhad Bhabie, Juice Wrld, Sfera Ebbasta, 6ix9ine, Ski Mask the Slump God, Eminem, Machine Gun Kelly, Iggy Azalea, and Kanye West.

"The Remedy for a Broken Heart (Why Am I So in Love)" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American rapper and singer XXXTentacion from his second studio album ? (2018). It was written by XXXTentacion and produced by XXXTentacion and John Cunningham.

"Before I Close My Eyes" is a song by American rapper and singer XXXTentacion from his second studio album, ? (2018). Considered by critics to be some of his best work, the song features XXXTentacion singing about his regrets of his past wrongdoings and hopes for repentance. It was written by XXXTentacion and John Cunningham, and produced by Cunningham.

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Jarad Anthony Higgins, known professionally as Juice Wrld, was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Throughout his career of four years, he was a leading figure in the emo rap and SoundCloud rap genres which garnered mainstream attention during the mid-to-late 2010s. His stage name, which he stated represents "taking over the world", was derived from the crime thriller film Juice (1992).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder of XXXTentacion</span> 2018 murder in Deerfield Beach, Florida, US

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falling Down (Lil Peep and XXXTentacion song)</span> 2018 single by Lil Peep and XXXTentacion

"Falling Down" is a song by late American rappers Lil Peep and XXXTentacion. It was included as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of the former's second studio album Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2 (2018). The song was posthumously released as the lead single from the album on September 19, 2018. The track was produced by IIVI, John Cunningham, and Mike Will Made It. "Falling Down" was originally a song by and written by Lil Peep and fellow American rapper and singer iLoveMakonnen under the title "Sunlight on Your Skin", with XXXTentacion also receiving a writing credit for the final version.

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"Royalty" is a song by American rapper and singer XXXTentacion featuring British rapper Stefflon Don and Jamaican musicians Ky-Mani Marley and Vybz Kartel. Written alongside producer JonFX, it was released on July 19, 2019 as the lead single from the former's fourth and final studio album, Bad Vibes Forever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hearteater</span> 2019 single by XXXTentacion

"Hearteater" is a song by American rapper and singer XXXTentacion, released as the second single from his fourth studio album Bad Vibes Forever.

<i>Look at Me: The Album</i> 2022 compilation album by XXXTentacion

Look at Me: The Album is the only compilation album by American rapper and singer XXXTentacion. Announced alongside a documentary of the same name, the album was released posthumously on June 10, 2022, 8 days before the fourth anniversary of his death. Look at Me was supported by two singles: "Vice City" and "True Love", both of which were announced early on, being previously absent from streaming services due to sample clearance problems. The album features both Ski Mask the Slump God and Kanye West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Love (Kanye West and XXXTentacion song)</span> 2022 single by Kanye West and XXXTentacion

"True Love" is a song by American rappers Kanye West and XXXTentacion. The song, which is a posthumous release for the latter, was originally released on West's demo album, Donda 2 (2022). For the single version, it was trimmed down by a minute and released through Columbia Records on May 23, 2022 in promotion for XXXTentacion's posthumous compilation album Look at Me: The Album—serving as its second single. A slow track that features synths, it finds West discussing his estrangement from his children, while XXXTentacion croons the hook. The song was written by its performers alongside Ojivolta, Mike Dean, and John Cunningham, the latter three produced it with West.

<i>In His Own Words</i> 2022 documentary film

In His Own Words is a 2022 documentary film, directed by Rob Stone and Lesley Steele. It focuses on previously unseen interviews and series of footage of the rapper and singer XXXTentacion. It premiered on the film streaming platform Altavod on November 22, 2022. It is considered a companion film to the May 2022 XXXTentacion documentary, Look at Me.

References

  1. ↑ "The Fader's XXXTentacion documentary Look At Me! will premiere at SXSW 2022". The Fader. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  2. ↑ Willman, Chris (February 3, 2022). "SXSW Film Festival Slates Music Docs on XXXTentacion, Sheryl Crow, Dio, Nick Cave, Tanya Tucker, Jazz Fest and More". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ "XXXTentacion Documentary "Look At Me!" Gets Release Date". Urban Islandz. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ Ivey, Justin (February 3, 2022). "XXXTentacion Documentary Coming To SXSW & Hulu". AllHipHop. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ "XXXTentacion Documentary Premiering at SXSW Film Festival 2022". Pitchfork. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  6. ↑ Fitzgerald, Trent (February 2, 2022). "XXXTentacion Documentary Officially Announced With Release Timeline". XXL Mag. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Documentary trailer recalls XXXTentacion a year after his death". CNN . June 19, 2019.
  8. ↑ Aswad, Jem (May 23, 2022). "Kanye West and XXXTentacion's Single 'True Love' Drops This Week". Variety. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  9. ↑ "'Look at Me: XXXTentacion' Review: Mental Illness, Domestic Violence and Overnight Stardom Mark a Rapper's Very Short Story". March 19, 2022.
  10. ↑ "'Look At Me: XXXTentacion' Takes Considered Look At Life, Legacy Of Late Hip Hop Star — SXSW". March 17, 2022.
  11. ↑ Roundtree, Cheyenne (March 15, 2022). "XXXTentacion's Family Says They Believe His Abuse Victim Geneva Ayala in New Hulu Doc". The Daily Beast.
  12. ↑ Aswad, Jem (May 23, 2022). "Kanye West and XXXTentacion's Single 'True Love' Drops This Week". Variety. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
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