It’s no secret that the musical style of singer Quinn XCII is nothing short of unique. With uncommon production choices and a distinctive voice, XCII’s music calls to specific types of listeners, and falls into a much-needed music industry niche.

His fifth studio album, titled The People’s Champ, was released on January 27th. Fans had to wait longer than normal for a new XCII record, but it is definitely worth the wait, and worth your listen.

Every single track on the album is catchy in some way shape or form, from its simple but smooth title track “Bartender” to pop anthem “Backpack” and the vibe-y “Black Porsche.” XCII knows how to write a chorus that sticks with the listener long after they have removed their earbuds, and his vocals are on point.

Lyrically, almost every track is strong as well. Songs such as “All That You Need,” “Being Me,” and “Why Do You Talk To Me?” share important messages of self-acceptance and courage with listeners. On this record, XCII prioritizes vulnerability more than he ever has before, and it pays off. I as a listener was able to connect emotionally with the record and the messages within it.

XCII tends to lean towards creating upbeat music in terms of production, and this record is no exception. Other than one piano-based track (“All That You Need”), The People’s Champ is chock full of dreamy synths and strong pop beats. The record as a whole is refreshing, and it feels like something you should be listening to on full blast with the windows down in the summer.

Chelsea Cutler is featured on “Let Me Down,” AJR on “Too Late,” Big Sean on “Common” and Adrian Cota on “Good Either Way.” “Let Me Down” is by far the record’s strongest feature song. It is catchy, with a relatable message and strong lyricism. I always love when XCII and Cutler collaborate, and some of XCII’s best tracks feature Cutler. AJR is also a welcome addition to the record, adding to its upbeat atmosphere. While “Common” is not one of my favorite tracks, Big Sean’s feature adds more variety to the song and makes it more enjoyable to listen to. On the flip side, however, Cota’s feature on “Good Either Way” does not bring more to the song, and the song in its entirety does not add to the record as a whole. XCII could have done with leaving the track as a solo or scrapping the song entirely.

While the lyricism on the record as a whole is strong, there is one song that is just too irritating to be a standout track. “FOMO” had the potential to be outstanding due to its relatable message of longing and love, but it isn’t as enjoyable as it could have been because of one lyric in particular: “Don’t do cool s*** without me.” It is just too bothersome to make the song sound appealing, and it isn’t powerful enough to contribute to the track’s message. To make matters worse, XCII repeats the lyric multiple times throughout the song. It just doesn’t integrate well with the track’s production or its other lyrics, and takes away from the emotional impact that the track could have had.

The tracks on The People’s Champ are some of XCII’s shortest in length to date. While length doesn’t hinder a lot of the songs, there are two that are simply too short. “Being Me” is one of the record’s best tracks; it is so good that I wish it had been just a little bit longer. And, had “Common” been a longer track, XCII would have had more time to make it more of a standout than it is. Length can make or break some tracks on an album, as exhibited here.

Removing some tracks would have also served XCII well on this record. While there isn’t a truly bad song on the track list, the record as a whole could have packed a bit more of a punch if tracks that don’t add much to it were removed. “FOMO,” “Good Either Way,” and potentially “Common” as well don’t bring something extra or different to the record. Without those tracks, XCII’s overall message could have been more clear.

However, the record’s standout tracks are so incredibly solid. They are lyrically sound, produced in interesting ways, catchy, and worthwhile to listen to. Here are the record’s best tracks:

“Bartender”: This is a perfect opening track for a pop album. It has an amazing hook, catchy chorus and verses, and provides for an easy and smooth listening experience while showcasing XCII’s musical style. It is by far that track on the People’s Champ that I can never get out of my head the most.

“Black Porsche”: The vibes on this track are the best on the album. The song is simple, quiet, and smooth, with an especially catchy chorus and a unique production. I don’t know why exactly I love this song so much, I just do. It’s amazing.

“Let Me Down”: As I mentioned, this song is by far the best collaboration on The People’s Champ. Cutler and XCII have incredible chemistry and managed to create a song with a relatable message and appealing hook.

“Being Me”: This song has the album’s strongest chorus. Its verses are engaging, but every time the chorus comes around, my serotonin levels drastically increase. This song’s message is also one of the record’s strongest, and XCII’s vocals fit the production perfectly.

“Backpack”: This song was the first single from the album that was released, and it is pop perfection. This is the album’s most catchy song as a whole. XCII manages to incorporate some humor into the track through clever lyricism, with an engaging production and entertaining message. This song is the definition of pop music, and I will definitely be using it to exemplify XCII’s style as an artist when recommending his music to others.

“All That You Need”: This track closes the album, and it does its job beautifully. It is the only piano-based track on the record. It is calming to listen to and is simple yet ethereal, with a powerful message.

Perhaps the most important thing about The People’s Champ is the fact that it isn’t a downgrade from XCII’s other records. I’m not sure if it’s my favorite of his yet, but I know I much prefer it over his fourth record, Change of Scenery II.

The People’s Champ is authentic to XCII and his artistry. He doesn’t stray far from his typical musical style, but he isn’t afraid to experiment with more funky production styles or lyrical messages. His vulnerability on this record is admirable, and makes for an even better listening experience. In short, this record simply screams “Quinn XCII” in all areas of it. I absolutely love listening to it.

As per usual, I am thankful that there is an artist in the music industry with such a unique persona and style, along with an authenticity that attracts both new and long-time listeners. One thing is for sure, XCII can only go up from here.

Quinn XCII Returns With His Fourth Studio Album