Throughout his life, 2hollis has chased everything he’s wanted. From his career start as drippysoup, to the popularity of his track “Jeans” and his opening for Ken Carson’s “Chaos Tour,” he is a continuously growing star. On April 4, 2025, he solidified that with the release of his fourth studio album, “Star.”
Consisting of 15 tracks and lasting 38 minutes, the artist revealed a surprising story behind the album’s creation.
“I made this entire project in my childhood home. It burned to the floor in the LA fires. The only thing to survive was ‘The Star.’ My mother had it framed … I knew it was destiny. ‘Burn’ was one of the last songs finished … the next day we had to evacuate,” 2hollis said on X.
“The Star” refers to a star tarot card, which is meant to bring hope to whoever receives it. It is a representation of the universe’s blessing through what already exists in one’s life. Drawing this card means that a person holds within them all that they need for fulfillment. It is a call to hold faith as life takes its course.
More than just a collection of songs, 2hollis refers to “Star” as a diary. It’s a raw reflection of chasing stardom — a glimpse into what fans can’t usually see: his struggles with his relationships, fame and self.
The album begins with the monologue of “Beginning”, over rain ambiance, cars drifting and his signature electro-pop instrumentals. He reminds listeners that they are witnessing something great before beginning to repeat the word “flash” to introduce listeners to the next song.
“Flash” feels right on theme, as 2hollis affirms his desire to be a star. The track builds and then shifts to a sudden drop, ending with another monologue, “A lot of the things I’ve shown you have been illusions,” embracing the truth that’s about to come.
For those who first discovered the rapper through his debut album “White Tiger,” “Star” might sound heavily demoed as it leans on the same sonic palette he’s used before. One of the drawbacks of this project is that it is mainly self-produced. Still, that same self-production gives the album an unmatched sense of cohesion. 2hollis fully demonstrates his vision through Kanye-like transitions that stitch the songs together with purpose and clarity.
As a fan since the “Boy” era, I’d say it’s the lyrics that make the album.
In both its emotional openness and the context in which it was created, “Star” feels like an album that needed to be released. 2hollis finally shows who he really is. He may need a few more records to fully cement his place, but “Star” is a powerful step forward.
On his third track, “Cope,” 2hollis reflects on a past relationship. He begins by acknowledging his partner’s deception before revealing that she was never more than a way for him to cope. The emotion is heightened by his interpolation of Alesso and Tove Lo’s “Heroes (We Could Be),” a wistful nod to lost potential — a moment made even more poignant by the credited influence of the late David Bowie.
Throughout the tracks, the relationship evolves.
On bass-heavy “You,” he searches for happiness within the pain saying, “You’re the poison to my flowers, but they still bloom,” and later, “Destroy me (Girl, tell me you want me),” as he accepts his fate with her.
The relationship remains the same until he reaches his breaking point on “Ego,” a track that reveals his inevitable apathy. 2hollis flips the script saying, “I wouldn’t care if you died / (I don’t, I don’t even know you anymore),” shifting from the mistreated to the mistreater.
In a villainous repetition of the words “price tag,” the song crescendos into the next track, “Sidekick” — a song I had the pleasure of hearing live at his “Leg One” tour with Nate Sib in Carrboro. Originally released as “Need That,” the not-a-rapper lets his rapper side out.
On the other side of the spectrum, 2hollis opens up about the dark side of the fame he wished so deeply for. In “Tell Me,” he expresses paranoia over all the eyes on him saying, “I’m scared of press ’cause then I read more.” He explains that as his fame has grown, his circle has gotten smaller.
The most touching track of all, “Eldest Child,” is a tale of expectations set against an acoustic beat. As the son of Skrillex’s former manager Kathryn Frazier and Tortoise drummer John Herndon, 2hollis feels compelled to make his parents proud, and yet, he hasn’t had a chance to make himself happy. It’s a plea for a break and understanding.
2hollis is an artist to watch out for in 2025. His take on electro-pop and experimental hip-hop, aided by previous affiliates such as Damon Rush and The Hellp, brings back the indie sleaze era of the early 2010s — an era his fanbase was once too young to properly appreciate.
He’s only going up from here. Just two days before the album’s release, he confirmed his fifth studio album posting on X, “Oh … and there are 2 albums … Star first.”
I can say with confidence that we’re all excited to see what’s next.
