X3LIUS
X3LIUS | |
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[[ File:X3LIUS .png|thumb]] | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Blagovest Kisov |
| Born | August 8, 1999 Asenovgrad, Plovdiv, Bulgaria |
| Origin | Bulgaria |
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| Years active | 2019–present |
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X3LIUS (pronounced "Exelius"; born Blagovest Kisov, August 8, 1999, Asenovgrad, Plovdiv Province, Bulgaria) is a Bulgarian hip-hop rapper, record producer, mix and mastering engineer, and independent record label founder. He is the founder of the Bulgarian independent hip-hop label XYP3RN (pronounced "Екс Вай Пърн")
Early life
Blagovest Kisov was born on August 8, 1999, in Asenovgrad, a city in the Plovdiv region of southern Bulgaria. He began rapping at age eight after hearing Eminem's "Lose Yourself," which sparked his interest in hip-hop music. Growing up, he was influenced by both the Bulgarian underground rap scene and traditional Balkan instrumentation, including acoustic guitar and the Balkan tambura.
Career
Beginnings (2019–2020)
X3LIUS launched his recording career in May 2019 with the independent single "Low Life." Between 2019 and 2023, he released 22 independent singles. His debut album Pure Gold was released in 2020, recorded at UpDown Studio in Bulgaria. The project incorporated elements of folk-rap fusion alongside hip-hop production.
Limitless and continued releases (2021–2023)
In 2021, X3LIUS released his second album Limitless (UPC: 196863859197), a seven-track project featuring collaborations with Otrito, PA$PAL ROCKY, and МТЛ. МТЛ became his most frequent collaborator across his catalog.
On September 28, 2023, he released the five-track EP Sol Invictus (UPC: 853515853032), featuring Xusstly and Ticøss. The EP's title is Latin for "Unconquered Sun." The Millennium EP followed later in 2023. The single "One Shot," released in December 2023, concluded his independent singles era.
Label work and engineering (2024–present)
From 2024 onward, X3LIUS has released music exclusively through XYP3RN, with singles featuring МТЛ, KODEKS, and Yinte. He operates as a professional mixing and mastering engineer and has published audio engineering signal chains publicly via Waves StudioVerse, including the X3LIUS Recording Chain, Live Rec Chain, Wide Adlibs, and a 12-plugin master bus chain. His music has been distributed to listeners in over 106 countries.
Musical style
X3LIUS's music draws from trap, boom bap, and Balkan folk influences. His production incorporates traditional Bulgarian instrumentation, including acoustic guitar and the Balkan tambura, alongside contemporary hip-hop production techniques.
Labels
XYP3RN
XYP3RN (pronounced "Екс Вай Пърн") is an independent Bulgarian hip-hop record label founded by X3LIUS. It serves as the primary release and distribution imprint for his catalog and associated artists, with global distribution across Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Pure Gold | Debut album; UpDown Studio |
| 2021 | Limitless | feat. Otrito, PA$PAL ROCKY, МТЛ; UPC: 196863859197 |
Extended plays
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Sol Invictus | Released September 28, 2023; feat. Xusstly, Ticøss; UPC: 853515853032 |
| 2023 | Millennium |
Singles
- Independent singles (2019–2023): 22 tracks
- "Low Life" (May 2019)
- "One Shot" (December 2023)
- XYP3RN / Balkan Wave Records singles (2024–2026)
- feat. МТЛ, KODEKS, Yinte
