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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy was the Xperiment crossed? Because it wasn't a success.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Xperiment
Rear view of Ken Carson facing an operating room with a black X tattooed on the back of his neck
Standard cover
Studio album by
Ken Carson
ReleasedJuly 3, 2026 (2026-07-03)
Genres
Length60:41
Labels
Producers
  • 2hollis
  • 4our3va
  • 5star
  • Acog
  • AM
  • Arkman
  • Art Dealer
  • CHZ
  • Clif Shayne
  • Curesful
  • DJ Moon
  • DY Krazy
  • EInThisMF
  • F1lthy
  • Gab3
  • KP Beatz
  • LBW
  • Legion
  • Lil88
  • Lucian
  • Lukrative
  • MalikaiX8
  • Mental
  • Misogi
  • Nick Spiders
  • OMGZanoza
  • Outtatown
  • Qexotic
  • Sala
  • Skai
  • Ssor.t
  • Star Boy
  • Storm
  • Tre Pounds
  • Unseen
  • YPM Carter
Ken Carson chronology
More Chaos
(2025)		 Xperiment
(2026)		 Cartunez
(2026)

Xperiment (stylized in all lowercase) is the fifth studio album by American rapper Ken Carson, released on July 3, 2026, through Opium and Interscope Records. Xperiment has collaborations with 2hollis, Destroy Lonely, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, and Young Thug.[3] Carson is scheduled to embark on the Xperimenting Tour in North America in support of the album from August to September 2026. The album received unenthusiastic reviews from critics and earned 42,000 album-equivalent units in its first week to debut at number seven on the US Billboard 200.

Release and promotion

[edit]

Carson began the promotional rollout for Xperiment at Rolling Loud 2026 in Orlando, Florida on May 10, 2026, which he headlined after YoungBoy Never Broke Again dropped out three days prior.[4] During his set, Carson brought out multiple guests including Destroy Lonely, Playboi Carti, Young Thug, and Lil Tecca, and previewed unreleased music with the artists as well as a track with 2hollis.[5][4] Following Rolling Loud, Carson began teasing concept merch, trailers, and art for the album on an alternative Instagram account, xperimenting0_0.[6] On June 14, 2026, he revealed the album's release date of July 3, 2026, through a teaser trailer posted on X, which was confirmed by a pre-save link days later.[7]

Carson teased additional music whilst performing at Summer Smash in Chicago[7] on June 22, 2026.[8] A USB drive became the rollout's "central motif", with featured artists sharing pictures of it on Instagram and its 22-song tracklist and unreleased material being teased through hidden drives discovered by fans in the cities of Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.[7] Carson revealed the track listing on June 30.[9] Following three European festival performances from July to August, the Xperimenting Tour (comprising fourteen concerts across the United States) is planned to take place from August 26 to September 23; DJ Moon, Prettifun, and Xaviersobased are the planned opening acts. A special solo performance at ComplexCon 2026 on October 3 is also billed under the tour name.[10] Following the release, a pop-up for the album was hosted in the ESSX store in the Lower East Side of New York City.[11]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[12]
Pitchfork5.0/10[1]
Slant MagazineStarStarStar[13]

Xperiment received mixed reviews from music critics. A reviewer for AllMusic praised the project, writing how it sees Carson still maintain the post-rage rap sound that he's known for, but sees him incorporate new beat and flow variations, and general approach significantly more than he has on past releases.[12] Kyle Denis of Billboard felt that the album "solidifies [Carson] as a true niche superstar, particularly one who can converse with his fanbase in the creation of the music while still packing surprises at nearly every turn."[2] Less favourably, Eli Enis of Pitchfork felt that Carson sounded creatively exhausted and "tired" of the rage formula that made him popular, and that his lyrical themes, producers, and guest features were "chained to the very formula that [the album] purports to deviate from". However, he praised "Deaf Note" with Playboi Carti and "Possession" for showcasing Carson as an "alluringly naughty hedonist dripping with personality and armed with the ability to make every line a memorable callout" and Young Thug and Lil Uzi Vert's appearences on "Ghost" and "Drug Kit", which he viewed as its best tracks.[1] Paul Attard of Slant Magazine similarly felt that Xperiment did not deviate from Carson's sound on A Great Chaos and More Chaos and that whilst he had appeal with his "snickers, vocal contortions, and dim-witted quotables with an impulsive, sneering energy", this "remains the only thing [he] does well".[13] Enis and Attard both deemed "ShadesOn" (which features Carson rapping over an instrumental of the 2hollis song "Girl"), the album's worst track, with the former calling it "misleadingly credited" and criticizing Carson for not adapting his flows and themes to the song's production.[1][13]

Commercial performance

[edit]

According to Luminate data reported by Billboard, Xperiment earned 42,000 album-equivalent units in its first week in the United States. The report did not break down this figure into album sales, streaming-equivalent albums, and track-equivalent albums, instead simply stating that "Essentially all of that sum is driven by [streaming-equivalent album] units" from 44.89 million on-demand official streams. It debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 and number six on Top Streaming Albums.[14] According to Hits data, it earned 42,549 album-equivalent units in its first week in the US, comprising 623 album sales, 41,896 streaming-equivalent albums, and 30 track-equivalent albums.[15]

Track listing

[edit]
Xperiment track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."WhereDoIStart"
  • 4our3va
  • Mental
2:43
2."Deaf Note" (featuring Playboi Carti)
Skai3:18
3."ShadesOn"
2hollis1:58
4."Gynecologist"
2:15
5."Wrist"
Lil 882:50
6."EDM"
  • Frazier
  • Corey Moon
  • Daniel Denisov
  • Kai French
  • Luuk Wanmaker
  • Olafs Denisovs
  • DJ Moon
  • LBW
  • Acog
  • Curesful
  • Storm
3:28
7."Truth"
  • Frazier
  • Jung Cho
  • Tobias Dekker
  • Zain Siddiqui
  • Art Dealer
  • Outtatown
  • Misogi
2:26
8."OutOfMyBody"
  • Frazier
  • Ortiz
  • Hunter
  • F1lthy
  • 5Star
  • CHZ
2:01
9."The Ritual"
  • Frazier
  • Ivan Kuricyn
  • Erik Cordova
  • Unseen
  • EInThisMF
2:40
10."Interlude"
  • Frazier
  • Dekker
  • Anton Mendo
  • Outtatown
  • Star Boy
1:28
11."Ghost" (with Lil Uzi Vert)
  • DJ Moon
  • Gab3
  • Arkman
3:53
12."Drug Kit" (featuring Young Thug)
  • DY Krazy
  • Tre Pounds
  • YPM Carter
3:27
13."Possession"
  • Frazier
  • Ortiz
  • Hunter
  • F1lthy
  • 5Star
2:13
14."Fw00"
  • Frazier
  • Siddiqui
  • Arman Andican
  • Misogi
  • AM
2:42
15."SoManyBags"
  • Frazier
  • Keifa Carter
Legion1:49
16."Shopping" (featuring Destroy Lonely)
  • AM
  • Malikaix8
  • Sala
3:59
17."AmandaBynes"
  • Frazier
  • Moon
  • French
  • Matthew Shalnev
  • DJ Moon
  • Curesful
  • OMGZanoza
2:30
18."Amnesia"
  • Frazier
  • Cho
  • Dekker
  • Siddiqui
  • Art Dealer
  • Outtatown
  • Misogi
2:20
19."Flamethrower"
  • Frazier
  • Nicholas Spires
  • Aleksandr Sarnakov
  • Nick Spiders
  • Qexotic
2:19
20."Knocking"
  • Frazier
  • Clifton Shayne
Clif Shayne3:15
21."Addiction"
  • Frazier
  • Ortiz
  • Thevenot
  • F1lthy
  • Lukrative
3:16
22."WeDidIt" (featuring Playboi Carti)
  • Frazier
  • J. Carter
  • Kenneth Pannu
  • Stefan Cismigliu
  • Thomas Ross
  • KP Beatz
  • Lucian
  • Ssor.t
3:42
Total length:60:41
Alt digital album track listing[16][17]
No.TitleLength
23."Too Many Poles" 
  • All track titles are stylized in all lowercase

Personnel

[edit]

These credits have been adapted from Tidal.[18]

Technical

  • Chanyong "CY" Park – additional engineering (tracks 1, 10, 12, 20–21)
  • Drew Kelly – additional engineering (tracks 1, 10, 12, 20–21)
  • Hayden Grant – additional engineering (tracks 1, 10, 12, 20–21)
  • Liam Kachele – additional engineering (tracks 1, 10, 12, 20–21)
  • Luan Ho – additional engineering (tracks 1, 10, 12, 20–21)
  • Ben Lidsky – engineering (tracks 1, 5–12, 20–21); mixing (tracks 1, 3–21)
  • Glenn Schick – mastering (tracks 1–22)
  • Corey Moon – engineering (tracks 2–4, 13–17, 21)
  • Marcus Fritz – mixing (tracks 2, 22); engineering (track 22)
  • Argenis "Trilla" Peguero – engineering (track 11)
  • Bainz – engineering (track 12)
  • Max Lord – engineering (tracks 18–19)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Xperiment
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] 29
Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[20] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[21]142
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[22] 21
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[23]45
French Albums (SNEP)[24]136
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[25]47
German Hip-Hop Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] 12
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[27]19
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[28] 38
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[29] 24
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[30]26
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[31] 45
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[32]9
UK Albums (Official Charts)[33]62
US Billboard 200[14] 7
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[34] 2

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 Enis, Eli (July 9, 2026). "Ken Carson: xperiment". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Brown, Eric Renner; Havens, Lyndsey; Newman, Melinda; Denis, Kyle; Bain, Katie; Roiz, Jessica (July 3, 2026). "Madonna, Sienna Spiro, Riley Green & More: New Music Friday Guide". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Ken Carson Reveals 'XPERIMENT' Tracklist Featuring Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert and More". InMusic. June 30, 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Saponara, Michael (May 11, 2026). "Ken Carson Kicks Off 'The Xperiment' Rollout With Star-Studded Rolling Loud Orlando Set Feat. Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Destroy Lonely & Lil Tecca". Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Ken Carson Announces New Album XPERIMENT". Stereogum. June 19, 2026. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  6. ↑ Neiman, Drew (June 19, 2026). "Ken Carson announces new album Xperiment". The FADER. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Frederick, Brendan (June 29, 2026). "Ken Carson's New Album 'xperiment': Tracklist, Features, and More". Complex Networks. Archived from the original on June 29, 2026. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ Braboy, Mark (June 23, 2025). "7 Best Moments From Young Thug's First Post-Jail Performance at Summer Smash". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ Cole, Alexander (July 1, 2026). "Ken Carson Unveils Tracklist And Features For New Album "Xperiment"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  10. ↑ Harrison, Scoop (July 7, 2026). "Ken Carson Announces "xperimenting tour"". Consequence. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  11. ↑ Maidment, Tommy (July 17, 2026). "The Ken Carson xperiment pop-up in LES was total pandemonium". The Fader. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  12. 1 2 TiVo Staff. "Ken Carson: Xperiment". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 Attard, Paul (July 8, 2026). "Ken Carson 'Xperiment' Review: A Lateral Move That Doesn't Live Up to Its Title". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 9, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (July 12, 2026). "Madonna Achieves 10th No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'CONFESSIONS II'". Billboard. Penske Media Corporation, Eldridge Industries. ISSN 0006-2510. OCLC 732913734. Archived from the original on July 12, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Chart Final UPDATE: Bump 'n' GRINDR". Hits Daily Double. July 10, 2026. OCLC 15994494. Archived from the original on July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  16. ↑ "xperiment alt digital album". Ken Carson Official Store. Archived from the original on July 7, 2026. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  17. ↑ Cole, Alexander (July 7, 2026). "Too Many Poles - Song by Ken Carson". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 8, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  18. ↑ "xperiment / Ken Carson / Credits". Tidal. Block. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  19. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  20. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 13, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Ken Carson – Xperiment" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of July 18, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ken Carson – Xperiment" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Top Albums (Semaine du 10 juillet 2026)". Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ken Carson – Xperiment" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts: Top 20 HipHop-Charts – 10 Juli 2026" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2026. 28. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  28. ↑ "2026 28-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  30. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 03.07.2026–09.07.2026 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Top 200 Álbuns Semana 28 de 2026" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 2. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Ken Carson – Xperiment". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 10/7/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of July 18, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xperiment&oldid=1366463467"