Music is weirdly cyclical. Sometimes, a track drops and it feels like a relic from the future, or maybe just a really polished version of the 1980s that we forgot to record. That’s the vibe you get when you first hear the X and O song—officially titled "Xeno"—by the Ghanaian-Australian powerhouse Genesis Owusu. It isn't just a catchy hook. It's a frantic, jittery exploration of identity and "the other" that manages to be both a club banger and a philosophical crisis at the same time.
Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Spotify’s "Alternative R&B" playlists lately, you’ve probably felt the pull of that specific, staccato rhythm. People call it the X and O song because the phonetic repetition of "Xeno" sounds like a game of tic-tac-toe played at 130 beats per minute.
The Sound of "Xeno" and Why We Keep Calling it the X and O Song
Genesis Owusu, born Kofi Owusu-Ansah, has a knack for making discomfort sound incredibly fun. On his 2023 album STRUGGLER, he moved away from the "Black Dog" metaphors of his debut and jumped straight into a Kafka-esque world of cockroaches and survival. "Xeno" is the heart of that.
It's fast.
The bassline doesn't just sit there; it attacks. When he shouts "Xeno!" it’s easy for the casual listener to mishear it as "X and O." That’s actually a pretty common phenomenon in digital music discovery. You hear a snippet, the brain fills in the gaps with familiar symbols—kisses and hugs, or a game—and suddenly "Xeno" becomes the X and O song.
But "Xeno" isn't about romance. It's derived from the Greek word xenos, meaning stranger or guest. It’s about being an outsider. It’s about that feeling when you walk into a room and realize everyone is looking at you like you’re an alien species. Owusu has talked about this in several interviews, noting how his experience as a Black man in Canberra, Australia, shaped this sense of permanent "strangerhood."
The production is handled by a team including Jason Evigan and Mikey Freedom Hart. They didn't go for a clean pop sound. It’s messy. It’s got these jagged synth lines that sound like they're about to snap. That's why it works. In a world of over-sanitized, AI-generated pop melodies, something as aggressive as the X and O song feels like a slap in the face. A good one.
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Why Does This Track Keep Trending?
Short-form video content loves a rhythmic punch. The X and O song has that in spades. The "X-E-N-O" chant creates a natural editing point for creators. You see it used in fashion transitions, high-energy workout clips, and even surrealist comedy skits.
It’s the "Get Up" factor.
There's a specific energy in the track that mimics the post-punk movement of the late 70s. Think The Fall or Gang of Four, but injected with modern hip-hop sensibilities. It doesn't ask for your attention; it demands it.
Breaking Down the STRUGGLER Era
To understand why this song exists, you have to look at the album it anchors. STRUGGLER is a concept piece. Owusu was inspired by Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. He views the protagonist of the album—and essentially the person singing the X and O song—as a cockroach trying to avoid being stepped on by the boot of God or the universe.
That sounds incredibly dark.
And yet, the music makes you want to dance. This duality is Owusu’s superpower. He takes the existential dread of being a "Xeno" and turns it into a celebratory anthem for anyone who feels like they don't fit the mold. It’s a survivalist anthem.
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Is There Another X and O Song?
Search engines get confused. You might be here looking for something else.
While Genesis Owusu owns the current cultural conversation around these syllables, there are a few other contenders for the title of the X and O song:
- The Weeknd - XO / The Host: If you're an OG fan of Abel Tesfaye, "XO" is a lifestyle. It’s his label, his brand, and a frequent lyrical motif. But his "XO" is usually about drugs and late-night regrets, not the frenetic energy of the Owusu track.
- Kisses and Hugs: There are dozens of bubblegum pop songs from the early 2000s that use "X and O" as a hook. They are mostly forgettable.
- Statler Brothers - Flowers on the Wall: "Playing solitaire till dawn with a deck of fifty-one / Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo / Now don't tell me I've nothin' to do." Wait, that's not it. But they do mention games. Okay, maybe not that one.
The point is, "Xeno" has effectively rebranded the phonetic sound of "X and O" for a new generation of listeners who want their music to have a bit of teeth.
The Cultural Impact of the Stranger
Owusu’s "Xeno" isn't just a song; it’s a statement on the immigrant experience. When you are the "other," you are often categorized before you are understood. The X and O song plays with this. It uses a repetitive, almost tribal chant to reclaim the label.
Music critics have praised the track for its "unflinching intensity." Rolling Stone and NME both highlighted "Xeno" as a standout track because it refuses to stay in one lane. Is it rap? Is it rock? Is it electronic? It’s all of them. It’s a "Xeno"—a stranger to genre.
If you’ve ever felt like you were performing a version of yourself just to get through the day, this song is your soundtrack. The repetition of the lyrics feels like a mantra. It’s a way of saying, "Yeah, I’m the stranger. So what?"
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How to Experience the Song Properly
Don't just listen to it on your phone speakers. Please.
To actually "get" the X and O song, you need bass. You need to feel the vibration of the low end. It was designed for live performances. If you ever get the chance to see Genesis Owusu live, do it. He performs with "The Black Dogs"—his backing dancers/hype men who wear red balaclavas and move with a synchronized, eerie precision.
In a live setting, "Xeno" becomes a ritual. The audience isn't just watching a show; they’re participating in a collective release of tension. The song builds and builds until the room feels like it’s going to explode.
Actionable Insights for Your Playlist
If you’re digging the vibe of the X and O song, you shouldn't stop there. The "Struggler" universe is deep. You’ll want to check out these tracks to round out the experience:
- "Leaving the Light" - This is the companion piece to Xeno. It’s got the same driving energy but feels a bit more triumphant.
- "Stay Blessed" - From his first album, this shows the punk-rock roots that eventually led to the sound of Xeno.
- "Tiedup!" - If you want to hear how he handles a more funk-inspired groove while still keeping that "stranger" edge.
The best way to support artists like Owusu is to buy the physical media. Vinyl sales for STRUGGLER have been huge because the artwork is just as visceral as the music. The cover features Owusu looking like a literal pest caught in a spotlight.
Ultimately, the X and O song is a gateway drug. It starts with a catchy misheard lyric and ends with you questioning the nature of your own identity in a world that wants to step on you. Not bad for a three-minute track.
To get the most out of this music, start by listening to the full STRUGGLER album in order. It’s a narrative experience. Don't shuffle it. Let the story of the cockroach unfold. Then, go find the music video for "Xeno." It’s a visual feast that uses high-contrast lighting to emphasize the "stranger" themes. Finally, if you're a musician yourself, try stripping the song down to just the bassline and the vocals; you'll realize just how much heavy lifting the rhythm is doing. It’s a masterclass in tension and release.