C,XOXO

In September 2022, following the release of Cabello's third album, Familia in April of the same year, it was announced she had departed from Epic Records and signed to Universal Music Group's label, Interscope Records.^[2]

Cabello appeared in an interview by Alexandra Cooper of Call Her Daddy, where she revealed her album is "really sitting in the discomfort of things and realizing there's not gonna be a neat, in-a-box answer. I feel strong in these ways, weak in these ways, and there's no real clear answer here. But the album process has been such a journey. It started out with me having that intention of going back to how it started for me, which was just sitting with myself and really getting back to that first passion of songwriting. Nerding out over references and artists and poetry—whatever—and really tapping into that."^[3]

In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Cabello described the album's sonic departure from her previous works, crediting Pablo "el Guincho" Díaz-Reixa and Jasper Harris with assisting her in the departure. She revealed: "I do feel like I'm a weirdo, and that's the music that I love, and that's the music that I feel the most proud of making. I think a lot of times it comes to finding people that are weirdos too, and Jasper's a weirdo, Guincho's a weirdo, and I think the three of us were able to just keep it in this bubble of like, we don't give a fuck, and we're just going to do what we think is fire."^[4]

C,XOXO is a pop record with elements of hyperpop, hip-hop, avant-pop, and alt-pop.^[5][6] The album opens with the lead single "I Luv It", with rapper Playboi Carti. This track combines a hip-hop beat with hyperpop elements.^[7] "Chanel No. 5", the album's promotional single, features R&B-inspired vocals and minimalist production.^[6] "He Knows", with Lil Nas X, combines hip-hop with dance influences.^[5] "Hot Uptown", featuring Drake, has been described as having a danceable beat and infectious melody.^[8]

The album explores themes of love, self-discovery, and empowerment, reflecting Cabello's personal experiences.^[9] According to Sirius XM, Cabello described the album as having "Miami baddie energy" and noted that it contains "things that you haven't heard from [her] before" and moments that are sonically and lyrically unique.^[7]

"I Luv It", with Playboi Carti, was released as the album's lead single on March 27, 2024.^[10] The song debuted and peaked at number 81 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[11] "He Knows", with Lil Nas X, was released as the album's second single on May 10,^[12] while "Chanel No. 5" was released as the album's first promotional single on June 21.^[13] "Hot Uptown", featuring Canadian rapper Drake, impacted US contemporary hit radio as the album's third single on June 28, 2024.^[14]

On August 29, 2024, Cabello announced the Magic City deluxe edition of the album, releasing on September 6, 2024, alongside the first single "Godspeed" and its music video also being released on the same day.

More information Aggregate scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	5.5/10[35]
Metacritic	64/100[36]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[37]
Clash	7/10[38]
The Guardian	[39]
NME	[40]
Pitchfork	6.9/10[41]
Rolling Stone	[42]
Slant Magazine	[43]
Exclaim!	6/10[44]

Close

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, C,XOXO received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 64 out of 100 from 12 critic scores, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[36]

Commentary on the album largely focused on Cabello's shift in sound. Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis opined that the album's direction compared to Cabello's earlier discography was "pretty radical to the point of being occasionally baffling". He concluded that Cabello "often sounds slightly uncomfortable" and that she "feels like a guest on her own album" due to the prominence of its featured artists.^[39]

In Rolling Stone, Maura Johnston noted that Cabello embraces a "weirdo" persona, describing the album as an experimental departure from her previous work.^[42] NME reviewer Nick Levine highlighted the album's "party girl rebrand" and described its songs as "scrappy, intriguing earworms".^[40]

Harry Tafoya of Pitchfork gave the album a 6.9 out of 10, noting its mix of genres and its sonic variety.^[41] Slant Magazine reviewer Paul Attard criticized the album for "mistaking mimicry for mastery", giving it 2 out of 5 stars.^[43]

James Mellen from Clash rated the album 7 out of 10, appreciating its boldness and the departure from Cabello's earlier pop sound.^[38] Sputnikmusic gave it 4 out of 5, praising its innovation and execution.^[45]

In the United States, C,XOXO debuted at number thirteen on the US Billboard 200 earning 36,500 album-equivalent units, becoming her first album to miss the top 10.^[46] It reached the top 10 in Portugal and Spain.

Notes

• ^{^[v]} signifies a vocal producer
• "I Luv It" contains a sample of "Lemonade" (2009), written by Radric Davis and Shondrae Crawford, as performed by Gucci Mane; which itself contains samples and interpolations from "Keep It Warm" (1976), written by Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, as performed by Flo & Eddie.
• "Chanel No.5" contains a sample of "Married to the Game" (2016), written by Dashawn Moore, Nayvadius Wilburn and Joshua Luellen, as performed by DJ Esco and Future, and produced by Southside.
• "Pink XOXO" contains uncredited vocals from PinkPantheress.
• "Pink XOXO" and "He Knows" contain a sample of "Give It Up 2 Me" (2020), written by Ojerime Smith, as performed by Ojerime.
• On physical releases, "Dade County Dreaming" is listed as featuring City Girls, due to being manufactured before the duo disbanded.
• "Dream-Girls" contains a sample of "Shawty Is da Shit" (2007), written by Terius Gesteelde-Diamant and Carlos McKinney, as performed by The-Dream featuring Fabolous.
• "B.O.A.T." contains a sample of "Hotel Room Service" (2009), written by Armando Pérez and James Scheffer, as performed by Pitbull—which itself contains an interpolation of "Rapper's Delight" (1979), written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, as performed by the Sugarhill Gang; an interpolation of "One and One" (1987), written by Luther Campbell, David Hobbs, Mark Ross and Christopher Wong Won, as performed by 2 Live Crew; and a sample of "Push the Feeling On" (1992), written by Ross Campbell, John Reid, Hugh Brankin, Graham Wilson and Mark Kinchen, performed by Nightcrawlers.
• "Can Friends Kiss?" contains a sample of "Alone" (2022), written by Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, Austin Iwar, Ludwig Göransson and Peace Oredope, as performed by Burna Boy.

Musicians

• Camila Cabello – vocals (tracks 1–6, 8–10, 12–18)
• Pablo Díaz-Reixa – programming (tracks 1–4, 6–8, 10, 12–15, 17), sampler (1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14), bass (1, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15–16), drum programming (1), drums (2, 4–6, 8, 10, 12, 14–18), synthesizer (3, 5, 8, 13, 15–16), sequencer (13), 5-string banjo (14), guitar (16)
• Jasper Harris – synthesizer (tracks 1, 3–6, 8, 10, 12–18), bass (1, 4, 14, 16–17), programming (1), piano (2, 5, 10)
• Playboi Carti – vocals (track 1)
• PinkPantheress – vocals (track 3)
• Daniel McKay – synthesizer (track 4), guitar (12, 15), bass (15)
• Lil Nas X – vocals (track 4)
• Aaron Shadow – guitar (tracks 5, 13), percussion (13)
• Owen Pallett – strings (tracks 6, 11)
• JT – vocals (track 6)
• Yung Miami – vocals (track 6)
• BLP Kosher – vocals (track 7)
• Drake – vocals (tracks 8, 9)
• Hidde Ament – vocals, keyboards (track 10)
• Eem Triplin - vocals (track 15)
• Mark Williams - synthesizer (track 18)
• Raul Cubina - synthesizer (track 18)

Technical

• Dale Becker – mastering
• Jon Castelli – mixing
• Marcus Fritz – mixing, engineering (track 1)
• Salvador "Better Call Sal" Majail – engineering (tracks 1–8, 12, 14–16)
• Bart Schoudel – engineering (tracks 1–6, 10, 12–18)
• Drew Sliger – engineering (track 4)
• Noel Cadastre – engineering (track 8)
• Pablo Díaz-Reixa – engineering (track 11)
• Brad Lauchert – mix engineering (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8), mixing assistance (3, 7), engineering assistance (1)
• Katie Harvey – mastering assistance (tracks 2–4, 8, 15–18)
• Noah McCorkle – mastering assistance (tracks 2–4, 8, 15–18)
• Pedro Kayat – engineering assistance (tracks 2, 12–15)
• Antonio "DJ Fuse" Olivera – engineering assistance (track 2, 18)
• Muhammad Akbar - engineering assistance (track 15)
• Andrew "Robby" Anderson - engineering assistance (track 15)