2Hollis has been on my radar for ages. I became aware of Nettspend a million years ago, so 2Hollis was a grown-up, sexy, and talented (sorry!) version of him. I was awfully excited when that picture of him kissing a dude dropped (even if it was for clout or whatever), but I was embarrassed to listen to his music for some reason. Listening to him seemed like listening to The Hellp, which I'm too prideful for. The same people that are into Snow Strippers or were drainers in high school (or still happen to be in high school) seemed to be his only fans, and I couldn't get behind that. But, one day, after watching one of his 2023 performances (9/7/2023), I'd had enough!
There is obviously the same weird gate-keep-y feeling surrounding 2Hollis that there used to be around Drain Gang or idk like Sematary. However, there has been a massive shift in the makeup of these "underground" fans. When I was gatekeeping Ecco2K and Sematary, I was surrounded by kind of uncool boys and ugly girls. My drainer mutuals on tik tok were all greasy and wore affliction and hoodies. But people have traded their size 40 Trueys in for size 28 Hedi Slimane skinny jeans. Or, maybe Jaded London. And, honestly, I don't like this shift. Back in the day, there was an air of /mu/ (chan) lurking on any social media where you were talking about "underground" music. But, now, everyone shops on Grailed and is so fucking skinny and does coke and wants to bring back "indie-sleaze." And, yeah, people have been talking about the indie-sleaze "revival" for like a year now. But, wow, it's noticeable and totally insincere: see below.
But 2Hollis has a unique talent and allure that cannot be tainted even by the corniness of his fans. When I was 17, I would look at pictures and videos of Ecco2K and be totally overwhelmed by emotion. I can't say what the reason was... he has a beautiful voice, makes incredible music, dances really cutely on stage, and is both nonchalant and sincere. The way I feel about 2Hollis reminds me of the way I used to feel about Ecco2K. But he occupies a world much closer to mine than Ecco2k ever did. My ex-girlfriend's friend knows a girl he (almost) dated and the bald-headed boy he kissed in NY. While I know we won't ever have sex or become friends or anything, I can imagine scenarios that feel almost ..realistic.
Beyond the dislike I have for all the "newgen" talk amongst his fans, 2Hollis has a lot going for himself. He is a nepo baby, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone. He is also kind of cheesy... his flexing and stuff is often too much to handle. Like, I get embarrassed when I watch his lives. And a while ago, a video of him not being able to open a water bottle made its rounds. And in the video, he's wearing a glove and a backwards hat and smoking and totally flexing but can't open a damn water bottle! The video goes on for nearly thirty seconds without a bit of success. He made a video response where he opens three bottles in a row to prove that he's strong enough and was merely having an off day.
He also has a kind of crazy body. He towers over everyone but is crazy skinny and has the straighest posture I've ever seen. Sk*nwalker-esque. While these attributes make him look elven, they make for crazy dancing... those long skinny legs. But, somehow, I find it all kind of sexy?!
Part of the sexiness is that I used to think 2Hollis was gay. Like full-blooded homosexual. More or less. And I also thought he was way older than me. So I would see his performances from when he had the short haircut and be like "wow, it's so cool that he's just out there making good music even though he's gay." He probably walked a long and hard road (considering the fact that he was surely not also born in 2004) trying to figure out if he wanted to be with men or women but finally figured it out. I thought he was totally a fem gay top. And there's nothing sexier than a fem gay top.
I had no reason to believe 2Hollis was gay beyond a gut feeling akin to the Holy Spirit. My imaginings were quickly put to rest once I started actually listening to his music. Backseat, I ate it in my gold teeth ... everyone knows what it means to "eat it." Whatever. Maybe he's bi maybe he's straight. Either way, he is not a fem gay top. And, yet, this hasn't made me like him any less. Most people wouldn't be able to endure the aftermath of my disillusionment. But 2Hollis has: his music is just that good, and he's just that pretty.
I like things that have an understanding of what they are trying to do--things with a strong image. When I think about my favorite authors or directors, they are guided by an aesthetic code. And it's not disingenuous like the people who got together to say "waiiiit, let's bring back indie sleaze?!!?!" 2Hollis also seems to be guided by an aesthetic code. It's not like Opium which clings to an aesthetic code... where people wear Rick Owens just because they don't know what else to do. 2Hollis has a true understanding of what is cool... he doesn't look like anyone else and seems to have arrived at that point naturally. His albums are also totally cohesive--talking about a specific mood or time or something--while using all sorts of genres. Every song on "Boy" talks about a crazy specific thing. It feels really teenage-y and super emotional and totally relatable to a specific group of youngsters. Each song is super distinct but everything is cohesive because 2Hollis understands what he is doing. He feels like a mature artist, which is why I used to think he was older than he was. And it's obvious that he will continue to figure out his style and stuff. He's a real person!
I was inspired to listen to 2Hollis because I believed he was gay and even though he's not, I still want to bottom him. What the what?! I could never explain why that is. There's been like three men I've actually wanted to have sex with and 2Hollis is somehow one of them. Even though Ecco2K ruled my world for years, I never really wanted to have sex with him. Maybe it's on the nose because 2Hollis kind of looks like a girl, but. My point still stands. Part of this is the fact that he clearly has a private life most people don't really know about. I mean, you can puzzle all sorts of things together and learn more about him, but you're not really invited into his private world. I like the things I can't have. Imagine how it would feel to be given something afforded to no one else. He's mysterious and it makes me want him more. I love 2Hollis. Beautiful 2Hollis.
