Justin Trudeau's teenage son draws mixed reviews on debut R&B track as 'Xav' kicks off music career: 'Grown men out here hating'

Yahoo

29-01-2025

Justin Trudeau's son, 17, is trying to make waves in the Canadian music scene as his father prepares to step away from the political spotlight.
The soon-to-be-former Canadian prime minister's eldest son, Xavier, appears to be pursuing a career in music after he teased his first R&B track on Instagram titled "Til The Nights Done."
The Instagram reel, which was posted over the weekend, shows Xavier Trudeau — AKA "Xav" — cruising around the streets in a hoodie at night before dropping some bars in a recording studio, and eventually entering a black SUV.
The full track is set to be released in mid-to-late February.
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A post shared by Xav (@xavtrudeau_)
The management company that represents young Trudeau, Pathway Music Group, confirmed to the Toronto Star in an email that Xav's debut track will be be released in full on Feb. 21 of this year, along with a music video.
'Xav began by sharing his passion with his friends and this eventually developed into a more serious approach,' Alex Van Dusen, a spokesperson for Pathway Music Group, told the Star.
According to the National Post, who spoke with one of the label's co-founders, Joey Boyer, this track is set to be the first of many.
'His 'vibe' is dark ambient R&B with a hint of ballads,' said Boyer in an email. "Everything you will hear from Xav is 100 per cent original and made specifically to curate to Xav's ideas."
Along with the video to tease the song, Xav added the hashtags "pop, rapper, singer, artist" as part of his Instagram post.
Unfortunately — but likely expected — for Xavier, his dad's critics and naysayers, of which there are plenty, jumped at the chance to express their contempt for the longtime Canadian Prime Minister and the current state of Canada.
Trudeau stepped down in early January as the Liberal Party leader as he saw his popularity nose-dive over the past few months — something that was exacerbated in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's heavy tariff threats.
"Will you rap about how your dad and grand father destroyed Canada???" One reply read. "Rap about how bad Canada is now," read another.
"Funded by taxpayers! Get a real job," wrote one user on Instagram, while another posted: "The narcissism runs strong in this family."
"Your dad ruined this country," one reply read. "Where's my carbon rebate Xavier?" Replied another.
Another user wrote: "That's my tax money right there. ur flexing my tax money."
The debut song from Xavier — who has also garnered some attention because of his prowess on the basketball court — features the weed-inspired lyric, 'we could roll sum, we could light one.' His father Justin notoriously paved the way for the the eventual legalization of Cannabis when he was elected in 2015 before cannabis officially became legal across the country in October 2018.
As you'd probably expect, this connection between father and lyric made for easy pickings online.
His daddy has been rolling and lighting something too.
— Ryan Collins (@ryd3v) January 25, 2025
It what is likely a surprise to some, there was actually a good amount of positive feedback and support amid all the negativity, starting with Xavier's mother, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, who replied "good work guys!' on the Instagram reel of her son's track.
Other, non-relatives had plenty of encouragement for the eldest Trudeau child, too.
"So dope. proud of you brother," one reply read, while another said, "WAIT THIS IS SO GOOD WHAT."
"Grown men out here hating on a 17-year-old kid for making music because of his dad. Y'all sound like your fathers failed at raising you," a user wrote.
"All these comments are crazy, guys just trying to make some music, let him be," commented another.
"Not bad honestly don't let these comments bring you down your dads political reputation should not affect you personally," encouraged one Instagram user.
"I won't lie bro it sounds good, but you should already know how the internet is. Just the fact you have that last name means you are going to garner so much hate. Trust me I don't think it's fair considering you are your own person," posted another.
Outgoing Prime Minister Trudeau, easily one of the most divisive figures in modern North American politics, has been open about the difficulties faced by his children as his national popularity dropped over the years.
In October 2024, Trudeau appeared on an episode of the "Inside The Village," podcast, where he said he still believes "most Canadians are decent and thoughtful" despite that fact that many were angry.
When the podcast hosts floated the idea that a rise in "F*** Trudeau" flags, clothing and paraphernalia was personal rather than political, Trudeau said he understands why the temperature has risen in recent months and years.
"Canadian politics and Canadians in general used to be a little more civil around disagreements like that," Trudeau said, adding while people with very "aggressive, negative views" have always been prevalent, those voices along with misinformation have been "amplified" online in a "self-feeding" cycle.
Trudeau added that sentiment doesn't make having his name dragged through the mud any easier.
"When you see an 'F Trudeau' flag, people don't think about it, but I do. That's my daughter's last name on that flag," the outgoing P.M. said.
"That's the last name that my two sons will carry throughout their lives. It's hard for me to think about how to make them understand that it's all part of the sacrifice and service that we're choosing to do."