Washed-up, old-news, one-hit-wonders.
These are just some of the phrases that could be attributed to artists who have been shackled to the padded walls of the Khia asylum. A mainstream pop star can become an inmate at any time and those who escape the asylum are always at risk of being admitted once more.
How did the asylum get built? With some origins from the tweet below, the Khia asylum is aptly named, as rapper and singer Khia is in the basement of the asylum herself.
You may be wondering, who even is she? “My neck, my back, lick my pussy and my crack,” might ring some bells.
‘Oh, she’s that one person who did that one song!’ is what you’re probably thinking, and this same thought is what most people have about anyone who ends up in the asylum.
While the merit of the artist’s work may never change, the final decree is up to the fans. So which artists have escaped and who is eternally trapped?
The Harry Houdini of the Asylum
The greatest escapee of the Khia asylum that brought on an unforgettable new wave of pop music was the “BRAT” queen herself, Charli XCX.
From “I Love it” to “Fancy,” her international pop hits of the 2010s listed her as a feature rather than the main event. She found success her own way with the track “Boom Clap,” but even that was connected to the popularity of the 2014 movie “The Fault in Our Stars.”
From 2014 to 2024, she could not find the key to the straight jacket. Then, with the release of “BRAT,” she finally saw the sun again. The album almost immediately received universal acclaim and has been iconized in pop music forever.
In those ten years in the asylum, was she really making music that bad? Songs like “Party 4 U,” from her 2020 album “How I’m Feeling Now,” becoming popular post-BRAT show that her music had potential for popularity even before the album.
However, the asylum doesn’t care about artistry. It runs on popularity, and a good flop is still a flop.
Charli herself has joked about her escape from the asylum. She knows what it’s like to be in it and recognizes that she could go back at any time. The industry can be cutthroat, but even she knows “BRAT” is something that can never be recreated.
Unethical Admittances
Several artists have claimed that they’ve made it out of the asylum, when they’re really still hallucinating inside a padded room. Ava Max, (think “oh she’s sweet but a psycho”) is one of these artists. Unfortunately, awareness of a cage doesn’t make you free from it.
Do these artists really deserve this fate, though? As shown by singers like Charli XCX, Khia doesn’t necessarily mean “bad.” Hours of incredible music is being released that may never be known just because they haven’t hit the mainstream. However, stan accounts on X don’t care about all that. A flop is a flop!
Fresh Out the Asylum
Recent escapee, Zara Larsson, is making her debut at Penn State’s Movin’ On festival on May 1. With the success of her newest album “Midnight Sun” coinciding with the resurgence of “Symphony,” Zara has officially made it out.
In the meantime, many other artists will bide their time until they’re released from the asylum. Now, the term “Khia” itself has become synonymous with being a flop. Anything an anyone can be Khia. From your favorite niche actor to the biggest pop stars in the world. Whether you think they deserve it or not, the masses have made their statement.
Who do you think deserves to be in the Khia asylum? Tweet us on X @VALLEYmag and let us know!
Thank you for creating content that brings out the best in people