CARNAGE THE EXECUTIONER
Beyond the stage, Terrell shamelessly lives as a proud survivor of childhood poverty and systemic abuse. He makes absolutely no excuses for his upbringing; instead, he draws raw inspiration from his past to practice deep self-reflection and vulnerability in his music. As a former social worker who endured the foster care system, he takes immense pride in his lifelong evolution. Terrell intentionally channels his stage-honed discipline into building strong community relationships, supporting others in defining their unique identities, and standing firm in his advocacy for positive self-expression. Unapologetic when demanding justice for all, he delivers a sonic experience that proves your past shapes you, but your potential defines you.
Terrell X’avion / TERRELL X (A.K.A. Carnage The Executioner) is a fearless, multi-dimensional hip-hop artist, performer, and educator who draws from a vast, uncompromising well of influences. For over 30 years, Terrell has been composing, recording, and traveling the world—commanding stages across the United States, Europe, Mexico, and Southeast Asia. His live show is a masterclass in raw energy and technical wizardry, seamlessly blending jazz improvisation, classic hip-hop precision, and rock energy with intricate live looping and human beat boxing.
Highly respected for his electrifying stage presence, deeply personal rhythmic storytelling, and interactive live choruses, Terrell possesses a rare, room-reading intuition that allows him to captivate audiences of all ages and demographics. The Minneapolis Star Tribune famously declared that his “mouth might be the best drummer in town,” while solidifying his legacy by stating that Terrell has spent much of his career “proving he’s the most technologically-skilled rapper in Minnesota.” Operating as a powerhouse one-man band utilizing a looper, an effects pedalboard, and two microphones, his performance style relies entirely on real-time creation. As a natural collaborator, he recruited a fierce collective of genre-bending artists known as the Hecatomb Crew, independently funding and unleashing a sprawling catalog of nearly 30 albums through Hecatomb Industries since 2004.
