CARNAGE405: Pushing Boundaries, Defining Oklahoma’s Underground
CARNAGE405: Pushing Boundaries, Defining Oklahoma’s Underground
By Ferrell Dixon Jr. (@princexferrell)
Photography by Kevin Tomlinson (@lynx_films_)
In Oklahoma City’s underground music scene, CARNAGE405 is not just a performer; he’s an architect of chaos, a provocateur who thrives on intensity. His sound—self-described as “Dark and Gruesome”—is a visceral blend of aggression and raw emotion, born from a deep well of personal anger. “My sound is a result of anger. The deep, powerful aggression inside of me,” he explains. Early influences like XXXTENTACION, Ski Mask, and Scarlxrd laid the groundwork, but his evolution has been steered by the people closest to him—his brother, XERO, and a close circle of creative collaborators.
CARNAGE405’s live performances have earned him a reputation as both daring and unpredictable. At the XTREME TRAP GAMES in OKC, he notoriously sliced his chest open mid-set. “I knew people would think it was really dope, or really stupid, but either way, I knew they’d remember me,” he says. It’s a statement that captures his ethos: creating indelible moments that linger in the minds of his audience. For CARNAGE405, it’s not enough to perform; his art must leave a scar.
Yet beneath the shock tactics lies a more deliberate strategy. CENTRAL DYNAMIC, the music collective he co-founded with his brother at 14, is now a full-fledged movement. “It started as a small music collective... Now, CENTRAL DYNAMIC is a movement supported and embraced by many.” For CARNAGE405, it’s a testament to the power of persistence and vision—a driving force behind his career. The collective isn’t just about music; it’s about creating a platform for progress and amplifying voices from Oklahoma’s underground.
CARNAGE405’s evolution is also marked by collaboration. The influence of underground artists like Ruzlxn, Dirtybutt, and Pyrxciter is unmistakable. “Pyrx really is like a big brother in this music stuff to me... I’ve always been able to learn from him,” he reflects. These partnerships are less about competition and more about mutual growth, fostering a culture that’s both insular and generative.
His latest single, “Need A Minute,” offers a surprising pivot—more introspective, less incendiary. “I’m trying to sway my message rather than just the usual ignorance praised in most music,” he says. It’s an acknowledgment of his shifting priorities, but one that doesn’t compromise the intensity fans have come to expect.
CARNAGE405’s persona straddles the line between allure and menace. He’s a rockstar with undeniable sex appeal, but also an artist unafraid to explore the darker recesses of human emotion. “I just am what I am,” he says, a statement as unvarnished as his music. Authenticity is his currency, whether he’s delivering high-octane chaos or introspective vulnerability.
With his iconic Halloween show in Norman now behind him, all eyes are on his upcoming tape, RELENTLESS. Promising a return to the “hype, aggressive, powerful, energetic qualities” his fans crave, the project feels poised to reaffirm his place at the forefront of Oklahoma’s underground.
For those observing his trajectory, CARNAGE405 is more than an artist—he’s a catalyst. Oklahoma’s underground isn’t just a scene; it’s a statement, and CARNAGE405 is its loudest voice. In an industry driven by conformity, he’s proving that the fringes are where innovation thrives.