When people talk about Jahseh Onfroy, known to the world as XXXTentacion, they usually focus on the polarizing music or the legal battles that shadowed his meteoric rise. But there’s a massive piece of the puzzle that often gets glossed over in the chaotic documentary footage and the Reddit threads: his father. If you’ve ever wondered who is XXXTentacion’s dad, the answer isn't just a name on a birth certificate. It’s a story about Jamaican roots, a long prison sentence, and a relationship that was basically a ghost for most of Jahseh's life.
Meet Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy
His name is Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy. He’s a Jamaican native who, for better or worse, provided the blueprint for his son's name—Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy. The name "Jahseh" itself has deep roots; Dwayne reportedly chose it after the Bob Marley song "So Jah Seh." It’s a heavy irony when you consider how distant they were.
For the better part of a decade, Dwayne was physically absent. He wasn't just "gone" in the way some parents flake out; he was incarcerated. Dwayne spent about eight and a half years in prison, which essentially swallowed up Jahseh’s entire transition from a kid into a teenager. When you’re growing up in Lauderhill, Florida, and your dad is behind bars, that absence becomes a presence of its own. It’s a void.
The "What’s a Father?" Moment
You might remember that viral 2017 interview where Jahseh was asked about his relationship with his dad. He didn't give a long, drawn-out explanation. He just looked at the interviewer and asked, "What's a father?" It was a cold moment.
Honestly, it told us everything we needed to know about his headspace at the time. To Jahseh, Dwayne wasn't a mentor or a protector; he was a concept he didn't recognize. While his mother, Cleopatra Bernard, was the visible, often controversial figure in his career, Dwayne was the man on the other end of a collect call—if the calls even happened.
Prison, Deportation, and the Disconnect
Dwayne’s legal troubles weren't just a brief stint. His long-term incarceration meant he was essentially "frozen out" of Jahseh’s life during the most volatile years. By the time Dwayne was released, the world had changed, and his son had become a superstar.
But there was another hurdle: deportation. Because Dwayne is Jamaican, his legal issues led to him being deported from the United States. Imagine being stuck in Jamaica while your son is becoming the biggest artist on SoundCloud, and then later, one of the most streamed artists on the planet. He was watching the fame from a distance, unable to physically reach out or step in when things got dark.
The Phone Call from the Cell Block
Dwayne has shared stories in later interviews about the moment he realized his son was famous. He was still locked up when other inmates started talking about "XXXTentacion." One day, he actually got to hear Jahseh rap over the phone. He told a story about how his cellmates went crazy hearing the kid’s talent.
Dwayne claims he told Jahseh: "It ain't about if you're going to be successful... it's about what you do after." Whether that advice actually landed is up for debate. By that point, Jahseh was already deeply entrenched in his own world, surrounded by "Members Only" and a fan base that treated him like a messiah.
After the Tragedy
When XXXTentacion was murdered in June 2018, Dwayne was still in Jamaica. He couldn't even make it to the funeral initially due to his legal status and the suddenness of the tragedy. That’s a level of "too late" that most people can't even wrap their heads around.
Since then, Dwayne has been more vocal. He’s appeared on podcasts and YouTube interviews, looking remarkably like an older version of his son. He speaks with a heavy Jamaican accent and a sort of philosophical regret. He’s even advocated for the death penalty for the men who killed Jahseh, showing a protective instinct that, frankly, came a few years too late to help the boy himself.
The Wedding and the Legacy
In 2019, Dwayne got married. There’s a touching, albeit bittersweet, video of him at his wedding getting emotional when his wife surprised him by playing "School Globes," a posthumous track by X featuring Lil Nas X. You can see the pain there. It’s the pain of a man who realized the "unfinished business" he had with his son will never be finished.
He’s also expressed a desire to be involved in the life of his grandson, Gekyume. But with the family dynamics being as strained as they are—especially between him and Cleopatra—that path hasn't exactly been a smooth one.
The Reality of the Onfroy Bloodline
When you look at who is XXXTentacion’s dad, you’re looking at a man who is a mirror of what Jahseh might have become if he had lived: older, reflective, and carrying the weight of the system. Dwayne didn't "raise" X, but his absence shaped the music we listen to today. The themes of abandonment, the anger, and the desperate search for identity in songs like "Jocelyn Flores" or "Save Me" all point back to that empty chair at the dinner table.
Dwayne Onfroy is a reminder that the "XXXTentacion story" isn't just about a rapper; it’s a multi-generational cycle of struggle that didn't start—and didn't end—in 2018.
What to Do Next
If you’re looking to understand the full scope of the Onfroy family dynamic, your best bet is to look past the headlines and watch the long-form interviews Dwayne has done on YouTube (specifically the ones on the Jeffrey Marr channel). They offer a nuance you won't find in a 30-second TikTok clip. You should also check out the documentary Look At Me, which provides more context on how his family life in Florida fueled his early volatility. Understanding the father helps you understand the "why" behind the son's most haunting lyrics.