Evan Potwora | Opinion Editor
March 27, 2026
Khia, a rapper and singer known for her song “My Neck, My Back,” has recently been gaining attention after her name was used in a phenomenon called The Khia Asylum. This made-up place references how Khia had her one hit, then seemed to disappear from pop culture without any mention. Since then, any artist who was once relevant and has since become seemingly unknown is to be an “inmate” of the Khia Asylum. Not to be confused with a “one-hit wonder,” an inmate can have a longer run with success, but still become “irrelevant.”
A few key current members of the Khia Asylum include Bebe Rexha, Rita Ora, and Fergie. Bebe Rexha, who at one point had multiple singles on the Billboard 200 and multiple Grammy nominations, seems to be almost never mentioned. Or Rita Ora, who also held chart-topping hits and judged in multiple competition shows, and is unknown to most. Fergie, a key member of Black Eyed Peas and the artist behind 3 #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, is also currently lacking recent attention. Meaning that when part of the Khia Asylum, pop culture is indicating that your career is currently “dead.”
However, multiple key figures have been able to leave the Khia Asylum in the past three years. This includes Sabrina Carpenter, Charlie XCX, and most notably, Zara Larsson. Sabrina Carpenter escaped with her album Short n’ Sweet, and Charlie XCX with the album Brat. Zara Larson, the most recent example, is making a second debut with the song “Stateside.” It is currently the most listened to song on Spotify. All of which learned that marketing and brand creation are very influential in making your way to fame, a key piece that the artists within the Asylum have lacked.
Something the Khia Asylum has highlighted is the lack of sympathy and calm within the music industry. To stay in the public eye at a certain level, one must continue to market and tease new songs or albums. When Charlie XCX was on Quenlin Blackwell’s “Feeding Starving Celebrities,” she admitted that “I’m so happy to be out. But let me tell you, just because you get out once doesn’t mean you’re not going back.” Society has created a culture in which consistency is the only way to maintain fame. Junior Ryan Cuenca explained that, “[she has] seen so many artists rise and fall just within [her] lifetime, it all seems like the singing world is not forgiving.” This is exemplified by Katy Perry, who was once the world’s most famous artist, even performing at the Super Bowl. However, as she began easing into a slower pace, it seems she lacks familiarity with today’s modern audience.
Does being in the Khia Asylum mean that your career is going downhill, or could it also mean that you are putting yourself first before your career? This can be seen in artists such as Normani and Selena Gomez, who have pursued other projects, uncomfortable with the fast pace and toxicity that surrounded their careers. Junior Sydney Seva admitted that “if [she] were an artist, [she] wouldn’t risk [her] livelihood for a few more minutes of fame. Art should be a passion, not a chore.”
While it’s a funny bit about the internet and celebrities, the large-scale trend of the consistency required for fame is highlighted. Is this really the price that singers have to pay in order to maintain a living career? Looking forward, society must recognize the sacrifices of the career for many, long recording sessions, nonstop tours, and constant press, understanding that fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. We must question, is the Khia Asylum really that bad if it means that one is satisfied?
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