Artist Profile: L.E.X.
L.E.X. (also known as “Mr. Alexis”) is a clean hip-hop artist, author, poet, DJ and educator from Milwaukee. While combining all these skills, he’s performed for Summerfest as well as two seasons of Kids In The Rotunda. He earned the country’s “AmeriCorps Member of the Year” for his service in the state of Wisconsin. Poetry and music were positive outlets for L.E.X as a child in Milwaukee. He dedicated a decade of early childhood teaching to showing the youth how powerful it can be for everyone. He wants to show everyone that dreams start young and that your dreams can continue to grow like we do.
What are some of your first memories of making rhymes and music?
Music has always been an important part of my growing up in Milwaukee. As a kid, there was always music playing — whether it was R&B while my mom was cleaning the house; music videos when my cousin would babysit me; or Hip-Hop playing at the family gatherings. I started writing my own more structured music around the age of 10, inspired by the emotions music made people feel. I wanted to also help people laugh, dance and feel alive from my words. Some of my first memories of deciding I’m going to be a rapper are of me walking the hallways of my middle school and high school with huge headphones on and a journal full of rhymes. Some poetry and some raps. I would fill those journals with rhymes about my teachers, friends, strangers, school and more. Music truly got me through my days as a kid, so I know how important it is for the students today too. My Rufus King high school English teacher Ms. D really helped me dive more into learning different devices and styles of writing by giving me poetry books and encouraging me to keep going. That support meant the world to me.
How do you keep energy and momentum around your artistic practice going? Have there been times when bringing attention to your artwork has been challenging?
The start of my rap career was very difficult because I quickly learned that being shy wouldn’t get me noticed. My journals were full of music, but I refused to share it. I could write a song about anything, but I refused to tell too many other (people). I was not the most outspoken or boastful kid in my schools. I had to find a way to tell everyone I could make music without embarrassingly crying in public. Then, one night, I got the idea to create a Facebook page and upload a video of me rapping to the beat “A Milli” by Lil’ Wayne for everyone to see. The next day at school I got tons of love, encouragement and shocked faces from classmates. I eventually even got support from the teachers and coaches. Today, I still have moments where it’s difficult to speak up for myself as an artist or even tell people that I write music. But I think it’s important to have that confidence in yourself plus show the world you’re talented when you’re ready. Reminding myself that I’ve been given a gift for a reason keeps me motivated to share and give the world my stories.
What are some of the biggest influences on your art? And have those changed over time?
Children have always been a big influence on my art. In the beginning, I wanted to write music for the kids who weren’t allowed to listen to explicit music. All of my favorite rappers wrote music I had to sneak to listen to or I’d be in big trouble with my parents. It was too difficult to find great music that was labeled appropriate for children’s ears. I wanted Hip-Hop songs that sounded like Lil’ Wayne, Eminem, Jay Z, 2Pac and more. But with no swearing. So I had to write it. Many years later, I’m still influenced by children. However, now as an adult, I want to inspire the youth to spread joy in their art. Mainstream music has become full of violence, drugs and other harmful messages. The popularity of these topics has motivated children to follow that trend as artists or in their daily lives. I want to promote positivity and show it can be cool to be a caring, healthy person. The world needs more examples of kindness and love. I hope to steer more children creating art in that direction.
What are 2 or 3 exhibitions, concerts, books and/or book talks, spoken word events and/or films you're hoping to check out this season in Wisconsin or virtually?
There’s always great things happening in Wisconsin! I would love to see the Limanya Drum and Dance at Kids In The Rotunda on April 6th because I love drumming and a great dance show. I’m also excited about The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical at the Children’s Theater of Madison in March. I will be performing two shows at the Sun Prairie Library on March 9th, which means I’m going to try to see as much art as I can during that weekend.