“When I walk in, I pull up with the suits,” Lexa Gates stunts on “Stupid,” as her major label debut, Elite Vessel, proves to be a stroke of genius from the Queens, NYC rapper.
Released earlier this month (Oct. 18), the concise 12-track record is a poetic experience clouded with personality and bars that could go over your head if you don’t listen intently. It’s intentional and intimate, as highlights like “Stacy’s Chips,” “I Just Can’t Be Alone” and “Lately, Nothing,” among others, prove Lexa’s pen is not to be played with — especially when her subject matter hits close to home.
“I just want to do things for my mom and my sister and show my mom that this stuff is possible and it’s not a dream, she said via release. “If you can think about it, you can get it done.” We spoke with Lexa earlier this year on her upbringing, roots in music, breakout OTR performance and much more.
Building buzz around the album’s release, Lexa spent 10 hours inside a transparent box as part of a public art installation in New York City. Exploring the concept of “her vessel” and its deep connection to her music, Lexa listened to EV on loop for the event, inviting fans to join her by offering headphones so they could experience the tracks simultaneously. Talk about dedication to your craft. Co-signs from TDE’s SZA (who said “yes to her” in a recent IG post) and Isaiah Rashad as well as skaiwater, Clairo, Wiz Khalifa, Wolfacejoeyy, Russ, Mike Dean and more have allowed Lexa to flourish as she garners greater mainstream looks.
Deeply personal and refreshingly unique, it’s clear that Lexa Gates is cut from a different cloth — standing tall as one of the most technical and under-appreciated lyricists the underground has to offer. With comparisons to artists like Mac Miller, Matt Champion, Wiki and Earl Sweatshirt, that appreciation, though, is sure to change much sooner than you think.
Catch Lexa Gates on her first-ever headline tour later this Fall.
Listen to ‘Elite Vessel’ below!