Lex LaFoy has solidified her position as Durban's First Lady Of Hip-Hop, boasting remarkable consistency in her musical journey. Our recent interview with her shed light on several key aspects.
Corporate Ethics
Lex pinpointed a significant factor contributing to the erosion of Durban Hip-Hop's cultural essence: artists lacking corporate ethics.
Lex elaborates, ‘We find a lot of creatives or rappers in their thirties and forties who have not yet found where their creative skill fits into the corporate world and are losing out on corporate money and benefits because they lack corporate ethics. As much as people can look down on a rapper or an artist for working at another job, the truth is, that other job is going to teach you professional skills that sitting at home is not going to teach you. Our grandparents were not afraid to work; they didn't have this thing of ‘oh, I'm not going to do that’, because the truth is, whatever job you get into is going to teach you something.’
Spirit of Community
In a realm often marked by ego-driven personas, Lex stressed the importance of fostering a sense of community within South African Hip-Hop, just like the legends did.
She says, ‘We looked up to rappers like KRS-One, and then in SA there's Emile YX and Brasse Vannie Kaap, and these are Hip-Hop pioneers and legends who, through the culture, have shown that when we really elevate, we elevate with our communities. It's not about individuals. I mean, Jay-Z even knows that. The reason Jay-Z is a billionaire is because he understood that in order for us to win, we have to win at large.’
Upcoming Album
Looking ahead, Lex is diligently crafting her forthcoming album, "Lexikon 2.0," slated for an early 2024 release. Here’s all you need to know about the album.
Lex divulges, ‘It's raw. There's punk, there's rock, there's R&B, and there's boom bap. And it's the phase between when I was leaving Lexikon as a persona and a name and entering Lex LaFoy, which is the more commercially viable, commercially appealing part of myself as an artist. The music is beautiful, but this album has faced so many challenges, but we know that with huge blessings come huge challenges.’
Conclusion
This brief excerpt only scratches the surface, considering that in the full visual and audio interview, we delve into Lex’s rap battle days, her mother's profound influence on her love for hip-hop, and her triumph over adversity, among other intriguing topics. The highly anticipated "Lexikon 2.0" is set to hit the airwaves in early 2024, with the first single scheduled for release in October this year. Stay tuned to Lex's announcements here, and catch the full interview for more invaluable insights, here.
