Rexx Life Raj stays COVID-safe in “Bad Bad Bad” video
There was that saying that went around at the beginning of shutdown about how Shakespeare wrote King Lear during the plague — the implication being, what are YOU waiting for, you lazy bum? Get over your crippling terror about this once-in-a-lifetime disaster and get to work! Most people, understandably, rolled their eyes at it, but Berkeley's Rexx Life Raj seems to be giving ol' Shakes a run for his shillings. Over the course of 2020 he released a bunch of singles leading up to an EP (along with a custom weed strain!). Last week he gave us this comedic gem [...]
Ticket Giveaway Wednesday: Death Valley Girls, Rexx Life Raj and more
(illustration: Cassidy Miller) Looking for more giveaways? We've moved our hottest ticket giveaways over to Instagram, and reserving a few more just for newsletter subscribers. Follow us on IG or sign up for the newsletter for even more chances to win tickets to great shows around the Bay. To enter for a chance to win tickets to any show below, email contest@thebaybridged.com with the name of the band and the date of the show you’re entering in the subject line and your full name in the body of the email. Winners will be selected at random no later than 24 [...]
Rexx Life Raj’s ‘Father Figure 3: Somewhere Out There’ is finally here
One of the most highly-anticipated albums of the fall, Rexx Life Raj's Father Figure 3: Somewhere Out There is out now on all streaming platforms and he already has his first headlining tour booked, bbs. Raj has been on full level up mode and on "FF3" it shows with contributions from Kehlani, Russ, Bas and it-producer Kenny Beats on the record to compliment the Berkeley-bred rapper's stylistic swagger and melodic sentiments baked into the project. If you haven't heard of Raj by now, FF3 is here to get you familiar.
Rexx Life Raj is on a space mission in new single and video, “Moonwalk”
Rexx Life Raj is a rapping space cadet in his new video, "Moonwalk" sent on an expedition to save Kenny Beats. The producer has been missing since the 1980s and in the style of a B-grade sci-fi flick, Raj follows a training regiment but even with his mind and body right, no amount of training can prep Raj for what's waiting for him out there. Directed by STRIPMALL, with an assist from Adrian Per, the video's high-gravity hijinks done with wire stunts, green screen and dime store costumes is an amusing visual for the vibey track, which is also featured [...]
Wax Roof’s “Poseidon” is an oceanic love jam featuring Rexx Life Raj, Jay Prince and Manasseh
Wax Roof is an Oakland multi-instrumentalist that has blessed some of the Bay Area's most treasured records with his simplified, yet soulful vibe. Turning hip-hop and jazz concepts into genre-fluid chords and melodies has been his calling card, plus backing artists like Siri and Michael Sneed Jr. for their live shows. But when he's not working behind the boards for other artists -- like Seattle rapper Dave B's latest record Bleu -- Wax Roof drops his own occasional track, like this week's "Poseidon". Anchored by steady guitar melody and siren-like vocal harmonies, "Poseidon" sounds like a nighttime cruise with your [...]
Rexx Life Raj hosts “Good & Proper”, a benefit event for Youth Radio Media
Good & Proper, a new event series hosted by Rexx Life Raj, launches its first evening this Saturday, April 13 in San Francisco, with the promise of "good music, good drinks and good company." The Bay Area father figure -- known for his silky smooth soulful raps and zany Instagram captions -- wants to bring together Bay Area artists, brands and residents for the series kickoff and is bringing along some of his buds to provide the tunes: ROMderful, a Soulection-affiliated producer and DJ; Julia Lewis, who produced Raj's breakout hit "Handheld GPS"; Mike Gao, who also has production credits [...]
Julia Lewis, Rexx Life Raj are straight ridiculous on new single “Outta Pocket”
As a producer, Julia Lewis is known for his uber intricate, vibey productions oft employed by the local rap conglomerate searching for a more sophisticated sound. But add long-time collaborator Rexx Life Raj in his caption god form and the valentino viper Guapdad4000, and that's a studio session that can only result in the playful hilarity featured in Julia Lewis' latest single, "Outta Pocket." Raj and Guap are in full form, stringing together a through-line of tongue-in-cheek verses on the peaks and valleys of fame, flexing, and females. The two rappers' humor claps on just being straight-up extra ridiculous (Guap: [...]
Mixtape: The Bay Area’s Standout Hip Hop and R&B Producers
This episode first ran on KQED.org. Download: Mixtape: The Bay Area's Standout Hip Hop and R&B Producers (Podcast #426) The Bay Area's vibrant hip hop and R&B scenes include a wealth of talented MCs and singers, but it's often easy to forget the important behind-the-scenes role that music producers play in crafting great songs. A skilled producer doesn't just provide a instrumental backdrop for an artist to showcase their craft; instead, the best producers elevate their artists, adding emphasis that highlights a song's melodic immediacy or depth that demands repeat listens. This mixtape showcases a dozen songs from local hip [...]
Mixtape: Highlights from Bay Area Music in 2017
This episode originally ran on KQED.org. http://media.libsyn.com/media/thebaybridged/2017_Highlights_Mixtape.mp3 Download: Mixtape: Highlights from Bay Area Music in 2017 (Podcast #419) With each passing day, 2017 appears increasingly determined to solidify its place as the worst year in recent memory. Despite all of the hardships being experienced locally, nationally, and around the globe, the year has offered a wealth of impressive albums from Bay Area musicians. For some of the notable artists featured in this mixtape, their 2017 successes built on the previous year's achievements. Jay Som followed up 2016's buzzed-about Turn Into compilation with her first proper LP Everybody Works. It's a [...]
Rexx Life Raj wraps 2017 with second album debut, “Father Figure 2: Flourish”
Faraji Wright is living his best Rexx Life on his new record, "Father Figure 2: Flourish". Better known as Rexx Life Raj, the Berkeley rapper has spent 2017 doing everything BUT drop an album: High-profile collabos, two festival performances, two tours with P-Lo and Mr. Carmack, off-shoot loosies and projects (you can check his Instagram for evidence of all three) has kept Raj busy for the entirety of the year. We know this firsthand, as we've followed Raj extensively the past 365 days. But that's what makes subheading the record with "Flourish" so appropriate. Throughout the album, Raj is confident [...]