Song: Rexx Life Raj – “Freedom Love” ft. Goapele (Prod. by Kyle Betty)
The In-Demand Berkeley Rapper, Who Has Collaborated with Mozzy, Russ, G-Eazy and Others, Shows Off His Singing Chops in Soul-Flavored Single, Premiered by MILK
09.26.2017
Critical Praise:
“[Rexx Life Raj] is for anyone who likes breathing and/or good music” – Noisey
“Rexx Life Raj is one of the most impressive young MC’s in the industry right now.” – XXL
“But while many of these artists channel a revivalism — Cash Money energy for Nef, g-funk for Kamaiyah — Rexx Life Raj is content to push forward confidently into the unknown.” – Mass Appeal
“Rexx Life Raj (yeah, it’s a mouthful) is the up-and-coming Bay Area artist to know.” – SF Weekly
“Trivial daily details get painted with a generous eye and addressed in smooth tones on songs that feel like falling into a pile of pillows. Raj is perceptive, empathetic, and open about his feelings; he’s also quick to tackle the tropes of contemporary rap with a winking eye.” – Noisey
The Single:
A cerebral and engaging rapper with an inquisitive mind and a golden set of pipes, Rexx Life Raj is quickly building a reputation among his peers in the Hip-Hop community as a greatly talented up-and-comer. Providing his own spin on Sting’s famous phrase “if you love someone, set them free,” Rexx Life Raj explores the ever-evolving nature of relationships on “Freedom Love,” his latest singing. Featuring a powerful guest appearance from Goapele, the Bay Area’s queen of neosoul, the warm and brilliant “Freedom Love” explores the courage it takes to end a longtime relationship, and how each person can grow stronger with a bit of space. “Freedom Love” is the duo’s second collaboration, following Raj’s guest turn on Goapele’s “$ecret (Remix).” Premiered by MILK, “Freedom Love” is another example of Rexx Life Raj’s idiosyncratic brilliance, as he mixes traditional Bay Area sounds and themes with a more sensitive and empathetic approach.
“I used to fall asleep with ‘Closer To My Dreams’ on repeat so having actual music with Goapele almost feels like I never woke up,” Rexx Life Raj explained to MILK. “So if I am dreaming, please don’t wake me up, bb. Kyle Betty and I had been working on this track and were looking for the perfect feature. I wanted a warm, female voice but didn’t know Goapele the time. A few weeks later I noticed that she had followed me on twitter, which blew my mind, so I reached out to her and voilà. She gave it exactly what it needed plus more. I’m forever grateful.”
The son of a Black Panther and a former athlete in Boise State’s Division I football program, Rexx Life Raj was the first of his family to graduate from college. In the past year, he earned glowing press coverage from Billboard, Pigeons & Planes, Pitchfork, Noisey, and XXL, and earned the cover spot on Spotify’s Mellow Bars playlist with his single “Handheld GPS,” which earned over 4 million plays on Spotify. Following the release of his debut album Father Figure in 2016, Rexx Life Raj garnered co-signs from the likes of Pharrell and G-Eazy, and collaborated with the likes of Mozzy, Russ, Nef The Pharaoh, Murs, ymtk, and others. on “Moxie Java.” Raj kept the momentum from Father Figure rolling into 2017, earning over 1 million plays on his single “Waiting For You.” Most recently, Rexx Life Raj shared “IDFWYN,” a smooth, yet venomous telling off of his hangers-on and haters. As he said to East Bay Express in a feature story last year, “I look at music as an opportunity to spread both wisdom and knowledge to the youth. A lot of times, artists get caught up in what sounds good, and in the process they end up feeding people — mostly kids — a lot of bullshit. I don’t want to make the same mistake.” Look for more emotionally honest and intellectually captivating music from Rexx Life Raj later this year.
Listen to “Freedom Love” (Prod. Kyle Betty): https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/freedom-love-feat-goapele-prod-by-kyle-betty
Check out the MILK premiere: https://milk.xyz/articles/premiere-fall-in-love-to-rexx-life-rajs-freedom-love-ft-goapele/
Please contact Michelle or Isabel for more info.
Rexx Life Raj Background:
From the land of the Hyphy where slaps are king and going dumb is encouraged, Berkeley, California’s Rexx Life Raj stands out by making music for the brain and the heart that’s still pleasant to the ears. Raised by a God-fearing mother and Black Panther father in the mecca of progressive politics, Raj’s music uniquely illustrates his awareness of being a young, black male while also maintaining a sense of humor and joie de vivre.
Links:
facebook| twitter | instagram | youtube | Soundcloud
“Freedom Love” ft. Goapele (Prod. Kyle Betty): https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/freedom-love-feat-goapele-prod-by-kyle-betty
“IDFWYN”: https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/idfwyn-prod-by-kyle-betty
“Handheld GPS”: https://youtu.be/4CsOMbhDzQs // https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/handheld-gps-prod-julia-lewis
Father Figure: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/father-figure/id1115464867&app=itunes
Listen to “On Ice” ft. ymtk (Prod. by Mikos Da Gawd, Ian McKee, and Ekzakt): https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/on-ice-feat-ymtk-prod-by-mikos-da-gawd-ekzakt-ian-mckee
“Young Wardell”: https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/young-wardell-prod-by-ian-mckee
“Moxie Java” ft. Nef The Pharaoh: https://youtu.be/yQn4b9xUaeI
“Shit ‘N Floss”: https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/shit-n-floss-prod-by-kyle-betty
“Yellow Brick Road”: https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/yellow-brick-road-prod-rexxliferaj
Dreamland: Telegraph Avenue: https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/sets/rexx-life-raj-kyral-musik