MP3: Rexx Life Raj – “Handheld GPS” (Prod. by Julia Lewis)

Premiered by Pigeons & Planes, the New Single is the Latest from the Berkeley, CA Rapper’s Father Figure album, Out June 24th

06.03.2016

Critical Praise:

“Rexx Life Raj is a rapper from the Bay Area with an elastic flow and a keen ear for production” – Noisey

“Rexx Life Raj is a quick witted, sick flow rapper on the rise” – SF Weekly

“Bay Area hip-hop’s best kept secret” – Free Bread

“Rexx Life Raj is at his best yet on ‘Young Wardell‘” – HotNewHipHop

“[One] of the Bay Area’s Best New and Emerging Rap Artists” – KQED

The Song:

Rexx Life Raj ponders existential questions about technology and social media on “Handheld GPS,” the latest single from the Berkeley rapper’s upcoming Father Figure, premiered by Pigeons & Planes. Why do these devices that we built to help us connect only serve to isolate us? We all have powerful miniature computers with access to Google and Twitter in our pockets, but no algorithm can answer life’s most important questions. Though “Handheld GPS” handles heavy existential ideas, the song itself, produced by Julia Lewis, is as light as a summer breeze, with Raj effortlessly switching between sweetly-crooned melodies and double-time bars offering invaluable advice: “Don’t accept ‘no’ for answers, ask questions/fuck a suggestion, use intuition/when your heart speaks to you/you should listen.”

Rexx Life Raj explains the origins of the song to Pigeons & Planes: “I wrote ‘Handheld GPS’ very randomly in East Oakland. It was kind of like a purge for me. I talk about how everyone is hella lost in their phones (which have access to all the info in the world), but are still confused and trying to figure life out. I’m talking about myself more than anyone else. We live in a time where you get on social media and everyone’s life looks perfect. It’s easy to compare yourself to other people’s idealized images and feel some type of way. I often find myself doing that. At the same time, I’m hella thankful for everything I have.”

Last week, SF Weekly premiered “Young Wardell,” Raj’s tribute to Steph Curry, which examines the hard work and risk-taking required for greatness. Earlier, The FADER debuted the hypnotic video for Rexx Life Raj’s “Moxie Java,” featuring Nef the Pharaoh, the first video from Rexx Life Raj’s Father Figure. With his ability to shift seamlessly from rapping his ass off to singing his heart out, rapper Rexx Life Raj has become one of Bay Area music’s most unique voices. Born and raised in Berkeley, California, Rexx Life Raj earned a football scholarship to Division I powerhouse Boise State University, playing on the offensive line. Despite his aptitude for athletics, football was not Raj’s true passion; music was. Featuring contributions from artists such as Mikos Da Gawd, Julia Lewis, ymtk, and more, Father Figure hits stores on June 24th.

Listen to “Handheld GPS”: https://soundcloud.com/rexxliferaj/handheld-gps-prod-julia-lewis

Check out the Pigeons & Planes Premiere: http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2016/06/premiere-rexx-life-raj-handhelp-gps/

Pre-order Father Figure: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/father-figure/id1115464867?ls=1&app=itunes

Father Figure Tracklist

OMG (prod. Ian McKee)
Far2Easy (ft. Christian Crow) [Prod. Ian McKee]
Helium (prod. Ian McKee)
The Plug (prod. Cisco Cortez & Ian McKee]
Shit N Floss (prod. Kyle Betty)
Scraper With The Rims (prod. Cisco Cortez & Rexx Life Raj)
Handheld GPS [prod. by Julia Lewis]
OJW3 (Prod. by Rexx Life Raj)
Young Wardell (prod. Ian McKee)
Double Back (prod. Ian McKee)
On Ice (ft. Ymtk) (prod. by Mikos Da God, Ekzakt, Ian McKee)
Moxie Java (ft. Nef The Pharaoh) [Prod. by Eli Unorio]
Father Figure (prod. Kyle Betty)

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Please contact Michelle or Rory if interested in talking with Rexx Life Raj.

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.