Lord Apex | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Shaeem Wright |
Born | White City, West London, England | 12 June 1996
Genres | Hip hop |
Years active | 2013–present |
Labels |
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Website | www |
Shaeem Santino Wright (born 12 July 1996) known as Lord Apex, is a British MC who grew up in White City, London, United Kingdom.[1][2] His music crosses multiple styles of rap, including UK hip-hop, alternative hip hop, and lo-fi hip hop.[1]
Style and projects
[edit]Apex's stage name was inspired by hip-hop producer Madlib's alter ego, Quasimoto aka Lord Quas.[3]
Apex frequently states that he doesn't like to be put into any one genre with his music.[4][5] Journalists, and Apex himself, often reference lo-fi, 90s US hip hop acts like J Dilla and MF Doom as influences.[6] He often also talks about his love for anime and vintage clothing, both of which have inspired the visuals for his music and his general aesthetic.[7]
Since releasing his first track in 2014, Apex has seen over 7 million views on his YouTube channel, with 50,000 subscribers as of February 2021.[8] Apex also appeared on the popular German music YouTube channel COLORS, where he performed his track Vintage Garms.[9][2]
He has also featured in promotions, and released his own radio segment, for the US hip hop affiliated workwear brand Carhartt.[4]
In 2020 he released a studio album with New York-based producer V-Don called Supply and Demand. Reviewers noted Apex's "swaggering and ominous" vocal delivery and "off-kilter flow" throughout the Supply and Demand project.[10][11] The album featured several other prominent American rappers, such as Murs of Rhymesayers Entertainment and CJ Fly of the Pro Era collective.[2] Another feature on the record was from New York's Westside Gunn, formerly of Shady Records, on the deluxe version track London Fog.[12]
As well as his collaboration with Carhartt, he was also part of a promotional campaign for musical equipment maker Novation Digital Music Systems, featuring a live performance of his track Miyagi Blueprint using their Launchpad X.[13]
In 2020 Lord Apex was nominated for a UK Music Video Award in the Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video Newcomer category, for his video with Kam-Bu entitled Different.[14] In January 2021, he featured on Complex's 21 UK Rappers to Watch in 2021 list, in which they said he is "perfectly positioned to rise to the top."[15]
Touring career
[edit]- Black on Both Sides 20th Anniversary Tour w/ Yasiin Bey (April 2020)
- EUROPE 22 Tour w/ Freddie Gibbs (March/April 2022)[16]
- Smoke Sessions Europe Tour (April/May 2022)
Discography
[edit]Albums/Mixtapes
[edit]- Smoke Sessions, Volume One (2016)
- Smoke Sessions, Vol. 2 (2019)[17]
- Supply & Demand (with V Don) (2020)[18]
- Smoke Sessions 3 (2021)
- Off the Strength (2022)
- THE ELEVATED AND ELUSIVE (with Drae Da Skimask) (2023)
- The Good Fight (2023)
EPs
[edit]- Gxlden Era (as Tino Apex) (2013)
- C.R.A.T.E. Diggin' (as Tino Apex) (2013)
- VIRTUAL DOJO 1996 (2014)
- Hyōkō meisō (elevation/meditation) (2015)
- Sounds of the Blade (with Tunami) (2015)
- Live from Los Santos (with N2Deep) (2015)
- Vinyl Dust (2016)
- HMEM2 (2016)
- Lord Vibes (with Lo Vibe) (2016)
- Bamboo Forest (with Walterwarm) (2016)
- Cosmos/Genesis (2016)
- INTERPLANETARY FUNK (2017)
- Stuck in Motion (with Finn Foxell and Flowzart) (2018)
- S.O.I.L (with The Kount) (2018) [19]
- Darkskies (with Bushi Vibes) (2020)
- HIGHSOLATION (2020)
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Lord Apex is the cult MC floating to the top". Crack Magazine. Yemi Abiade.
- ^ a b c "Lord Apex, sombre Sensei des bas-fonds londoniens". BACKPACKERZ (in French). 4 September 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Lord Apex is thecult MC floating to the top". Crack Magazine.
- ^ a b "Artist Feature: Lord Apex". Carhartt WIP USA. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Backstage Pass: Lord Apex | Wonderland Magazine". Wonderland. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "West London Rapper Lord Apex Shares Meditative New Video 'Up Early'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Wise Words of The Sensei: Interview with Lord Apex - @SENSEIAPEX with @MisterrCha - Producers United". Producers United. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "LORD APEX's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats". socialblade.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Lord Apex Performs "Vintage Garms" For Colors". GRM Daily. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Lord Apex + V Don - Supply & Demand [Stream]". The Pit London. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Track Of The Day 24/8 - Lord Apex". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Lord Apex & V Don ft: Westside Gunn - London Fog". WORDPLAY. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Everything Just Synchronises | Novation". novationmusic.com. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "NEWS: UK MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2020 NOMINATIONS". VideoStatic. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "21 UK Rappers To Watch In 2021". Complex. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
- ^ "Lord Apex premier EM3". Complex UK.
- ^ "Lord Apex & V Don feed the streets with Supply & Demand". Hot New Hip Hop. 9 September 2020.
- ^ "Lord Apex & The Kount S.O.I.L EP". Lyrical Lemonade.