One narrative I have seen online somewhat frequently recently is that Hip Hop is becoming stale and cookie-cutter. If you are one that believes this, I urge you to look past the mainstream, because I think the genre is more eclectic than ever. Once you get past the music that the industry shoves down your throat, you will see there are so many independent artists out there doing their own thing and drawing from a variety of influences to make very interesting Hip Hop music. One Independent artist I came across recently who is carving their own lane and needs to be recognized is Lexa Gates. She makes fun Jazzy and R&B–R&B-infused hip Hop music that feels very fresh and nostalgic at the same time. Lexa first started putting music on streaming services in 2020 and has been fairly prolific in her output ever since. Her debut album, Order of Events, put her on the map as one to watch. She followed this project up with an EP Scum of the Earth in the same year. She followed these two projects up with another two releases in 2021, titled Delirium and Hunger. In 2022 Lexa Gates kept grinding with her output, dropping yet another album titled Universe Wrapped In Flesh. After dropping a one-off single near the beginning of 2023 called ‘Angel,’ she actually took the rest of the year off. Lexa has been working hard in 2024, though, dropping a few singles throughout the year in the lead-up to her latest record, Elite Vessel. Below, I wanted to give some of my thoughts on this new album from Lexa Gates. Please let me know in the comments below what your favorite songs are from Lexa Gates’ Elite Vessel, and also comment on how you feel about the record as a whole!
Considering how heavy and harsh a lot of the Hip Hop that is that’s coming out right now(at least the stuff that I have been reviewing), the opening track for Elite Vessel, ‘Alone,’ is a welcomed break. The best way I can describe this one is that it feels like an updated take on the Neo-Soul music that was big in the late 1990s. The instrumental for this one makes me think of artists like Erykah Badu or Jill Scott(this will be a theme that permeates most of the project); it is so laid-back and soft. The piano riff that drives the melody for ‘Alone’ is very inviting and groovy; it is so ethereal that it almost transports me to another world. This piano riff is mixed with a bit of distortion, and there are some fat synths that come in and out for texture. Lexa Gates’ vocals on this track are so distorted they are hardly distinguishable. This feeds into the otherworldly feeling of the track. On ‘Alone,’ Lexa Gates addresses her ex, stating that they made her have to learn how to be okay with being alone since they left her high and dry. ‘Lately, Nothing,’ which features Alé Araya, has a similar groovy, old-school Soulful instrumental to the song that precedes it, albeit with a way cleaner mix. The melody for this track, which is driven by a funky bassline complemented by a sweet piano riff and guitar riff, is still pretty positive sounding, but not quite as inviting as the one on the opening track. This melody has a bit of a darker tint to it that really feeds into the theme of the track. The beat on ‘Lately, Nothing’ is a tiny bit faster and tougher than the one on ‘Alone’ as well. Even though this track is still very dainty, it does feel harder than the opener. I like the way the lower tone that Lexa sings and raps with contrasts the high and more delicate pitch from Alé Araya. The difference in their vocal styles gives the song so much texture and meshes well with the inviting yet darker feeling of the instrumental. On ‘Lately, Nothing,’ Lexa and Alé Araya sing about trying to find ways to pass the time now that their significant other has left. This person helped them feel whole, and now they have to find happiness alone, which is not easy. ‘Thinking of You’ is another track that feels inspired by 1990s R&B, albeit a different kind than what we have seen to this point. The first artists that came to mind when listening to this one are Mariah Carey and Aaliyah. This has a shimmering and bright Synth-driven melody that straight-up sounds like it was made at the turn of the century. This melody has such a sparkling and sweet tone, and it reminds me of a bike ride on a sunny Summer morning, which I love. The beat for this track is very 1990s-coded as well, taking on a bit of a Boom-Bap tempo that people who know me would know I am a big fan of. I will admit that as soon as I first listened to this ‘Thinking of You,’ I immediately downloaded it for one of my personal playlists because it drew me in like that. Lexa Gates raps with a poignant flow and a bit of a harsh tone on this track, which contrasts the instrumental nicely. It kind of reminds me of when ODB would rap on R&B remixes back in the day. On ‘Thinking Of You,’ Lexa Gates raps about a new significant other she is into, going back and forth on whether she should open up to this person considering how hurt she has been by her last few partners. ‘Stupid’ feels a bit more modern than the first three tracks on the record. Do not get me wrong, the old school Hip Hop elements are definitely still here. The melody for this track does feel very inspired by retro Neo-Soul music, similar to the first two tracks. This melody is significantly more melancholy than anything before it. Whereas all three of those songs make me think of the daytime, this one makes me think of the nighttime. The vocal sample that drives this melody is almost haunting. The bassline and synths that complement do brighten it up a tiny amount, however. The reason ‘Stupid’ feels a bit more modern is the beat and the flow that Lexa raps with. Although this beat is not Trap, it is sort of Trap-adjacent and does feel like it fits with the Hip Hop of today. Lexa’s vocals on this track are great. Her flow in the verses is tough and bold, and the range she sings with on the hook gives the track texture. On ‘Stupid,’ Lexa Gates raps about how she does not let anyone else dictate who she is or what she wants to do. She sees people around her going with the flow and doing what they are told, and she can not get down with that mentality.
‘What You Wish For’ is a track that takes influence from yet another style of late 1990s and early Hip Hop music. This track makes me think of the underground Indie music that was being made by artists like Mos Def, Aesop Rock, and even El-P back in this time period. Although this instrumental is simple, it hits a bit harder than anything that precedes it. The piano riff that drives this track almost feels like the tone is out of key, which actually really makes it pop. This gloomy, Jazzy melody is put on top of a punchy beat that makes ‘What You Wish For’ feel pushy. The pushiness of the instrumental is amplified by Lexa Gates’ rapping on this track. She raps with a low tone and in-your-face flow that gives the song so much emphasis and weight. On ‘What You Wish For,’ Lexa Gated raps about how getting what you want may not be everything you expect. She is stating that the grass is not always greener, but it is still worth it to pursue what you want in life. ‘Sweet.. Time,’ which features Zelooperz, brings back the retro and sweet R&B theme that we got a couple of songs earlier in the album. Similar to ‘Thinking of You,’ the melody and beat for this one are very reminiscent of artists like Mariah Carey; I also get a bit of Janet Jackson on this one. The piano riff that drives ‘Sweet.. Time’ is cool, but what stands out about this one is the saxophone that comes in and out. I love how full and groove the Saxophone is on this track; it makes the song feel super full and pop in the best way. The vocals from both Lexa Gates and Zelooperz on this track are great. Both artists rap with a very impactful flow, and the singing that they both contribute in their verses(and in Lexa’s case, the hook and bridge) gives the song a lighter element that stands out. On ‘Sweet.. Time,’ Lexa Gates and Zelooperz are talking about a fling with someone that they have doubts about committing to fully, even though they can feel themselves falling for this person more and more. ‘The Earth It Works In Funny Ways’ is by far the shortest song on this record. Considering its placement and overall feeling, this track almost feels like a little freestyle interlude. ‘The Earth It Works In Funny Ways’ does serve as a nice little buffer, as its short run time and very simple feeling does lead us into what follows it very nicely. The instrumental for this one is driven by a looping Gospel-esque vocal sample that is complemented by some luscious synths and is put on a slow, nostalgic Hip Hop beat. As I stated, the rapping from Lexa Gates on this one feels like a freestyle; particularly, a freestyle she laid down while in the later stages of creating this album. She raps about some of the immediate troubles that are on her mind at that moment, giving us a glimpse into her current mind state which is pretty interesting. ‘The Earth It Works In Funny Ways’ is a fun little interlude track in the middle of the record that I dig quite a bit. ‘Stacy’s Chips’ feels even more retro than anything on the album so far. It is also a bit heavier or hard-hitting than any of the previous tracks. The instrumental for this track has a bit of a Funky Rock element to it. The song is driven by a guitar riff with a groovy tone that makes me think of the Soul and Funk music that was big in the 1970s, particularly by artists like Sly and The Family Stone or even early Marvin Gaye music. There are some chimes, vocal sound effects, and other synths that come in and out that lighten and brighten this melody a bit, but overall, this song is not so sweet. Lexa raps with a deliberate flow and low tone on this track which contrasts the style of instrumental in a cool way. I especially enjoy when she speeds up and switches her flow at points on this track, as it gives ‘Stacy’s Chips’ so much texture. On ‘Stacy’s Chips,’ Lexa Gates raps about her mental state and how her anxiety and depression have been pulling her down and not letting her be herself.
‘Yourself’ is the second track in a row that feels very inspired by 1970s Funk and R&B music. This one leans more into the R&B side, though, particularly artists like Marvin Gaye or Al Green. The melody for this track is driven by a vocal sample that is full of soul and life that stays in the background of the whole track. This vocal sample is complemented by a groovy guitar riff and some synths, but the basis is provided by this super sweet sample. Lexa Gates raps with a low tone and deliberate flow on this track that stands out awesomely. She also sings on the hook with a very inviting tone that I enjoy a lot as well. On ‘Yourself,’ Lexa Gates calls out someone in her life who is not there for her like she has been for them. She has realized this person does not care for her the way she needs them to, and is ready to move on from them. ‘I Just Can’t Be Alone,’ which gets assistance from Billy Lemos, is probably the most retro-sounding song on this record, which is saying a lot. This is mainly due to the sample that drives this track, which comes from a 1960s Soul song by The Green Berets. This extremely soothing sample basically provides the basis for the whole instrumental, as the vocals and the melody are taken from that track. This may be the softest and most inviting instrumental of the album. There is something about this one that is so warm and inviting that I think is so nice. Lexa Gates’ flow on ‘I Just Can’t Be Alone’ is sort of off the center of the beat, which gives the an intriguing texture. She also shows a bit of her vocal range on the hook of this track, which makes the song all the more charming. In ‘I Just Can’t Be Alone,’ Lexa Gates tries to stand strong and not let someone who has hurt her back into her life, but she wants to give in because she just wants to be with someone. ‘Dirt’ is probably the most modern-sounding song on Elite Vessel. This song is not exactly Trap, but it is pretty close. The beat on this one hits a bit harder than pretty much any other song on the record, which makes this one pop. The melody for ‘Dirt’ is a bit melancholy and less warm than pretty much anything else before it. The mix on this one is a bit harsh, which makes it feel sort of negative. ‘Dirt’ may have the best vocal performance on the record, which is saying a lot. Lexa brings out all of the chops on this one, rapping with multiple flows and providing singing vocals that contain varying levels of distortion as the song progresses. On ‘Dirt,’ Lexa Gates is talking about calling out anyone who has hurt her or not believed in her, stating that she is just fine on her own and will always get hers. Lexa Gates closes out Elite Vessel with its softest song in ‘Lover.’ Somehow, it may have the heaviest impact. This is the only truly acoustic song here. The instrumental for this one consists of a slow and simple piano riff, which is complemented by some distorted synths that come in toward the end of the track adding to its weighty feeling. Because this instrumental is so low-key, the focus is put on Lexa Gates’ vocals, which are honestly just excellent. The emotion in her voice is so palpable on ‘Lover.’ Her range and tone on this track give it a ton of texture and emphasis, making this song feel so impactful and important. Lexa Gates shows how lovely of a vocalist she can truly be on this one. In ‘Lover,’ Lexa Gates sings about how she is falling deeper and deeper for the new person she is talking to. As much as she wants to, she can not resist how this person makes her feel. This is such a great way to send this record off, as even though this song is very relaxed, it feels very powerful.
After coming across Lexa Gates’ music recently, it did not take me long to determine that she is special. The singles from Elite Vessel immediately had me hooked and had me wanting to hear more from her. Lexa Gates’s music has this element to it that feels so nostalgic, but also so current. She is able to toe this line pretty amazingly, crafting a sound and style that sets her apart. So many things about Elite Vessel are just great, starting with the unique and fun instrumentals. This record seems inspired by a variety of styles of R&B, Soul, and Hip Hop, taking influence from many different eras of music. Even though there is a good amount of discrepancy here, the album still flows evenly and nicely. Lexa shows off her very vivid vocal abilities in every way on every part of this album. She excels as a rapper and a singer in a multitude of ways, exhibiting a variety of tones and flows that stick and make each song riveting. Lexa also shows her prowess as a lyricist on Elite Vessel. This record is a look into her mind; the way that she opens up on this record creates a connection with the listener, and makes her seem so relatable. Overall Elite Vessel is a great record by a great rising independent artist. I am so glad I checked Elite Vessel out, as it proves how talented and compelling of an artist Lexa Gates is. I am now a big fan, and I can not wait to see what she does next!
EAST SIDE VIBES 