It's often said that if you really want to understand how your favorite artist comes to make the music they do, you have to discover the artists that have influenced you. Lord Apex is a rare character, his musical knowledge is a rabbit hole and it shows in the producers, musicians, artists and DJs he works with. He's a student of the game, someone who has an informed opinion on everything he hears - it's qualities like this that will set him apart from his peers in the future. The influences go beyond the boundaries of the music itself, you can hear echoes of Madlib, J Dilla and MF DOOM - arguably the 2012 Miami Heat of rapper-producers. And that's a pretty solid benchmark to go by. Long before he headlined his first UK tour in 2020 and sold out Scala, AP's show at the famous 100 Club in London's West End put him in an elite category of iconic artists who have performed there, including The Clash, Sex Pistols, Oasis and others. After selling out his first UK tour in October 2020, Apex showed the world that he was just getting started. The energy the rapper exudes is pure and unadulterated; during the Leeds leg of his latest solo tour, AP took the time to wish his mother a happy birthday via FaceTime during the show, to which everyone in the room joined in. He cares deeply about the people in his life and wants them to celebrate great success. 2021 promises to be a fruitful and life-changing year for the young rapper when he goes on tour with Indiana-b.
This is already putting him in conversation with those leading a perceived return to the soulful rap of the early to mid 00s, the rappers and producers who have taken up the mantle left in their wake by Dilla and DOOM. In ten years, maybe less, many will realize what some of us already know - Lord Apex belongs in a line with Freddie Gibbs, Griselda, Quasimoto, Slum Village and many others. AP kicked off 2022 with the release of "The Bullshit", produced by Cookin' Soul, an infectious, pulsating record that differs from the hazy, nonchalant attitude fans are used to from records like Smoke Sessions Vol. 2, Supply & Demand and the recently released SSV3. The release of the collaborative album with Cookin' Soul, Off The Strength, was another masterstroke and an example of one of his strongest attributes, his ability to create cinematic projects with sole producers. And so it's no surprise that AP's has found a deep and strong connection to unlikely music scenes in countries like Brazil. Lord Apex's star continues to rise and rise. What else is there to say after performing with Freddie Gibbs in March 2022 and Action Bronson in June 2022 on the NBA Leather Tour? The rapper capped off his 2022 with a clever move that only Madlib has done before: his collaborative album with Brazilian producer El Lif put him in touch with his biggest audience, which includes local rap legends like Akira Presidente, Febem and up-and-coming rapper Sain. But that's not all: AP brought these fans even closer together by performing at the first Latin American Primavera festivals in Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Actions like these have helped Lord Apex double its listenership from 1.3 million (157 countries) to 2.3 million (181 countries) in the past year. AP's collaboration with Carhartt, a milestone in his young career, has been a skillful partnership, especially because of the brand's historic connection to the hip-hop culture the Sensei represents. Seeing him in a fitted cap, baggy jeans, Timberlands and a puffer jacket conjures up images and memories of the young Wu-Tang Clan on the grimy streets of Staten Island and Brooklyn. Since then, he's proven in campaigns for New Balance, Supreme and the up-and-coming Corteiz that he can appeal to a wide audience by bringing together the worlds of music and streetwear. More importantly, AP continues to immerse his fans in his world through his words and imagery, and this year we're drawn even deeper into the rapper's expansive and bright mind. For the uninitiated, you might think that AP is part of the saturated UK rap scene, but through his words and soundscape, we see Lord Apex as the bridge that connects all those who value musicality above all else. His forthcoming music with some of the world's most celebrated producers is just the tip of the iceberg. Better yet, his career to date is just a fraction of that tip. The best is yet to come.