Faraji Omar Wright, also known as Rexx Life Raj, is an American rapper and singer. He has released five albums, including the Father Figure trilogy, and four EPs.
Rexx Life Raj | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Faraji Omar Wright |
| Born | January 30, 1990 Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer |
| Labels | Rexx Life/EMPIRE, Emoji Goats, Dead at 27 |
| Website | rexxliferaj |
Early life
editFaraji Omar Wright grew up in Berkeley, California. His mother was in a gospel group called The Marshall Quartet with his aunts, uncle, and grandmother. His father was a Black Panther. In middle school, Wright began recording his own music, making the beats on a Casio keyboard and singing with a karaoke machine, making CDs he sold at school.[1] Wright went to middle and high school with G-Eazy.[2][3]
In 2010, he played offensive tackle and guard for the Fiesta Bowl-winning Boise State University football team.[4] After graduation, Wright returned home to California to pursue music while working at his parents' package delivery business.[5]
"Neo-soul music became my favorite when I could begin to appreciate it. I was into Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Musiq Soulchild. [Kid Cudi's] Man on the Moon: End of Day is one of, if not my favorite album of all-time", he told Billboard.[2]
Career
editWright adopted the professional stage name Rexx Life Raj for his rap and singing career. He released his first EP for sale, Hidden Clouds, in 2014, which featured the single "Put On". That same year, he released the Portraits EP with producer Tele Fresco.[6] In 2015, he released another two projects, the full-length album, The Escape,[1] with guests Iamsu!, Will Fraker, City Shawn, and the EP, Dreamland: Telegraph Ave., with YMTK, Ellen Purtell, and Lolo Zouaï.[7]
In 2016, with his second album, Father Figure,[4] Raj developed his sound, combining rhymes with singing "confessional" and political lyrics in tracks like "Handheld GPS" and, the album's first single, "Moxie Java"[6] featuring another Vallejo-area rapper Nef the Pharaoh.[7]
Raj's sequel album, Father Figure 2: Flourish, came out in 2017 with features from G-Eazy,[3] Russ, and Iman Europe.[8] That year he toured with Mr. Carmack.[9]
In 2018, he released EP California Poppy, produced entirely by Kyle Betty,[10] and toured twice in support of both Marc E. Bassy and Bas, as well as his first headlining tour in Europe in 2019.[5]
In 2019, Raj released Father Figure 3: Somewhere Out There produced by Sango, Kenny Beats,[11] JULiA LEWiS, Avedon[12] and Bay Area producers Kyle Betty,[10] DTB, Wax Roof and Drew Banga.[13] Songs included "Burgundy Regal," about his two childhood best friends, one of whom was eventually killed, the other incarcerated; "Your Way", an acoustic duet with Kehlani that also featured. Russ, and was premiered on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show. Father Figure 3: Somewhere Out was recorded most of the vocals in hotels and Airbnbs on the road touring as opening act for Bas.[5][14]
Raj did a headline tour of the United States in 2019.[15]
In 2022, he released his fifth album The Blue Hour with features from Wale, Larry June, Russ, and Fireboy DML.[16]
Discography
edit| Year | Recording | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Hidden Clouds | Dead at 27 | EP |
| Portraits | Dead at 27 | EP | |
| 2015 | The Escape | Rexx Life | Album |
| Dreamland: Telegraph Avenue | Rexx Life | EP | |
| 2016 | Father Figure | Rexx Life/EMPIRE | Album |
| 2017 | Father Figure 2: Flourish | Rexx Life/EMPIRE | Album |
| 2018 | California Poppy | Rexx Life | EP |
| 2019 | Father Figure 3: Somewhere Out | Rexx Life/EMPIRE | Album |
| 2020 | California Poppy 2 | Rexx Life/EMPIRE | EP |
| 2022 | The Blue Hour | Rexx Life/EMPIRE | Album |
| 2023 | California Poppy 3 | Rexx Life/EMPIRE | Album |
References
edit- ^ a b St. John, Matt (December 6, 2017). "How Rexx Life Raj Went from Being a Delivery Man to Hip-Hop's Next Big Thing". East Bay Express. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ a b Saponara, Michael (November 26, 2019). "Rexx Life Raj Is Back in Control of His Happiness & It's Paying Off in the Music". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Holmes, Charles (November 17, 2017). "REXX LIFE RAJ AND G-EAZY WENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES TO COLLABORATORS". MTV.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Payne, Ogden (August 31, 2017). "3 Hip-Hop Artists Colleges Should Book This Semester". Forbes. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c Voynovskaya, Nastia (November 7, 2019). "In the Algorithm Age, Rexx Life Raj Charts a Path Without Gimmicks". KQED. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Casagrande, Tim (November 14, 2019). "Three Must-See Acts This Week — 11/14-11/21". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ a b "Rexx Life Raj". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ "Rexx Life Raj's 'Father Figure 2: Flourish' Is Perfect for The Long Weekend". Vice. November 22, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ Trewn, Pranav (April 6, 2017). "Rexx Life Raj – "Handheld GPS" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (November 21, 2018). "Rexx Life Raj pays homage to a Bay Area classic with help from E-40 on "Sprinkle Me"". The Fader. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ Saponara, Michael (October 30, 2019). "Rexx Life Raj Connects With Kehlani for Woozy 'Your Way': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ Rindner, Grant (November 26, 2019). "Rexx Life Raj Hopes Rap Never Becomes a Job: Interview". djbooth.net. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
- ^ Barnes, Deion (November 7, 2019). "Rexx Life Raj Drops New Album "Father Figure 3: Somewhere Out There"". Power1051.iheart.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (October 29, 2019). "Rexx Life Raj connects with Kehlani for new single "Your Way"". The Fader. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ Espinosa, Joshua (November 6, 2019). "Rexx Life Raj's 'Father Figure 3: Somewhere Out There' Has Arrived". Complex. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "Rexx Life Raj Returns With New Album 'The Blue Hour'". Complex. Retrieved September 12, 2022.