Eisspeedway

Lord Apex

Lord Apex
Background information
Birth nameShaeem Wright
Born (1996-06-12) 12 June 1996 (age 28)
White City, West London, England
Genres
Years active2013–present
Labels
  • Believe Digital
Websitewww.lordapex.com

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

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

Discography

Albums/Mixtapes

  • 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

  • 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

  1. ^ a b "Lord Apex is the cult MC floating to the top". Crack Magazine. Yemi Abiade.
  2. ^ a b c "Lord Apex, sombre Sensei des bas-fonds londoniens". BACKPACKERZ (in French). 4 September 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Lord Apex is thecult MC floating to the top". Crack Magazine.
  4. ^ a b "Artist Feature: Lord Apex". Carhartt WIP USA. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Backstage Pass: Lord Apex | Wonderland Magazine". Wonderland. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  6. ^ "West London Rapper Lord Apex Shares Meditative New Video 'Up Early'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Wise Words of The Sensei: Interview with Lord Apex - @SENSEIAPEX with @MisterrCha - Producers United". Producers United. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  8. ^ "LORD APEX's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats". socialblade.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Lord Apex Performs "Vintage Garms" For Colors". GRM Daily. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Lord Apex + V Don - Supply & Demand [Stream]". The Pit London. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Track Of The Day 24/8 - Lord Apex". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Lord Apex & V Don ft: Westside Gunn - London Fog". WORDPLAY. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Everything Just Synchronises | Novation". novationmusic.com. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  14. ^ "NEWS: UK MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2020 NOMINATIONS". VideoStatic. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  15. ^ "21 UK Rappers To Watch In 2021". Complex. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Lord Apex premier EM3". Complex UK.
  18. ^ "Lord Apex & V Don feed the streets with Supply & Demand". Hot New Hip Hop. 9 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Lord Apex & The Kount S.O.I.L EP". Lyrical Lemonade.