Lex Hoffa – Thanks for Asking!

Lex Hoffa – Thanks for Asking! – by Liam Sweeny…

RRX: Growing up in a melting pot of sound and culture, how do you decide whether to come out with a blended style or pick one sound in your world and blow that up?

Lex Hoffa: Thats a great question. I had the luck of growing up in dual environments. On one side of the coin were Spanish Harlem influences, and on the other side were my Adirondack/ Capital Region influences. With such a stark contrast, my ears and tastes kind of fused and I became this “punk rock hip hopper” as one of my cheer mates described me when she met me in HS. (Shout outs to Melanie and NDBG…Go Knights …she was my ace on the cheerleading squad and put me onto bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

RRX: Music is empowerment. But it’s ironic that listeners may feel empowered, but the musician has the industry sometimes acting against empowerment. How do women get empowerment in a system that doesn’t want anybody empowered?

LH: I think women get empowerment by not asking for it. As women, we aren’t a monolith but any time I had a proverbial foot on my neck I pulled a Kung Fu move and flipped them on their head. I think those looking for it, learn on the journey accidentally. You don’t ask for empowerment, you take it.

RRX: What’s on your plate these days? Any songs or EPs out? Any shows ahead?

LH: Thank you for asking! I am currently working on my next project…shes still a work in progress and untitled. We’ve already released two singles that I’m so excited about (Alexita and Whoo Hah the Rebirth available on all streaming platforms) and I’m so excited to finish this project and showcase my art. This journey has been a lifetime in the making. I’m honored to live it now.  As far as shows, we have a huge one coming up. My husband, Wiz Hoffa, will be celebrating his 50th birthday on May 23rd at Empire Underground. We will definitely be having a good time not only celebrating my husband but partying with a mix of the whos who in the hip hop music scene but not just exclusive to the 518. My husband’s impact on the mixtape game exceeded the bounds of the Capital Region with Noize Mob, a very successful coalition of mixtape DJs that spanned from local to international so we’ll have people coming from all over to celebrate him. People would be surprised how many influence makers come from or have major ties to our little 518. A time will be had!

RRX: When you come up with lyrics, how do you prepare? Is there a zone, or is it just instinct?

LH: When I come up with lyrics, it’s almost like I hear them, so I guess instinct. I hear the lyrics before I even put pen to paper and that’s usually my starting point. A good beat and some fire vibes always gets the environment comfortable for me to create.

RRX: You’re working with Wiz Hoffa and the Hoffa team. And Wiz is an iconic figure in the scene, what are you looking to bring out musically?

LH: Wiz has been a staple in the 518 hip hop scene  since his presence in the inception. I’m honored to work with him. But even prouder to share is last name personally and professionally. I wasn’t with him shooting in the gym, but I lace up his sneaks and pass him the rock now and that’s the important part.

I’m looking to bring a fresh new cultural perspective into the mix. I’m a Black American/Afro Latina of Honduran decent and I’m bringing my personality, energy, culture and my perspective to this thing we all love so much called hip hop. My perspective of the world is what’s missing and needed today. Time will tell.

RRX: Everybody has a favorite part of the music they play, and sometimes it’s something small, a certain pop of your voice, or something like that, maybe. What’s your favorite part?

LH:  My favorite part of my music is what I say in the beginning of every track “Ayo Scotty, beam us up pops”. My father introduced me to hip hop very early on and is the reason I’m such a huge fan. He was one of my biggest musical resources. Because of my father, I was listening to Dmx, Prodigy and Pete Rock when the girls my age were solely listening to the Spice Girls, Brandy and Backstreet Boys at the time.  He passed away a few years ago so that’s how I honor him and help keep his memory alive. The crowd can help me at every show by saying it with me.

Lex

 

 

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