Bay Area artist Rexx Life Raj (real name Faraji Omar Wrightz) is in album mode with “Blue Hour” set to drop soon. The new album is his most personal yet. It was largely recorded after his mother passed way and before his father did too — which was within a three-month span of each other during 2021. The personal grief of both losses influenced the sounds of the new music.

While recording this music was one way Rexx coped with his grief, he also wants the album to do the same for others going through similar pains in their own lives. The deeper purpose behind Blue Hour is to create a safe space to talk about grief, especially amongst black men, where the topic of mental health can fly under the radar.

Rexx wants Blue Hour to honor his parents, who instilled in him an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. The album will be his fifth — all released independently. A tour will follow later this year too. For a closer look at Rexx’s process behind his art, listen to our full interview. Here’s everything we covered:

0:50 Bay Area’s Influence On Rexx’s Music
2:33 Rexx’s Entrepreneurship Spirit Stems From Parents
5:05 Did Rex Ever Consider Taking A Record Label Deal?
6:07 The TikTok Effect On Artists (Pros & Cons)
9:22 Content Strategy For Rex’s Newest Album
12:30 Why Grief Is Such A Big Theme In Rex’s Music
17:45 How Rex Is Coping With The Loss Of His Parents
22:30 Personal Goals For The Upcoming Album
24:07 Post-Album Tour Plans
29:22 How Tapped In Is Rexx To Local Tech Scene?
31:20 E-40’s Entrepreneurship Skills
33:13 What Is Rexx Most Excited About?

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