Music

Rexx Life Raj Adopts A Creative Safety Solution In The Cheeky ‘Bad Bad Bad’ Video

The Berkeley artist shows off his jump shot, has a picnic in the park, and does other outdoor activities – all without wearing a mask. …

Berkeley rapper Rexx Life Raj has already copped a “Tesla In A Pandemic,” but when it comes to other outdoor activities, the need for creative solutions to COVID safety spawned a forward-thinking video for the latest single from his California Poppy 2 EP, “Bad Bad Bad.” Remember that weird spacesuit-looking protective shell that was proposed as a possible way to save festivals back in May 2020? Well, it looks like Raj got his hands on one like it, and uses his “Bad Bad Bad” video as something of an infomercial for the possibilities it opens up.

Among them: An outdoor three-on-three basketball game in which Raj proves his athletic prowess extends beyond the football field, a picnic at the park, and a walking tour of his Bay Area hometown. Aside from making him look like a character from Among Us, the suit also provides a perhaps unintended use as a personal hotbox during a smoke session with his crew. All in all, Raj uses the innovative suit to participate in a wide range of daily activities that would normally require a mask while acknowledging that yes, the thing looks very silly.

Watch Rexx Life Raj’s cheeky “Bad Bad Bad” video above.

California Poppy 2 is out now via Empire. Get it here.

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Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

Connect with LAST ALEX! on Spotify