Lexa Gates brought her East Coast Hip-Hop energy to the West Coast stage at the Observatory in Orange County. The energy was high as she walked onto the stage in her polkadot matching set for the opening night of her tour for her latest album I Am. The 24-year-old from Queens first gained recognition through SoundCloud and TikTok, which was my introduction to her as an artist. Since then she has gained a much larger following, now signed to Capitol Records with over 267k monthly listeners on Spotify. Her sound is a combination of hip-hop, jazz, and raw lyrics that pull at your heartstrings, all encapsulated by her signature edgy style.
Gates is known for her intriguing personality and style. She has a beautiful, deep voice that is quite recognizable once becoming familiar with her music. She samples a variety of jazz and Motown artists, including legends such as Dorthy Ashby in her song “All Work No Play” and the Intruders in her song “It Goes On.” Gates is embracing the culture of hip-hop while putting her own twist on it, making a place for herself within the music industry.
Lexa’s humor charms viewers, who have mistaken her for Bill Gates’ daughter due to her stage name. Instead of putting an end to the rumor, she has embraced it, joking about the benefits of the publicity. Common searches regarding her name are “Is Lexa Gates Bill Gates’ Daughter?” or “Is Lexa Gates a Nepo Baby?” In reality, she worked her way up within the music industry on her own. Her family immigrated from Puerto Rico to Queens when Gates was young. Gates has mentioned how she was naive to her mother’s hard work at the time. As she grew up, she uncovered the reality of her youth, which has carried her through a daunting industry to where she is now. Her mother, who played piano, has inspired Gates to play music. Through Gates’ hard work and determination, she is accomplishing her dreams as a musician, producer, and rapper.
Throughout past album promotions, Gates showcased various types of performance art. For her latest album, I Am, Gates’ promotion consisted of her walking around in a human-sized hamster wheel for 10 hours. While she was walking people could approach the exhibit and put on the headphones to get a sneak peek of her latest album. She was essentially powering the sound through walking on the wheel. This performance piece happened at the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in New York City. It was a very creative approach to catch the viewer’s eyes. This interactive art installation had the option for fans to leave her letters or notes, which she later posted online. On the notes Lexa Gates printed I Am and left the blank for fans to fill in. Her fans wrote a variety of different statements. Some were positive affirmations, such as “I am beautiful,” others wrote accomplishments, or silly statements. She was even left some odd objects, such as hot sauce packets. This is not the first time she has done an extensive performance art piece. It has become a part of her brand development. Showcasing her creativity through her music and her unique ways of promotion. She is not just a musician but an artist to keep an eye on as her career progresses.
The simplicity of her stage design for this show made it so that the audience was able to focus on her, the music, and her elegant poses throughout the performance. Some people may call her poses quirky, but it is all just a part of Lexa Gates’ unique personality and style. Gates’ presence demanded audience attention, as she was alone on the main stage with simple silk-like pink curtains and minimal use of props. It was just her and her backing track. The audience was entranced, singing along to every song.
Her image and personality have cultivated dedicated fans that match her style and confidence. Gates’ big winged eyeliner is a tribute to Amy Winehouse’s iconic look, showing how Amy is one of her inspirations. When Gates took the stage, the crowd roared in celebration. She rapped as though unbothered by her past woes. Fans were fully captivated, and the Observatory was packed for this sold-out show, dancing and singing along to every lyric. Some fans were even screaming along, giving it their all, supporting her performance. The evening reminded me that there is nothing better than live music by an artist who speaks to you deeply.
I highly recommend listening to Lexa Gates when you’re feeling low. The balance of her melodic lines and poetic rap verses is sonically pleasing and relatable. She leaves listeners empowered and confident in who they are or who they are becoming. Her latest album release, I Am, feels like a culmination of Gates’ thoughts and growth over time. She is raw, real, edgy, and overall herself. She is unbothered and secure, knowing that people who don’t understand her will catch on eventually as she stays consistent at her craft. After doing some digging, I found out that this album is an acronym of her initials, Ivanna Alexandra Martinez. This further emphasizes how personal and authentic this album is to Gates. Authenticity is essential within the music industry for the longevity and success of artists. Gates is truly showing herself to be the authentic current musical act that we need through this tour and album rollout.
Listen to Lexa Gates’ latest album here:
