Words by Lauryn Njeri
One immediately feels the comfort that lies perfectly in between the arts of poetry and rap when they listen to ‘Government Tropicana’. The album is a deeply personal account of introspection informed by cultural memory from the North London-based multifaceted artist Lex Amor.
It’s impossible to miss the bravado in her transcendental whispers, where she lets us in on her bid to trace the evolution of her hometown and her role within it. “Government Tropicana is the story of first-generation working-class London; an attempt to articulate the nuance of my lived experience,” Lex explains. “This project is a celebration of collective cultural norms and an exploration of my life to this point.”
“This project is a celebration of collective cultural norms and an exploration of my life to this point.”
The 9-track EP is led by mellow beats and hushed sedating vocals. This gives way for easy listening to internalize the memoirs of her life in-between the lines of her slick wordplay. “Whilst writing this project I engaged with concepts of home, detachment, disillusionment, perseverance, power and community. It is the fruit of my lifelong introspection. Tap water – government juice – making the most of what we were given: Government Tropicana.”
Lex Amor comfortably establishes herself as one to watch. Her ability to touch on cultural, political and personal perspectives in her bold bars, all while maintaining a laidback aura and sense of humour makes her one of the brightest lights to emerge from the UK hip-hop scene in recent years.