We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

RIP TXLX

by Jordan Looney

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $5 USD  or more

     

1.
2.
Lexodus 04:19
3.
Heatin' Up 04:30
4.
5.
The Floor 04:33
6.
7.
Raps On Raps 02:43
8.
9.
10.
The Moment 03:57
11.
12.

about

RIP TXLX - The History Behind The Album

In college, Mena bought a 1994 Lexus ES 300 down in Texas. He christened the whip “Texas Lexus,” and she was glorious. From late night turn up trips, to munchy runs, from spring break road trips to Florida, to journeys up to Minnesota, Texas Lexus was an essential part of our crew.

It was within her that I fully discovered and embraced southern rap. Mena and another friend of mine (Chris Lyons, for the initiated) grew up in Texas and Georgia respectively, and because of this had different music tastes and influences. Being from Minnesota, I came up assessing the quality of hip hop based on the complexity of the lyrics and for me, minus a select few (i.e. Outkast, 06 LilWayne, Some T.I and Ludacris, and Little Brother), I felt the emcee's from the south were too simple.

I remember being in high school when I first heard Young Jeezy featured on “Do The Damn Thing” by Fabolous. I honestly thought it was a joke. How could anybody fuck with somebody rapping so slow with simple word play... I had a lot to learn.

As our friendship developed, they exposed me to both the rich history and emerging sounds of southern music, names I had heard of but never fully embraced. I became familiar with the catalogs of UGK, 8 Ball and MJG, Z-Ro, DJ Screw, 36 Mafia, Chamillionaire, Swisha House, and discovered new shit (at the time) like Killer Mike, Curren$y, and Big KRIT.

I began to understand the breadth and depth of southern hip hop artists. I learned that what some lacked in lyrical complexity they made up for in passion, grit, authenticity, and relatability. I also learned that lyrics were only one component of a dynamic blend of sounds that all worked together to make you feel something real.

Tracks were remembered, cherished, and bumped repeatedly not because they had hot punch lines, but because they stirred specific emotion, one we couldn't attain unless that song was on. During this period of exploration and growth, Texas Lexus was right there by our side, both guiding and following us as we moved through the music and the world.

One day Mena woke up and headed down stairs to grab some white owl white grape cigarillos. To his utter dismay he saw that a drunk driver had totaled Texas Lexus while it was parked on the side of the street in the middle of the night. His insurance would cover some of the damages, but nothing could replace the void of not having her in our lives. We mourned her loss, and celebrated the time we had spent with her.

Right around this time, Mena started producing. His first three beats were decent. I heard what he was doing and saw the time and effort he put in to each one, but honestly they weren't really for me. Little did I know, the next 12 tracks he made would eventually become my first album.

When I first started writing for this project, my goal was to try and slow down my delivery. Up to that point in my career, I had always rapped over quick boom bap production placing a word on almost every snare. As the songs began to develop, I started to see how those southern influences were beginning to seep in to my content and flow. I began to see how influential the time I spent with Texas Lexus was on not only my life, but music making ability as well. While she was always real to me, creating this album truly personifies the car, and gave me opportunity to reflect on the time we had together.

credits

released July 13, 2015

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jordan Looney Chicago, Illinois

I think therefore I Rap. I Rap therefore I am.

www.jordanlooney.com

contact / help

Contact Jordan Looney

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Jordan Looney, you may also like: