Rexx Life Raj

California rapper Rexx Life Raj builds his rhymes around straightforward and sincere subjects, offering sharp reflections on everyday routines while embracing deep self-examination. He first surfaced in 2014 and has since delivered numerous albums and EPs, among them The Blue Hour in 2022.

Born Faraji Wright, this Berkeley native absorbed music through church services and his mother, while his father instilled both a rigorous work ethic and a sense of Black pride. Although he embraced rap at age six, sports and studies took precedence. Raj earned a football scholarship and competed for Boise State’s D1 squad. Following graduation, he channeled a communications degree into music-industry work rather than a professional football path. In 2014 he dropped two EPs: Hidden Clouds, which introduced the single “Put On,” and the Tele Fresco collaboration Portraits. The next year brought The Escape, boasting appearances by Iamsu!, Will Fraker, and City Shawn, plus Dreamland: Telegraph Ave., which featured YMTK, Ellen Purtell, and Lolo Zouai. In 2016 he teamed with fellow Bay Area rapper Nef the Pharaoh for the single “Moxie Java,” expanding his reach on streaming platforms and paving the way for his debut official full-length, Father Figure.

Crafted by producer Ian McKee and released in late 2016, Father Figure also spotlighted the singles “Shit n’ Floss” and “Handheld GPS.” Early the following year Raj issued several singles, among them the heartfelt “Devin’s Song” and the Russ-assisted “Waiting for You.” That summer he unveiled the collaborative Emoji Goats EP with YMTK alongside the sequel Father Figure 2: Flourish. A consistent flow of singles carried him to late 2018 and the short album California Poppy, which included E-40 on “Sprinkle Me.” In July 2019 he released the three-track En Route EP, anchored by the ALLBLACK-featured single “Rich.” Later that year came the third Father Figure installment, Somewhere Out There, and in 2020 he issued California Poppy 2, drawing contributions from Juvenile and Kojey Radical. The 2022 full-length The Blue Hour welcomed Fireboy DML, Wale, and Larry June.