View source for Lex Luger (record producer)

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Short description|American record producer (born 1991)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Lex Luger
| image             = Lex Luger record producer.jpg
| caption           = Lex Luger in 2021
| birth_name        = Lexus Arnel Lewis
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1991|03|06}}
| birth_place       = [[Suffolk, Virginia]], U.S.
| origin            = [[Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Southern hip hop]]|[[Trap music|trap]]|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|[[Electronic dance music|EDM]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|Record producer|songwriter}}
| years_active      = 2008−present
| label             = {{hlist|[[1017 Brick Squad]]|[[Fool's Gold Records|Fool's Gold]]|Warpath|TMOG}}
}}
'''Lexus Arnel Lewis''' (born March 6, 1991), professionally known as '''Lex Luger''', is an American record producer. His stage name is a [[Homage (arts)|homage]] to the former [[WCW]]/[[WWE|WWF]] professional wrestler [[Lex Luger]]. He co-founded the American hip hop production team [[808 Mafia]] with [[Southside (producer)|Southside]].<ref>[https://variety.com/2010/music/news/lex-luger-dances-to-his-own-beat-1118025931/ Lex Luger Lewis: Dances to his own beat], By Andrew Barker for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', Posted: Fri., October 22, 2010, 4:00am PT</ref> He is a member of the hip hop production duo [[Low Pros]] with [[A-Trak]], and the VABP (Virginia Boyz Productionz), a hip hop group that he founded in high school.
== Career ==
=== Early life and career beginnings ===
Growing up, Luger played percussion for his church and drummed in church bands. His first introduction to music was playing drums for a number of bands at his local church where he learned about beats, measures, BPMS and bars using a DJ set where he took instrumentals and mixed them with acapellas.<ref name="David Turner">{{cite web | url=http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2016/01/interview-lex-luger | title=Interview: Lex Luger | publisher=Red Bull Music Academy Daily | date=January 21, 2016 | access-date=February 24, 2016 | author=David Turner}}</ref> He then moved on to making music on the PlayStation game ''MTV Music Generator 3'', where he started working with turntables. When Luger eventually saved enough money for an Akai MPC 2500 and established the VABP (Virginia Boyz Productionz) production crew with his high school friends, Luger began to try his hand at making high quality industry hip hop beats.<ref name="zumic1">{{cite web | url=http://zumic.com/2014/02/12/behind-the-boards-producer-profile-lex-luger/ | title=Behind The Boards Producer Profile: Lex Luger|website=Zumic.com | date=February 12, 2015 | access-date=April 13, 2014 | author=Patrick Lyons}}</ref><ref name="Rosie J">{{cite web | url=http://www.indiehiphop.net/how-they-came-up-the-lex-luger-story/ | title=How They Came Up: The Lex Luger Story | website=Indiehiphop.net | date=October 11, 2011 | access-date=February 24, 2016 | author=Rosie J}}</ref> After purchasing an MPC 2000 from his uncle, his friend and now collaborator Urboyblack brought Luger an unlicensed copy of [[FL Studio]]. He has also incorporated music production workstations such as Maschine and [[Pro Tools]].<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/magazine/lex-luger-hip-hop-beat-maker.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 | work=The New York Times | first=Alex | last=Pappademas | title=Lex Luger Can Write a Hit Rap Song in the Time It Takes to Read This | date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>
Initially spending long days experimenting with Fruity Loops and working every day after school and all day every weekend wasn't enough to jumpstart Luger's production career. He dropped out of [[King's Fork High School]] after the 10th grade to further hone his music production talents when he realized that he was able to produce song length instrumentals at a fast pace.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vibe.com/2010/11/next-lex-luger/ | title=Lex Luger | website=Vibe.com | date=November 9, 2010 | access-date=February 24, 2016 | author=Clover Hope}}</ref> Putting hours into honing his craft, Luger began to dramatically increase his musical output after he found that he could knock out at least 10 beats a day.<ref name="Walker, Angus">{{cite web | url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/behind-the-beat-lex-luger-news.21695.html | title=Behind The Beat: Lex Luger | website=Hotnewhiphop.com | date=May 18, 2016 | access-date=July 24, 2016 | author=Walker, Angus}}</ref> He then started hearing about independent music artists gaining exposure through MySpace and started posting music on that website. Around late 2008, he began cold-emailing his beats to various rappers and posting instrumentals on his Myspace page, hoping to gain further exposure in the hip hop industry. In 2009, a then unknown rapper by the name of Waka Flocka Flame began e-mailing him back. The two later built a relationship on MySpace when Luger began sending Waka beats once every few days.<ref name="nytimes.com" /><ref name="zumic1" /><ref name="Rosie J" />
=== 2009–2013: rise to fame ===
Waka expressed interest in Luger's production style when he requested a particularly vicious beat that he wanted to rap over. Luger sent Waka 40 beats, where three beats eventually ended on Waka's 2009, 'Salute Me or Shoot Me 2' mixtape.<ref name="Walker, Angus" /> Waka later requested some more from Luger to which he responded with hundreds more, and eventually Waka Flocka Flame flew him out to Atlanta to collaborate with him. Spending months sequestered in a basement with no internet access in Atlanta working with Waka Flocka Flame, Luger laid much of the production groundwork for Waka's debut album. Not knowing the future outcome of his career, Luger contemplated taking a second job stacking boxes in a warehouse to support his production career.<ref name="Rosie J" /> Waka later gained fame and was eventually signed to Bricksquad when his song [[O Lets Do It]] became a hit.<ref name="Rosie J" />
Waka Flocka Flame's "[[Hard in the Paint]]" was Luger's first instrumental to hit the radio waves and became a hit by May 2010.<ref name="zumic1" /><ref name=pappademas>{{cite news|last=Pappademas|first=Alex|title=Lex Luger Can Write a Hit Rap Song in the Time It Takes to Read This|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/magazine/lex-luger-hip-hop-beat-maker.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|access-date=May 2, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> Luger was in Atlanta at the time when he first heard the song playing on the radio. While in Atlanta, Luger got a phone call from Chicago rapper and record producer [[Kanye West]], although he did not realize who he was talking to for two hours. After realizing who it was, Luger agreed to fly to New York City to work with him.<ref name=pappademas /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.14119/title.lex-luger-talks-working-with-kanye-west-taylor-gang | title=Lex Luger Talks Working with Kanye West, "Taylor Gang" | website=HiphopDX.com | date=February 17, 2011 | access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref> He eventually created eight backing beats for West's use, including the beat that eventually became the single [[H•A•M]] as well as the bonus cut "See Me Now" for West's 2010 album ''[[My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy]]''. Luger also got a request from Spiff of SpiffTV who contacted him to get the instrumental track of "Hard In The Paint" that eventually led Luger to build a relationship with [[Rick Ross]] as Ross wanted to do a remix for the song. This led Luger to build a relationship with Rick Ross for whom he later produced [[B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)]] and MC Hammer for Ross's 2010 album ''[[Teflon Don (album)|Teflon Don]]''.<ref name="Rosie J" /> After working with Ross, Luger achieved a career boost when he began receiving an increase in numbers of followers on Twitter.<ref name="Rosie J" /> By June 2010, Luger had landed production placements from rappers [[Ace Hood]], Soulja Boy, Chingy, Sean Garrett, and [[Fabolous]].<ref name="zumic1" /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://istandardproducers.com/istandard-blog/news-producer-lex-luger-talks-success-work-with-kanye-rick-ross-and-waka/ | title={News} Producer Lex Luger Talks Success, Work with Kanye, Rick Ross and Waka | website=iStandardproducers.com | date=September 22, 2010 | access-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref>
As Luger's sound drifted upstream from the mixtape circuit to the mainstream hip hop, it caught the eye of numerous rappers that requested his jackhammer drum and spooky trap synth production style.<ref name="Rosie J" /> He then produced tracks for a number of popular rappers including [[Rick Ross (rapper)|Rick Ross]]'s ''[[Teflon Don (album)|Teflon Don]]'', [[Waka Flocka Flame]]'s ''[[Flockaveli]]'', [[Slim Thug]]'s ''[[Tha Thug Show]]'' and Kanye West and [[Jay-Z]]'s ''[[Watch the Throne]]''.<ref name="S NOTEBOOK 2010">[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/arts/music/09waka.html "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK: Bam! Pow! A Loud Young Rapper Rekindles Rap's Old Fighting Spirit]," by Jon Caramanica. Published October 8, 2010, ''[[The New York Times]]''</ref> He then went on to work with a number of other popular rap artists including [[Wiz Khalifa]], [[Big Sean]], [[Wale (rapper)|Wale]], [[Fabolous]], [[Juicy J]], [[Soulja Boy]], [[Snoop Dogg]] and [[2 Chainz]] as well as producing songs for a number of street famous rappers such as [[Fat Trel]], [[Lil Scrappy]] and [[OJ Da Juiceman]].<ref name="S NOTEBOOK 2010" /> Following his success with Waka Flocka Flame and Rick Ross, Luger then began building a relationship with [[Juicy J]] in late 2010 citing him as a musical influence as well as a music industry adviser. Juicy J eventually took Luger under his wing and the two eventually collaborated on two mixtapes with Juicy J leveraging Luger a career boost as well as to generate buzz to further get Luger's name in the hip hop industry.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ca.complex.com/music/2011/02/lex-luger-talks-taylor-gang-beats-same-scared-of-kanye-west | title=Interview: Lex Luger Talk "Taylor Gang," His Beats Sounding The Same, & Being Scared of Kanye West |website=Ca.complex.com |date=February 17, 2011 |access-date=February 24, 2016 | author=Insanul Ahmed}}</ref> Luger went on to produce more than 200 songs throughout 2010 and 2011 fueling hit songs by a number of popular rappers as well as number of songs featured on an array of street and underground hip hop mixtapes.<ref name="zumic1" /><ref name="S NOTEBOOK 2010" />
Luger was initially affiliated with fellow Brick Squad producer [[Southside (producer)|Southside]]. The two of them formed the production team [[808 Mafia]] in 2010, though he left the group the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://instagram.com/p/lOZfkIMcdM/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/lOZfkIMcdM |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited|title=Instagram|website=Instagram.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> During the same year at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards, Luger won the award for Producer of the Year.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://consequence.net/2014/02/a-trak-and-lex-luger-team-up-as-low-pros-stream-new-song-jack-tripper/ | title=A-Trak and Lex Luger team up as Low Pros, stream new song "Jack Tripper"|website=Consequence.net| date=February 5, 2014}}</ref>
=== 2014–present: International touring, instrumental album and drug addiction ===
In February 2014, Luger joined forces with Canadian DJ/producer [[A-Trak]] under the moniker [[Low Pros]], with the intention of releasing a collaborative project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/a-trak-and-lex-luger-low-pros-jack-tripper-feat-young-thug-peewee-longway-new-song.1813024.html |title=A-Trak & Lex Luger (Low Pros) – Jack Tripper Feat. Young Thug & PeeWee Longway &#124; Stream & Listen [New Song&#93; |website=Hotnewhiphop.com |date=February 5, 2014 |access-date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> Their first release was "Jack Tripper", a drug-addled trap song featuring Brick Squad affiliates PeeWee Longway and [[Young Thug]], who had just risen to popularity at the time due to the success of his 2013 singles "Stoner" and "Danny Glover".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complexmag.ca/music/2014/01/young-thug-kanye-west-future-interview |title=Young Thug Talks About Working With Kanye West and If He'll Sign To Future &#124; Complex |website=Complexmag.ca |date=January 28, 2014 |access-date=April 14, 2014}}</ref>
In late 2014, Luger started touring as a live act. He signed with agent Wilcox Weaver at Oklahoma City and Los Angeles based Warpath Group in September 2014 for international tour bookings. In January 2015, he signed to EXYT Agency for European and Asian tour bookings. Luger has played all over the world with the set consisted of Luger and his DJ, Kino Beats.{{cn|date=June 2023}} He has had solid success with this endeavor, selling thousands of tickets across the globe as he sold out an entire European tour in May 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://warpathgroup.com/bookings/lex-luger/|title=Lex Luger – Warpath Group|work=warpathgroup.com|access-date=May 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516103918/http://warpathgroup.com/bookings/lex-luger/|archive-date=May 16, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On June 27, 2015, Luger headlined Virginia' fifth annual EpicFest Hip Hop Festival in Richmond, Virginia.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thesource.com/2015/06/08/lex-luger-to-headline-epic-virginia-hip-hop-festival/ | title=Lex Luger to Headline "Epic" Virginia Hip Hop Festival | publisher=The Source | date=June 8, 2015 | access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.slapdashrva.com/event/epicfestv/ | title=SlapdashRVA Presents: #EpicFestV {{!}} June 23 – 28 | publisher=Slapdash | access-date=February 24, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062010/http://www.slapdashrva.com/event/epicfestv/ | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
On March 22, 2016, Luger released his first full length instrumental album. The project features his DJ and collaborator KinoBeats as well as his V.A.B.P. collaborators back from his early production days HighDefRazajah, UrBoyBlack and Trama.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thedropnyc.com/2016/03/22/lex-luger-experience-the-tour-vol-1-instrumental-album/ | title=Lex Luger Experience: The Tour, Vol. 1 (Instrumental Album) | publisher=The Drop NYC | date=March 22, 2016 | access-date=March 23, 2016 | author=Bryan Tomlinson | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826033434/https://thedropnyc.com/2016/03/22/lex-luger-experience-the-tour-vol-1-instrumental-album/ | archive-date=August 26, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
Luger opened up about his seven year long battle with drug addiction in an interview with DJ Smallz Eyes in September 2018. Stating that he was taking the prescription medication [[Xanax]] on a daily basis and was also addicted to [[Ecstasy (drug)|ecstasy]] and [[marijuana]], he was hospitalized four times with one incident being nearly fatal. He claimed that he could not distinguish the world from reality for four days. Luger finally decided to get clean with help from rehab. He has been sober from all substances except [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] since 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joAT36_WPF8  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/joAT36_WPF8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Lex Luger On Being Sober From Pills and Lean After 7 Years Of Use, Hospitalized 4 Times |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=September 14, 2018 |access-date=April 8, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lex-luger-is-back-in-the-loop-after-grappling-with-drug-addiction-news.57686.html|title=Lex Luger Is "Back In The Loop" After Grappling With Drug Addiction|website=HotNewHipHop.com|date=August 19, 2018|access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref>
== Production style and influences ==
Luger uses the digital audio workstation FL Studio, along with custom installed VST plugins, to compose his beats. He has also incorporated music production workstations such as Maschine and [[Pro Tools]].<ref name="nytimes.com" /> In each of his productions, he has become known for using his signature electronic sounding build up effect in the beginning and throughout his productions. The basis for his stage name came from professional wrestler [[Lex Luger]] as well as the [[Luger pistol]]. He cites producers [[Dr. Dre]], [[Shawty Redd]], D. Rich, [[Drumma Boy]], [[Jazze Pha]], hip hop production duo [[The Heatmakerz]], rapper [[Juicy J]] and his former group [[Three Six Mafia]], and Harlem rap group [[The Diplomats]] as his musical influences.<ref name="David Turner" /><ref name="Nadine Graham">{{cite web | url=http://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.1754/title.lex-luger-recalls-working-with-game-on-r-e-d-says-his-sound-comes-from-pain | title=Lex Luger Recalls Working With Game On "R.E.D.," Says His Sound Comes From Pain | website=HiphopDX.com | date=February 11, 2011 | access-date=February 24, 2016 | author=Nadine Graham}}</ref> He self describes the creative process of making his beats coming from his inner "pain" bringing out stress and pouring his heart out when he composes his beats.<ref name="David Turner" /><ref name="Nadine Graham" /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://respect-mag.com/2011/07/lex-luger-interview-see-me-now/ | title=Lex Luger Interview – Speaks on "See Me Now," Odd Future | website=Respect-mag.com| date=July 15, 2011 | access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref>
Luger is known for his strong adherence to Atlanta's [[Trap music (hip hop)|trap]] sound making use of the Roland TR-808 kick drum, ominous synth lines, and threatening ad-libs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/40189/lex-luger-the-teen-who-made-rap-hard-again | title=Lex Luger Talks Working with Kanye West, "Taylor Gang" | publisher=Washington City Paper | date=December 24, 2010 | access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref> His austere, jackhammer, and utilitarian orchestral trap sound has been well known for his heavy use of hard hitting 808 kick drums; crisp snare drums; frantic synthesizers; spooky, sinister, and rhythmic [[Richard Wagner]]- and [[Danny Elfman]]-like bombastic ominous orchestration of synthesized brass, stringed, woodwind, and keyboard instruments commonly incorporated throughout his productions.<ref name="lexluger">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/magazine/lex-luger-hip-hop-beat-maker.html?pagewanted=all | title=Lex Luger Can Write a Hit Rap Song in the Time It Takes to Read This | newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| date=November 4, 2011 | access-date=March 27, 2014 | author=Alex Pappademas}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thefader.com/2012/12/12/drum-majors-four-producers-to-watch | title=Drum Majors: Four Producers to Watch | website=Thefader.com | access-date=February 24, 2016 | author=Matthew Schnipper}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/features/out-the-trunk/7984-out-the-trunk-5/ | title=The Waka Flocka Flame/Lex Luger Sound | website=Pitchfork.com | date=June 15, 2011 | access-date=February 24, 2016}}</ref> Luger is known for his musical confluence of combining bombastic orchestral instruments, spooky synths with urban street hip hop sounds. Since his entrance into the hip hop industry, he produces with a more diverse approach further incorporating pop, R&B, as well as electronic dance as a creative deviation from his traditional trap sound into his production repertoire.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1656423/lex-luger-producer-jay-z-kanye-west-rick-ross/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329060345/http://www.mtv.com/news/1656423/lex-luger-producer-jay-z-kanye-west-rick-ross/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 29, 2016 | title=Jay-Z, Kanye West's 'H.A.M.' Beatsmith Lex Luger Looks Ahead|website=Mtv.com | date=January 21, 2011 | access-date=February 24, 2016 | author=Jayson Rodriguez}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7333108/lex-luger-instrumental-album-808-mafia | title=Producer Lex Luger Talks First Instrumental Album, Going EDM on 'Low Pros' EP with A-Trak & 808 Mafia Beef Rumors | website=Billboard.com | date=April 14, 2016 | access-date=July 24, 2016 | author=J. Pablo Caraballo}}</ref>
== Discography ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Studio album'''
*2016: ''The Lex Luger Experience: The Tour Vol. 1''
{{col-2}}
'''Collaboration albums'''
*2014: ''Low Pros EP 1'' (with A-Trak)
*2016: ''500 Grams'' (with Ricky Hil)
*2016: ''1804'' (with Malcolm Anthony)
*2016: ''GOT INSTRUMENTALS x GC54PROD 2'' (with GC54PROD)
*2017: ''GOT INSTRUMENTALS x GC54PROD 4'' (with GC54PROD)
*2018: ''GOT INSTRUMENTALS x GC54PROD 6'' (with GC54PROD)
*2021: ''Generation Scam'' (with [[Teejayx6]])
*2023: ''THE PROFESSIONALS'' (with GC54PROD)
{{col-end}}
== Production discography ==
{{main article|Lex Luger production discography}}
== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Year
! Awards
! Category
! Recipient
! Result
|-
| 2011
| [[BET Awards 2011|BET Hip Hop Awards]]
| Producer of the Year
| Lex Luger
| {{won}}
|}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luger, Lex}}
[[Category:1991 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1017 Records artists]]
[[Category:African-American record producers]]
[[Category:American hip hop record producers]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues keyboardists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Musicians from Virginia]]
[[Category:People from Suffolk, Virginia]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Virginia]]
[[Category:Southern hip hop musicians]]
[[Category:Trap musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:American electronic dance music musicians]]