This week I take a look at the Queen of Social Media. An incomparable sensation and rap icon who has had an incredibly quick rise to success and who continues to smash expectations over what she can and will achieve. When she had her first number 1 with Bodak Yellow, she became the first female rapper to top the Billboard chart since Lauryn Hill. At that time, 1xtra presenter Dotty said, “I’m not saying this should be anyone’s life plan but stripper turned reality star turned No 1 artist is today’s American dream”.

Now at the top again with WAP, this episode is a lesson in Memes, by Cardi B.

Hot Girls Handles:

Mixes - https://soundcloud.com/lexonthedecks/sets/hot-girls-the-mixes

Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0M8WInsGc6kYGht82WXPgz

Insta - @LexOnTheDecks

Twitter - @LexOnTheDecks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Myspace, to the streets of Birmingham, to Atlanta and then to London, TrueMendous has already had a really interesting career. Now this year, she announced signing to High Focus Records, the record label that brought us Rag'n'Bone man and the Four Owls.

The talented lyricist has been putting out music and videos for a few years, growing her performance ability and resilience working as a busker. Now transitioning to being a signed artist, she released her EP HUH? in March and is set to release her first album later this year.

We chat to True about what inspires her, what she needs to feel good as an artist, the lessons Busking taught her, and that relationship and process to working with High Focus.

Fascinating insight to a big moment in the career of a previously independent artist.

TrueMendous Handles:

Insta / Twitter: @itstruemendous

High Focus Records:

Insta: @highfocusrecords

Host Handles:

Insta / Twitter: @lexonthedecks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teena Marie is an artist who released 14 studio albums over a professional musical career spanning 25years. Often described as the “Ivory Queen of Soul”, she’s since been sampled by artists including Ciara, Mobb deep, The Fugees, Jadakiss and Nicki Minaj. 

Her faith guided her through many of life trials and tribulations. This is an exploration of her musical life and how faith played it's role.

Hot Girls Handles:

Mixes - https://soundcloud.com/lexonthedecks/sets/hot-girls-the-mixes

Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0M8WInsGc6kYGht82WXPgz

Insta - @LexOnTheDecks

Twitter - @LexOnTheDecks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the rise of Destiny's child, to the career of Mariah, to the evolution of UK Black music from the Underground into the mainstream, Jasmine Dotiwala has seen it all. She started her career as a runner, before being thrust into the spotlight as a Presenter for Channel 4's "The Word". After The Word got axed for too many audience complaints, she went to join the team at MTV as an MTV News Presenter. Her long and exciting journey at MTV included being Head of Production for MTV Base. Since that role she's worked at Channel 4 and the BBC, and is currently working to get more young people into media, through her role at the Media Trust.

This Interview is a must listen for anyone wanting to further their career in music, media or entertainment!

Jasmine Handles:

Insta / Twitter: @jasminedotiwala

Host Handles:

Insta / Twitter: @lexonthedecks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HOT GIRLS is a new female focused, music centred conversation pulling back the curtain on the tenacity required to forge a career in the creative industries, and the resilience necessitated to stay there.

Examining the intersection of music & contemporary culture HOT GIRLS is a chronicle of the fighters, the divas & the dreamers.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Lex was joined by Selina Hannaford (Luna Lisabet), a spoken-word artist, photographer, and the founder of creative platform and management agency, Luna Legacy. Selina has had a fascinating career journey, really finding her passion and tribe after some personal battles. We spoke about her influences growing up, the role of the manager and how to create and manage events against the challenges of London night life.

Artists Mentioned:

KDotMelody, Fela Mi, Maverick Quest, Kendrick Lemar, Shocka, D Double E, FKJ, Masego, J Cole, Subten, Elliott Yorke (Ebow), Nas, B.I.G., Common, Talib Kweli, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg, Jagged Edge, Dave, Kojey radical, George The Poet, Ghetts

Luna Handles:

IG: @lunalisabet / @wearelunalegacy

Twitter: @wearelunalegacy

Host Handles:

Insta / Twitter / Soundcloud: @LexOnTheDecks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the penultimate episode of Season 1 I wanted to bring it closer to home and look at one of the only female MCs to have sat at the top of the UK charts. It sounds like an exaggerated statement, but it isn’t. That woman is Ms Dynamite and her voice was one of the defining sounds of early millennium music. She’s a brilliant blend of grime and dub basslines with really smart lyrics and has been the winner of a mercury music prize, mobo awards and brit awards. She’s also the older sister to Akala who also started his career as a rapper but went on to write the novel “Natives”; a fascinating book which challenges the British squeamishness about it’s class and race issues, both his experiences of them and also the history as to how we’ve got to the oppressive place we’re in today. I was interested to know what background and education Ms Dynamite had had, particularly knowing that these two very successful individuals grew up together - what lessons on success did they learn which we can listen to.

As always, this isn’t just a biography, but we’re looking at the decisions she made in her career and challenges, to get to where she has.

Hot Girls Handles:

Mixes - https://soundcloud.com/lexonthedecks/sets/hot-girls-the-mixes

Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0M8WInsGc6kYGht82WXPgz

Insta - @LexOnTheDecks

Twitter - @LexOnTheDecks

Tiktok - @LexOnTheDecks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by the super talented Producer and DJ, Melle Brown. Having done a taster course in music production when she was 14, Melle became comfortable with Logic early on, releasing her first EP Blossom as her dissertation project. Having met label owner and Radio DJ Jamz Supernova at a Soho House event, Melle ended up releasing her second EP "Intersection" on her label Future Bounce. It's house at its centre but with soul infusions. As a DJ she's played for the likes of Gorrilaz, Little Simz, Lovebox Festival, AFROPUNK & more.

Melle and I chat about her life, from stage school to radio, to DJ booths and the family that's supported her through it all.

Artists mentioned:

Omar, Oli Hannaford, Jazz Supernova, Tiana Major9, LayFullStop, Blue Canarino, Goldlink, Emmavie, Digital Mozart, Blue Lab Beats, KG, High Class Filter, Intalekt

Melle Handles:

IG: @melle.brown

Twitter: @melle_brown

SC / Spotify / Apple: Melle Brown

Host Handles:

Insta / Twitter / Soundcloud: @LexOnTheDecks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are going to be exploring the life of the soulful, seductive, romantic and mysterious Sade. One of the most successful solo female artists in the history of British music, Sade’s iconic sound blended elements of jazz, soul and funk to create a timeless sound which has been lusted after by listeners for decades. In fact, she has released a successful album in every decade since her initial 3-hit series in the 80s. One of the amazing things about Sade was that she achieved an incredible amount of success without being an active figure in the media.

As always, this isn’t just a biography, but we’re looking at the decisions she made in her career and challenges, to get to where she has.

Hot Girls Handles:

Mixes - https://soundcloud.com/lexonthedecks/sets/hot-girls-the-mixes

Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0M8WInsGc6kYGht82WXPgz

Insta - @LexOnTheDecks

Twitter - @LexOnTheDecks

Tiktok - @LexOnTheDecks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Lex is joined by Bklava. A multi-talented artist and DJ from London who's singles are distinctive for their fresh, restrained take on Garage. Known for singing and DJing at the same time, Bklava also co-founded the female and non-binary DJ platform Spin Suga, which has a radio show on Brighton station Platform B, as well as hosting DJ workshops and panel talks. Bklava also did a mix which you can listen to on the Hot Girls mix series on Soundcloud.

Songs Played:

Bklava - Got it Good

Bklava - Through the Night

Artists Mentioned:

Wookie, Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Rosalia, Yaeji, AMA

Guest Handles:

FB: /bklavadj

Insta: @Bklava

Soundcloud: /Bklava

Host Handles:

Insta / Twitter / Soundcloud: @LexOnTheDecks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.