Out of the gutter, onto the mic
Albuquerque hip hop artist launches first full-length album
UNAPOLOGETICALLY TRANS and explosively punk is how hip hop artist Lil Lavedy has been characterized and nothing could be better to describe her debut full length.
After working on it for four years, the Albuquerque artist is ready to blast the scene open with her new album, Hella Spiders 666.
Built off the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic and her love for spiders, the new album will bring Lil Lavedy to the forefront of the New Mexico hip hop scene with a different take on the popular genre.
“I like to talk about the emotional aspect of things, but I mostly like being silly,” she said about the new album.
Hella Spiders 666 is an experimental hip hop album chock full of witty puns, lightning-quick lyrical digs and dozens of musical references that bring the listener back for more after the tape ends.
From anarcho punk to golden era hip hop, Lil Lavedy delivers a hard hitting and challenging collection of songs her influences would all be equally proud of.
According to Lil Lavedy, each song on the album took about a year to finish. While working on her mastery of producing her own music, Lil Lavedy has also been hard at work with the pen and pad to give each listener something to chuckle about on every song.
Despite her upfront lyrical talents, hip hop was not this artist’s main focus, but the genre has quickly adopted this former folk punk icon.
Punk rock and hip hop have always had a common thread in the musical timelines of history and Hella Spiders 666 bridges the gap for listeners still confused on the parallels.
“Punks and kids who listen to rap both like drinking 40s outside of 7Eleven,” Lil Lavedy said laughing, describing big bottles of cheap beer.
With new techniques of punk rock vocals combined with well thought-out lyrical bars, Lil Lavedy’s new album is sure to find a place on the playlists of listeners in both genres.
Often asked about being a “trans woman in hip hop,” Lil Lavedy said she is trying not to focus primarily on the topic. Instead, she lets her music and talent be the talking points in most of her songs.
“A lot of the times the expectations for an artist can be immediately dismissed if the person just can rap well,” Lil Lavedy said. “When I show up (to a show), there is a bit of a question, but the moment I start spitting, they’re like ‘oh, ok.’”
Along with the respect gained from her lyrical delivery, Lil Lavedy said she still writes songs about trans topics as well as those that make “the cis [gender] feel uncomfortable.”
The new album also features a track with Noise Rap pioneer Moodie Black who has been instrumental in pushing the alternative hip hop genre in the ears of curious listeners.
“When you’re making music and you find someone you connect with in a genre or a community, it becomes a little bit more than just ‘oh i’m collaborating with another rapper,’” Lil Lavedy said about the song. “I’m making community music for my community.”
The new hip hop direction might seem a far reach from the former folk punk days that got Lil Lavedy started in musical scenes.
“All I had was an acoustic guitar and no friends to make a band with,” she said.
As any devoted punk would, Lil Lavedy kept exploring and experimenting with music, resulting in the smash album hitting listeners midDecember.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Lil Lavedy is keeping her sights set on the future and said she has already started on her follow up album. The pandemic was both a blessing and a catastrophe for the artist. Lil Lavedy said she lost her job due to the restrictions on “non-essential” work but the leave has given her the time to finalize work on the album.
“I really wish music was a hobby, but it’s more of a compulsion,” she said.
Lil Lavedy said she is hoping to bring the punk rock doit-yourself aesthetic to the hip hop scene and has been hard at work getting the public ready for the release of Hella Spiders 666.
With no touring opportunities in sight to promote the album, Lil Lavedy is relying on internet and remote-based shows to share her work and has been featured on a number of avenues since announcing her debut.
The album is set to drop Dec. 18, but pre-orders have been filing into Lil Lavedy’s inbox in anticipation of the release. Pre- orders have been produced on handmade pink cassette tapes to tap into the ‘90s hip hop nostalgia present in much of the lyrics.
To check out more Lil Lavedy music and purchase Hella Spiders 666, visit lillavedy.bandcamp.com/album/ hella-spiders-666-2.