To many, hip-hop is no longer a fresh genre of music. It comes as no surprise when you listen to the top 40 hip-hop songs and become bored with the same recycled lyrics that are not only filled with profanities but also filled with repetitive messages. Rising star Alex Chen has set out to change that.
Alex is set to release his highly anticipated single, “Blue Meadow.” Ever since he caught the industry by storm with his single “Jaws,” his fans have been eagerly awaiting another hit from the artist. Even though it’s only been a year, their anticipation has made it seem longer. For Alex, quality will always come before quantity, and that’s why he’s taking his time.
Alex was born in New York and raised in Los Angeles by immigrant parents from China and Taiwan. While growing up, he took piano lessons and joined the choir when he was 8 years old. He went to a performing arts high school in California and was involved in theater productions.
At first, his career choice didn’t sit well with his parents. They felt he could “do better” in a traditional 9–5 job and maybe do music part-time if he had to. However, Chen’s persistence won them over, and they started to support his goals. At 18, Chen started writing music for himself and never looked back.
Chen has been working on his music career for close to 4 years now. At only 21, the musician has made a name for himself as an up-and-coming hip-hop artist. Although he’d always admired R&B artists when growing up, Chen says rap music and the culture, in general, was too hard to resist once he discovered it.
Chen was inspired after listening to an eclectic variety of rap artists such as Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole. Although he grew up in a household that did not listen to hip-hop music or understand its culture, he is hopeful that he’ll change many people’s perceptions of rap music.
Chen’s experience as a performer shines through in his compositions. He has a unique talent for writing songs that captivate the audience and convey what he was feeling when writing them. His ability to spit rhymes complements his voice perfectly and shows his tremendous skill as an artist and songwriter.
His new single, “Blue Meadow,” is a song that tells the story of someone who has lost hope in love after being hurt by their significant other. In an interview, he said, “I wrote this song for everyone who has experienced unrequited love. No one really ever understands what you’re going through unless they’ve been there themselves.”
Fittingly, blue is a color that can be described as both bold and tranquil. When asked about his song title choice, Alex said, “I needed a title that would evoke emotion in the listeners.” “Blue Meadow” is set to be released on SoundCloud in early February, while the music video will be released later in March. The song is part of a four-track EP, with future songs planned to release in March through May. Alex says he has more planned in the coming months. In addition to his songs, he will be working with notable names in the industry on a few joint projects.