MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE: Haters get ‘$MACKED’ by Scranton rapper Lucas Hex
Already working on new material, Scranton hip-hop artist Lucas Hex has also been busy shooting music videos to promote his first full-length album, “Blue Carolina.” The first of those videos for the stinging single “$MACKED” is premiering today exclusively on NEPA Scene.
The song’s beat was produced by SAKI, and the video was directed by Timmy Price, who also came up with the concept and shot Hex’s previous video for “Omen.”
“The [‘$MACKED’] video was really meant to be concept-less, honestly. I felt like the song was just fun and meant for people to bob their head to,” Hex explained.
“The song is about a lot and absolutely nothing at the same time. It allowed me to get some snarky remarks off my chest. I just wanted to have fun making the video and let Timmy use all of the crazy effects he wanted to.”
Much like the video, which shows the rapper multiplied many times, expect to see a lot more of Hex as the weather warms up. Working through the album cycle for “Blue Carolina,” he plans to tour in support of the 10-song album this summer. Last year, he completed a national tour opening for former Volumes vocalist Michael Barr.
“‘$MACKED’ addresses the naysayers and haters. There’s some parts in it that address how I’m dealing with my own issues of not always being able to let that stuff go. At the end of the day, I just wanted to have fun with the song and experiment with different flow patterns,” he added.
Continuing that creative process, Hex is now back in the studio recording his next release.
“I’m currently experimenting with different styles and themes that pertain to where my life has been going since I wrote the ‘Blue Carolina’ album,” he said.
Fans of Lucas Hex can expect an album featuring material that is an extreme departure from his 2018 “Sermons” EP and “Blue Carolina,” but one that remains true to the artist they have come to know and love from his raw live performances and clever wordplay.
In the immediate future, though, he plans to hit the road as much as possible. He also will release a video for the title track, “Blue Carolina,” in the next month or so, so keep an eye out for that to premiere on NEPA Scene as well.
“For those of you who were wondering, yes, ‘Blue Carolina’ is in fact a nod to Alkaline Trio,” Hex told NEPA Scene last year. “Blue Carolina” is the name of the ninth track on the punk rock band’s 2003 breakout album “Good Mourning.”
Hex discovered his love for hip-hop and other musical genres at a young age in a South Carolina housing project. Upon moving to Northeastern Pennsylvania, he dove into the metal, hardcore, and punk genres. With “an almost unhealthy strive for perfection” and a “DIY work ethic,” he was named Hip-Hop Artist of the Year at the 2016 Steamtown Music Awards and performed at the 2018 award ceremony before his album release show at Stage West in Scranton on Dec. 8.
“Blue Carolina” is available now everywhere digital music is sold.
