Plex unveils his LP, Who Am I To Judge and his latest single, “Red Flags”
Truly a visionary in his craft, Plex consistently releases hard-hitting hip-hop anthems reminiscent of old-school hip-hop that progress the civil rights agenda. Who Am I To Judge carries this banner proudly.
Following the release of “Great Ones (E’s Up),” a track that topped the Indigenous Music Countdown this year, the critically acclaimed rapper debuts his newest project, Who Am I To Judge, and has released the new song “Red Flags” featuring Aleah Belle. The 12-track LP is curt – corporate greed and manufactured hate are a toxin in the veins of society, condemning corrupt governments, cultural appropriation, uncanny wealth, and the toxic remnants of fake news and sinister intentions.
Plex’s tenure in the music industry is blatantly obvious. Finessed productions and clever wordplay serve as the cherry for this seasoned musician. Who Am I To Judge reflects everything that Plex believes in – and fights for.
As for the LP itself, Who Am I To Judge is a polished example of professionalism and musical integrity. Each song is built from the bottom up with a pure heart filled with discontent about worldly and civic issues. For every bone-rattling 808/kick drum combo, there is a borderline soul-crushing revelation delivered in a verse.
Plex dissects his newest album, saying,
“The album speaks directly about Plex’s struggles with drugs and alcohol, the evolution of hip hop, cultural appropriation, and the state of the planet – all while pondering what it may take to fix it.”
Who Am I To Judge features collaborations with artists from both the hip-hop and Indigenous communities, including Lady Luck, Kryple, Drezus, Touch, and Rellik. In addition, Plex worked with acclaimed artist and producer 2oolman and Cashmere Brown, known for his production on Kanye West’s Donda.
Born in Edmonton, AB, and now based out of Barrie, Ontario, Plex is an award-winning hip-hop artist and producer. Plex has been a major player in the music industry for almost 30 years. Plex has raised the bar amongst his Indigenous peers. Through his influence, he has built a strong and relevant presence in Canadian Hip Hop.
Since releasing his debut solo album in 2009, Plex has toured across the US and Canada performing, teaching workshops to Indigenous youth, and running his independent record label, New Leaf Entertainment. In addition, Plex’s music video “The Way It Should Be,” featured on his first album Brainstorm, has received critical acclaim from across the globe.
“The Way It Should Be” music video has screened across 30 film festivals worldwide, receiving 7 awards.
Plex is hailed has a master at his craft, titled a visionary who has dedicated his work to his community through artistic expression.
Who Am I To Judge and “Red Flags” featuring Aleah Belle are available now.
Listen to Who Am I To Judge below and learn more about Plex via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Doug Bedard, but since the mid 1990s, I’ve rapped under the pseudonym Plex with multiple groups, such as First Nation M.C’s, Redmen in Progress, and Won-18. I’m Ojibway, Cree & Ukrainian, and I represent Peguis First Nation in Manitoba and Old Town Beverly in Edmonton, Alberta. Currently, I reside in Barrie, Ontario.
Tell us about the process of writing “Red Flags.”
When I was growing up, racism towards Indigenous people was very common. It became normal for a lot of native people, who could pass for other ethnicities, to steer away from publicly identifying as Indigenous. It was just….. easier. While it was known that some celebrities claimed Indigenous ancestry to explain “exotic” physical features and potentially further their careers, a lot of natives knew these claims were false. It almost seemed harmless at the time and something we might laugh about. In the age of social media, we’ve seen a growing movement of talented Indigenous musicians, actors, athletes, artists, authors, and entrepreneurs achieve success on both national and international stages. There are resources and spaces allocated to assist people from marginalized communities so that they can gain access to platforms they may never have had access to. However, there has been a sharp rise of non-Indigenous folks exploiting these incentives to help further their careers. I think it may be fuelled by flimsy requirements, such as self-identification, but there are some people who have suggested that 25% of people who identify as Indigenous may not be Indigenous at all.
I was informed about several musicians who have been accepted as Indigenous and have taken up spaces for years. Behaviours that once annoyed me have grown into something I’ve really come to despise, especially since it wasn’t that long ago that we were conditioned to be ashamed of who we were. Now it’s cool & trendy. I’ve always been more inclined to write from a place of pain and conflict, so creating Red Flags was an opportunity for me to put these “Pretendians” on notice. The response has been mostly supportive, so I feel my views on this subject are being validated.
What’s it like being a musician in Barrie?
The local hip-hop community has been very supportive in Barrie. I’m invited to functions quite often, and in most cases, I’m introduced as a pioneer in Canadian hip hop. I feel honoured to be recognized like that, especially since I’ve spent almost 30 years feeling like I’ve been separate from both hip-hop and Indigenous circles or communities.
Who was the first Canadian artist to blow you away?
Maestro Fresh Wes was the first hip-hop concert I ever attended. I think I was about 13 or 14. Watching his rise to fame was especially inspiring for me, but I think the first time I was actually blown away was by Saukrates. He had an EP out in the mid-’90s called Brick House. Classic, start to finish.
You’ve been making music for while now. What’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
I think authenticity is key, but more importantly, you need to first define what your goals are. Do you want to be famous? Because the potential is always there, it just depends on how far you’re willing to go to achieve it. For me, I want to control all of the elements that go into creating my music and my brand, but I’m also comfortable with the limitations that may present. Sometimes, the opinions shared in my music close doors and burn bridges, but it works for me. I think it became easier once I was able to take a step back and have a realistic look at what I bring to the table. So for any artist starting out, I think doing that will save you a lot of time.