Colombian-Puerto Rican rapper from Queens, New York, Lexa Gates has just released I AM, her sophomore album, which plays like a raw temperature check on both her life and her relationship to the world around her.
Across the record, an emotional throughline of apathy and sadness quietly shapes the listening experience, giving the project its confessional weight.
Sonically, the album blends old-school soul with dusty, vinyl-coded textures and in-the pocket beats, giving the project a warm, retro feel that contrasts with its heavy emotional weight and introspective core.
Each track feels imperfect, honest, and a little unraveled, from the off-key harmonies to Gates’ low-energy vocal delivery. The looseness feels intentional, amplifying the album’s sense of vulnerability rather than smoothing it out.
On “Change,” Gates sounds especially unguarded, airing out her frustrations through a stream-of-consciousness rap flow paired with soul-tinged vocal riffs.
“You’re Better Off” is equally raw, leaning into painful self-awareness as she wrestles with the idea that the person she is addressing might actually be better without her. “All in my mind, pure bliss delusion, wish I was using… that’d make it easy. Baby, just leave me, you’re better off,” she admits, turning self-doubt into a moment of emotional clarity.
Standout tracks like “Past It” and “Nothing To Worry About” showcase Gates’ more hook-ready, dynamic flows that reward repeat listens.
On “Nothing To Worry About,” she voices her restlessness with disarming candor, rapping, “Look what we made, wish the world weren’t in a rut. But I think I gotta go, all the questions I need answers to, heaven knows.”
“Rest Of My Life” offers a lighter turn, riding groovy, old-school soul textures and a warm, optimistic buzz, with Gates delivering some of her most focused and confident bars on the album.
Meanwhile, “Last Day” lands as one of I AM’s most poignant moments, as she reflects, “Everybody’s going through it in their own way, hopefully today’s better than the last day, ’cause every day could be the last day.”
Even at its most heavy, I AM never feels stagnant.
By leaning into imperfection and emotional truth, Gates turns uncertainty into forward motion, crafting a record that may sit in the shadows, but ultimately points toward growth, resilience, and a clearer sense of self.
