SpaceLAB Recordings in association with Shadow Army Productions presents the release of “Swing The Katana” – the 2nd single from the upcoming collaborative LP Fire & Lead from Lex The Hex Master & Jake Palumbo – arriving on all streaming services July 7th via SpaceLAB Recordings & Soulspazm Records, along with a music video directed by Moe Dutches.
The song wastes no time from the opening piano keys, with producer Jake Palumbo stepping from behind the boards to rhyme, declaring he “don’t associate with any bottom-feeding shellfish” & delivering the scathing, sardonic bars he’s become synonymous with. Lex The Hex Master anchors the song with a trademark sing-songy chorus before dropping his own apocalyptic 16 bars, welcoming listeners to his multiverse of dark imagery & morbid humor.
The Fire & Lead albumis a collaborative effort intended to bridge gaps of sorts – Lex The Hex Master has made a name for himself in the horrorcore end of the hip-hop spectrum, having been signed to Detroit-based label Majik Ninja Entertainment since 2016 & touring with artists such as Twiztid, Esham & others. But being born & raised in Queens, he is a lyrical New York emcee at heart.
Jake Palumbo is commonly filed under the East Coast boom bap category, having lived in Brooklyn for half his life. But his Tennessee roots shine through in his Southern-fried production & vocals, whether in his solo work or producing for artists such as El Da Sensei, Ruste Juxx, Smif-N-Wessun, Royce Da 5’9” & more.
Since 2019, Lex & Jake made several guest appearances on the other’s respective albums before ultimately teaming up for the full-length Fire & Lead LP. “Swing The Katana” follows up the successful first single “Amen”, which found Lex leading the choir in a triumphant anthem that sounds like an old fashioned church revival occurring during the book of Revelations.