Alejandro Ocana, better known by his

stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...

2Mex, is a

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

from

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wo ...

. He is a member of

The Visionaries Visionaries is an underground hip hop crew from Los Angeles, California. The crew formed in 1995, and have since released four full-length albums on Up Above Records, and their fifth album "V" on their newly re-formed label Visionaries Crew, In ...

and Of Mexican Descent. He has collaborated with underground hip hop artists such as

Jel Jel or JEL may refer to: * Jel (rapper), American record producer and rapper * Jel (singer), Japanese singer * Journal of Economic Literature The ''Journal of Economic Literature'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal, published by the American Ec ...

Omid ''Omid'' ( fa, امید, meaning "Hope") was Iran's first domestically made satellite. Omid was a data-processing satellite for research and telecommunications; Iran's state television reported that it was successfully launched on 2 February 2009 ...

Thavius Beck Thavius Beck (born July 31, 1979) is an American record producer and rapper. He has been a member of Global Phlowtations and Lab Waste. He has also put out solo releases under the moniker Adlib. He is a certified trainer of Ableton Live. Biograp ...

Factor Factor, a Latin word meaning "who/which acts", may refer to: Commerce * Factor (agent), a person who acts for, notably a mercantile and colonial agent * Factor (Scotland), a person or firm managing a Scottish estate * Factors of production, ...

Radioinactive Kamal Humphrey de Iruretagoyena, better known by his stage name Radioinactive, is an American hip hop artist from Los Angeles, California. He is a member of The Shape Shifters. He was a member of Log Cabin along with Eligh, Murs and Scarub. H ...

, and

Isaiah "Ikey" Owens Randolph Isaiah "Ikey" Owens (December 1, 1974 – October 14, 2014) was an American keyboardist known for his work with The Mars Volta, Jack White and an array of bands from the Long Beach music scene. Biography He notably performed as a m ...

. He is a member of the

Project Blowed Project Blowed is an open-mic workshop, its affiliated underground hip hop crew and record label based in Los Angeles, California at 3333 Leimert. This hip hop function started in 1994 and features many music groups, emcees, dancers, music pr ...

crew, and he is affiliated with Shape Shifters.

History

2Mex attended the

Good Life Cafe The Good Life Cafe was a health food market and cafe in Los Angeles, California, known for its open mic nights that helped the 1990s Los Angeles alternative hip hop movement flourish. In 2008, director Ava DuVernay, who had performed at the cafe wi ...

open mic nights in 1992. Around that time, he founded Of Mexican Descent with Xololanxinxo. In 1998, he released his first album with

as well as the first Of Mexican Descent album, and he was featured on the OD (

) compilation album ''Beneath the Surface''. In 1999, he was featured (with Xololanxinxo as Of Mexican Descent) on the Fat Jack compilation album ''Cater to the DJ'', and he released his first solo album ''Fake It Till You Make It'' as The Mind Clouders with producer Mums the Word. In 2000, he was featured (as a member of the Afterlife Crew) on the Afterlife Records compilation ''Declaration of an Independent''. He then released ''B-Boys in Occupied Mexico'' on Mean Street in 2001. ''Sweat Lodge Infinite'' was released on Temporary Whatever in 2003. The self-titled album, ''2Mex'', was released in 2004. He released ''My Fanbase Will Destroy You'' on

Strange Famous Records Strange Famous Records is an indie hip hop record label based in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded by Sage Francis. Artists on its roster include B. Dolan, Cecil Otter, Prolyphic, and Sleep, among others. History Strange Famous Records ...

in 2010. It features guest appearances from Murs,

Prince Po Lawrence Baskerville (born August 12, 1969), better known by his stage name Prince Po, is an American rapper and record producer from Queens, New York City, New York. He is a founder of Nasty Habits Entertainment. Early life Prince Po was born L ...

Busdriver Regan Farquhar (born February 12, 1978), better known by his stage name Busdriver, is an American rapper and producer from Los Angeles, California. He has collaborated with rappers such as Myka 9, Milo, Nocando, Open Mike Eagle, 2Mex, and R ...

and

Nobody Nobody may refer to: * Nobody, an indefinite pronoun Nobody may also refer to: Fictional characters * Nobody (''Kingdom Hearts''), a race of beings in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' video game series *Nobody, a character in the Jim Jarmusch films ''Dea ...

. In 2016, one of his legs was amputated due to complications from diabetes. He addressed the loss and other struggles in the 2017 album ''Lospital''.

Film

2Mex is featured in Ava DuVernay's documentary '' This Is the Life'', chronicling the

in South Central, Los Angeles. The Good Life Cafe is the open-mic workshop where he first performed with Of Mexican Descent in 1992.

Publications

In 2021, 2Mex released a book called ''Word Murder,'' which features lyrics for 70 songs, 30 unreleased poems, a detailed biography, and photography by Gadzooks and Brian "B+" Cross.

Discography

Solo

Studio albums *''B-Boys in Occupied Mexico'' (Mean Street, 2001) *''

Sweat Lodge Infinite ''Sweat Lodge Infinite'' is a solo studio album by American rapper 2Mex. It was released on Temporary Whatever in 2003. Entirely produced by Longevity, it features guest appearances from Aceyalone, Busdriver, Kemit, Existereo, Liferexall, St. Mark ...

'' (Temporary Whatever, 2003) *''2Mex'' (Paladin Creative Super Co., 2004) *''Over the Counter Culture'' (Up Above, 2005) (as SunGodSuns) *''My Fanbase Will Destroy You'' (

Strange Famous Strange Famous Records is an indie hip hop record label based in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded by Sage Francis. Artists on its roster include B. Dolan, Cecil Otter, Prolyphic, and Sleep, among others. History Strange Famous Record ...

, 2010) *''Lospital'' (Water the Plants, 2017) *''Ghostwriting Songs for God'' (2021) Mixtapes and EPs *''Unreleased Hits'' (Memo, 1998) ixtape/small> *''Words. Knot Music.'' (Memo / Afterlife, 2000) ixtape/small> *''The Sweat'' (2002) P/small> *''Knowhawk'' (Biofidelic / La2TheBay / Invisible Enemy, 2004) ixtape/small> *''Gloria Was a KROQer'' (Up Above, 2006) P/small> *''Protect and Serve'' (2010) ixtape/small> *''Cartoon Boyfriend'' (2015) ixtape/small> *''Gentrification EP'' (2018) P/small> Compilations *''Essential 2Mex Road CD'' (2005) *''New Wave Chola Road Mix'' (2006) *''Singles: Volume One'' (2007) *''Sound Hoarding Vol. 1'' (2015) *''Sound Hoarding Vol. 2'' (2015) *''Sound Hoarding Vol. 3'' (2020)

Collaborations

Visionaries (2Mex with Dannu,

DJ Rhettmatic DJ Rhettmatic (born Nazareth Nirza) is a producer, DJ and member and part creator of Southern California's first turntable band, the Beat Junkies. Rhettmatic began his DJ career in 1983, with Double Platinum, a DJ group based out of Cerritos, CA. ...

, Key Kool, LMNO & Lord Zen) *'' Galleries'' (Up Above, 1998) *''Sophomore Jinx'' (Up Above, 2000) *''Pangaea'' (Up Above, 2004) *''

We Are the Ones (We've Been Waiting For) Visionaries is an underground hip hop crew from Los Angeles, California. The crew formed in 1995, and have since released four full-length albums on Up Above Records, and their fifth album "V" on their newly re-formed label Visionaries Crew, In ...

'' (Up Above, 2006) *''Established 1995'' (Up Above, 2007) ompilation/small> *''V'' (2020) Of Mexican Descent (2Mex with Xololanxinxo) *''Exitos y mas exitos EP'' (1998) P/small> *''Exitos y mas exitos'' (1998) *''Of Mexican Descent (Demo 1992)'' (2020) P/small> Look Daggers (2Mex with

Isaiah Owens Isaiah ( or ; he, , ''Yəšaʿyāhū'', "God is Salvation"), also known as Isaias, was the 8th-century BC Israelite prophet after whom the Book of Isaiah is named. Within the text of the Book of Isaiah, Isaiah himself is referred to as "the ...

) *''The Patience EP'' (2007) P/small> *''Suffer in Style'' (2008) Other collaborations *''Fake It Until You Make It'' (1999) (with Mum's the Word, as The Mind Clouders) *''Money Symbol Martyrs'' (2006) (with Life Rexall, as $martyr) *''Break Up Your Make Up'' (2009) (with Deeskee, Die Young & Stacey Dee, as The Returners) *''Blessing in Disguise'' (2010) (with Key Kool & LMNO) *''Fallin' Angels'' (2011) (with Nobody, as SonGodSuns) *''Like Farther... Like Sun...'' (2013) (with Maiselph) *''Operation: Dark Winter December'' (2020) (with Anu322)

Guest appearances

*Key-Kool &

Rhettmatic DJ Rhettmatic (born Nazareth Nirza) is a producer, DJ and member and part creator of Southern California's first turntable band, the Beat Junkies. Rhettmatic began his DJ career in 1983, with Double Platinum, a DJ group based out of Cerritos, CA. ...

- "Visionaries (Stop Actin' Scary)" from ''Kozmonautz'' (1995) *

- "Shades of Orange" from ''Soulmates'' (2000) *

Abstract Rude Aaron Pointer, better known by his stage name Abstract Rude, is a rapper from Los Angeles, California. He is the MC of Abstract Tribe Unique, alongside dancers Zulu Butterfly and Irie Lion King, turntablist DJ Drez and producer Fat Jack. He is ...

+ Tribe Unique - "Frisbee" from ''P.A.I.N.T.'' (2001) *

Existereo The Shape Shifters are an underground hip hop collective based in Los Angeles, California. It consists of Akuma, Awol One, Circus, Die Young, Existereo, LA Jae, Life Rexall, Perk One, and Radioinactive. The group prevented the Shapeshifters, a ...

- "Morals" from ''Dirty Deeds & Dead Flowers'' (2001) *

vs. 2Mex - "D.I.Y. Partisan" (2002) *

with Daedelus - "Barely Music" from '' The Weather'' (2003) *Dax, Neogen, Dert, Reconcile, Professor Who, Dokument, Chosen1, Griffin, Lazarus, Raphi, Drastic,

Propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loa ...

& Macho - "Remember This Day" from '' Underground Rise, Volume 1: Sunrise/Sunset ''(2003) *

- "Myth Behind the Man" from ''Monolith'' (2003) *Abstract Rude & Tribe Unique - "Flow and Tell" from ''Showtyme'' (2003) *

Awol One Anthony Martin, better known by his stage name Awol One, is an alternative hip hop artist and graphic designer based in Los Angeles, California. Discography Albums Awol One * ''Souldoubt'' (2001) (with Daddy Kev) * ''Number 3 on the Phone'' (2 ...

- "Gagbuster" from ''Self Titled'' (2004) * Shape Shifters - "American Idle" from ''Was Here'' (2004) * Subtitle - "Crew Cut (for Sale)" from '' Young Dangerous Heart'' (2005) *Busdriver - "Sphinx's Coonery" from ''

Fear of a Black Tangent ''Fear of a Black Tangent'' is a studio album by American rapper Busdriver. It was originally released on Mush Records in 2005. In Europe, it was released on Big Dada. Critical reception At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out ...

'' (2005) * Ellay Khule - "Fading Rhythms" from ''Califormula'' (2006) *

- "Ask Me" from ''

Prettyblack ''Prettyblack'' is the second solo studio album by Prince Po, one half of American hip hop duo Organized Konfusion. It was released on Nasty Habits Entertainment and Traffic Entertainment Group in 2006. Critical reception Lyndon of ''Cyclic Defr ...

'' (2006) *

- "Dedicated to Difficulty" from ''

Thru ''Thru'' is the second solo studio album by American hip hop musician Thavius Beck. It was released through Mush Records on October 3, 2006. It includes "'98", which was ''East Bay Express'' "MP3 of the Day" on November 10, 2006. Critical receptio ...

'' (2006) *

Mestizo (; ; fem. ) is a term used for racial classification to refer to a person of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry. In certain regions such as Latin America, it may also refer to people who are culturally European even though thei ...

- "Back Wash" from ''Dream State '' (2007) *The Gigantics - "Don't" from ''Die Already'' (2008) *Expedyte feat

Louis Logic Louis Dorley, better known as Louis Logic, is a Brooklyn, New York-based underground hip-hop emcee. He has released three full-length studio albums as a solo artist and one album as The Odd Couple with Jay Love, and is a former member of the D ...

, Phakt - "Sunny Daze" from ''Life'' (2008) *

Ceschi Julio Francisco "Ceschi" Ramos (born July 24, 1981), better known as Ceschi Ramos, or simply as Ceschi (pronounced "chess-key"), is an American hip hop musician based in New Haven, Connecticut. He is a co-founder of Fake Four Inc. He won the Con ...

- "Same Old Love Song" (2009) *Neila - "Mercy Refused" from ''Better Late Than Never'' (2009) *

- "Mental Illness" from ''

Lawson Graham ''Lawson Graham'' is a studio album by Canadian hip hop producer Factor. It was released on Fake Four Inc. in 2010. It features guest appearances from Gregory Pepper, Cars & Trains, Radical Face, Sole, Myka 9, Ceschi, and Moka Only. It is an od ...

'' (2010) *Radioinactive - "Mint Tea" from ''The Akashic Record'' (2013) *Self Provoked - "Trophies" from he Propaganda(2015)

References

External links

2Mex
on

* {{Authority control American rappers of Mexican descent Chicano rap Rappers from Los Angeles Underground rappers Living people 21st-century American rappers Year of birth missing (living people) Project Blowed Hispanic and Latino American rappers