Last month, Jim Legxacy released his sophomore EP BTO! - a highly personal project that melts a multiplicity of genres into three songs. The artist’s diverse cadence encapsulates intimacy and aggression, switching between raps and melodies prolifically. Throughout the EPs entirety, this juxtaposition keeps you on your toes, as the wordsmith continues to defy genre through an array of instrumentation.
As visually experimental as he is sonically, Jim dropped a 9 minute film with Fidel, influenced by the narratives of his EP. With quotes from Fela Kuti, and BTO! as the Soundtrack, it’s a powerful and highly thought-provoking piece.
It is evident that both Legxacy and Fidel have bright futures in their respective industries. 'ọlọtẹ' accentuates their artistic dexterity, and reminds us all of several issues overlooked by the society we live in.
Listen to BTO!, watch ọlọtẹ and read our interview with the creatives below.
Hey guys, what’s up, what’s good? Introduce yourselves and get the people knowing about what you do!
Jim: I’m Jim Legxacy, I’m an artist from Lewisham.
Fidel: I’m Fidel, a creative from Newham.
When did your friendship start, and how did you first come across each other’s art?
Fidel: I was doing a foundation year at uni when I met the twins, Jonathan and Luke - at the time I started experimenting with music videos and they did music. They were good friends with James and it just naturally took off from there.
How was it trying to transfer the narrative of Jim’s EP Into a film context? Were there any challenges you faced, or did it come fairly naturally?
Fidel: I don’t work on projects unless they engage me. Creating the world for the short film was easy we already new what it looked and sounded like the music already created that platform you just have to develop it to make it something even bigger than just music or film.
Why did you pick quotes from Fela Kuti to drive the video’s story? What does his music mean to you guys?
Jim: Fela Kuti to me is the greatest artist to ever live. He made anti-system music that spoke about his people for his people, it spoke of freedom & liberation and critiqued corruption and nepotism to the point where he was targeted senselessly, he stood for what he believed in regardless of what happened because of it
Fidel: It’s what he represents. When you take a step back music is just music, it becomes something so much greater when there is a sense of purpose behind it. You don’t remember Fela Kuti just for music, you remember him for Fela Kuti.
Fidel, what do you rate most about Jim’s music, and Jim what is it you love most about the visuals Fidel makes?
Jim: Fidel’s visuals to me always convey emotion to me better than anything I’ve ever seen. His ability to visually respond to inspiration through other forms of media is beyond any ive ever seen.
Fidel: It’s unapologetically him, I have huge respect for Jim and that naturally spills into the appreciation for his music.
How did your shared love of visuals start?
Jim: For me it was during uni when studying art direction. I was able to really figure out the art of film & develop a real appreciation for the art form.
Fidel: Quite late actually, it’s only as I started to mature as an adult that I began to appreciate and understand the technicalities behind filmmaking; but more importantly the ability to empathise and understand human emotions and how difficult it is to put that into a character let alone a film.
Jim, who inspires the music you make, and Fidel are there any directors that inform your videos?
Jim: Usually it’s the people and events around me, but in terms of artists I can sight DOOM & JPEGMAFIA atm. I love their stuff.
Fidel: Akira Kurosawa, Alfred Hitchcock, and many of the New Hollywood Era of Directors
We are all back at uni, unable to leave our house, and it’s pretty bloody boring. Can you each recommend an album and film for us to watch/listen to over the coming days of our isolation?
Jim: Album? JPEGMAFIA - All My Heros Are Cornballs & Film imma say Watchmen
Fidel: High and Low by Akira Kurosawa
What’s next for you both and your creative avenues?
Jim: I’m working on a project that’s about the afro pessimism normalisation of black suffering. I think it’s very cool.
Fidel: Two short films in writing and many other exciting projects on the way.