Apex Realm brings some positive vibe to rap

Hip hoppers Apex Realm grew up listening to the brash trash-talking groups of the past 20 years, but also outgrew them. Four Chula Vistans with a loyal and swelling following, Apex Realm rejects the violence, vanity and misogyny of typical big name hip hop stars.
“We don’t talk about cars, chings, bling or girls in a bad name,” said June Calico, 28.
High profile rappers may get a lot of hype for making videos with fancy cars, huge mansions and pliant women, said Ricky Gutierrez, a 23-year-old psychology major, but most people cannot relate.
“If you keep listening to that (stuff), you’re never gonna be happy,” he said. “You’re striving for that and not everyone is gonna have it.”
Free stylists Chris “Lethargik” Perry, 21, Josh “Skelly” Donaldson, 21, and Calico, 28, are the vocalists. Lionel “Chief Lion” Hernandez, 24, is the sound engineer.
Loyal locals, band members all profess to be proud Southwestern College Jaguars.
“We feel the need to give back to SWC because our friends and our supporters go there,” said Perry. “We really appreciate our fans and people spreading our music.”
Apex Realm marries the realities of urban life with Midwestern optimism — and just a dash of Buddhist thinking.
“They’re like philosophers when it comes to putting rhymes together,” said Hernandez.
Apex formed last February 2011 with a common goal of spreading positive vibes.
“We don’t claim to be the Apex Realm,” said Donaldson. “It’s more of an idea we’d like to share.”
“Event’s Horizon” was the debut E.P. of six tracks produced by the group “to take listeners to a peaceful state.”
“We have songs about how it’s a
dog-eat-dog world and some
that venture out more into your dreamscape,” said Perry.
Hernandez composed the tracks while the rappers strung together the words.
“Lion is like our Dr. Dre to your Eminem, our Jazzy J. to your Fresh Prince,” said Calico.
Mixing and mastering beats on his drum machine, Hernandez alters the tempo, crafting elaborate audio samples in a studio surrounded by vinyl records for his inspiration.
Members are loose and fun-loving, cracking jokes or speaking about politics.
“We can’t afford a psychiatrist, so we just write our problems down,” said Calico.
Humorous conversations and an exciting energy fills their recording studio as they remixed new material for their upcoming LP. They clearly enjoy working together.
“We’re not even friends anymore, we’re like family now,” said Calico.
Gutierrez and audio engineer “Scooter” worked with Apex Realm on its newest collection of tracks.
“I’m coming back through and mixing and compressing, putting everything together so it has a different flavor to it,” said Scooter.
Hernandez and Scooter worked together recording vocals and mixing on Protools, as well as performing in their own indie rock band. Scooter has also collaborated with Perry and Donaldson in a previous reggae project before Apex.
“The way they attack the beat is different, it’s dope,” said Gutierrez.
Apex raps about real life with a smile.
“Anyone can relate to Apex, even my mom relates to it,” he said.
Inspiration comes from a wide variety of sources, according to group members.
“I can’t limit myself to just a handful of genres,” said Perry.
Uplifting lyrics saturate the album blended by early hip hop beats and jazzy styles.
“I grew up listening to hip hop that gets people’s hearts, minds and spirits racing,” said Hernandez. “If you’re not having fun with what you’re making, you shouldn’t expect others to.”