2MEX

Alejandro Ocana, who performs as 2MEX, also performs in the politically conscious hip-hop group the Visionaries and the similarly minded Look Daggers, with Ikey Owens of the Mars Volta. In all of his projects, solo and otherwise, Ocana's beats bring a heightened sense of atmosphere to the songs that, on...

By Tom Murphy

October 28, 2010

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Alejandro Ocana, who performs as 2MEX, also performs in the politically conscious hip-hop group the Visionaries and the similarly minded Look Daggers, with Ikey Owens of the Mars Volta. In all of his projects, solo and otherwise, Ocana's beats bring a heightened sense of atmosphere to the songs that, on their own, would set him apart from many of his peers. But the literary quality of his lyrics is reminiscent of the work of acts such as Cannibal Ox and Dead Prez. Ocana's collaborations read like a who's-who of underground hip-hop of the last decade, and a comprehensive list of his releases is mind-boggling. As 2MEX, he's a visceral live performer with high-energy shows that would be enjoyable even if you didn't key into the political content of much of his work.

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Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

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