In recent days, LEX has been at the center of public attention—yet the truth is, this frenzy around the rapper is unfolding without his active involvement. The catalyst is his upcoming concert at the OAKA, the 2004 Olympic sport center, on June 28. In less than 24 hours, fans of the 41-year-old rapper snapped up all the “magic tickets,” with the organizing company announcing a complete sellout—reportedly up to 70,000 tickets. Rumors even suggest the possibility of a second and third show, as it’s estimated that more than 150,000 people want to see him live.
All this is happening while LEX avoids the typical public relations game—he doesn’t give many interviews, he doesn’t speak out, he doesn’t seek provocation. Yet he’s become the talk of the town, among both hip hop fans and non-listeners alike, whether they know him personally or not. Millions of words have already been written—and will continue to be written—about the “LEX phenomenon,” which is likely far beyond what he envisioned when he first started making music. His journey is undeniably compelling and deserves attention from anyone who cares about music, regardless of genre.
LEX is rightly considered one of the most influential artists of his generation. Born in Thessaloniki on September 25, 1984, he grew up in the Faliro neighborhood and hails from Galatista, Halkidiki. He began his creative path as a graffiti artist with 2G (Golden Globes or Good Guys), and in 1999, he and his crew transitioned into music, forming the group “Voreia Asteria.” Their albums Xalara (2003) and Xalarotea (2004) are now considered classics. Later, with Mikros Kleftis, he formed the rap duo “Anapoda Kapela.”
“Humble and Hungry”
In 2014, LEX released his long-awaited debut solo album Humble and Hungry—and that’s when things truly took off. Vivid images of urban reality mix with his trademark slow flow and raw, unfiltered lyrics. Each track garnered over a million views across platforms, all without any formal promotion. His next album, 2XXX, dropped in 2018, solidifying his success and leading to a string of sold-out shows.
In the summer of 2019, he performed at the Petra Theater in Athens, drawing about 10,000 attendees. Each of his live performances seems to raise the bar for Greece’s rap scene. On October 21, 2022, he set a national record for a hip hop concert by performing in front of 30,000 people at Kaftanzoglio Stadium in Thessaloniki.
Snapshot from LEX’s concert at Kaftanzoglio in 2022.
Just a few months earlier, in July, he had filled Panionios Stadium with 20,000 fans. In 2022, he released his third album, Metro. Then, in February 2024, he collaborated with Haris Alexiou on the track “Fyge,” and by November, he had released his latest album, GTK.
Alexis Lanaras (his real name) continues to express his world—his reality—without concern for whether his rhymes are embraced. Though, clearly, many do embrace them. In GTK, he tackles themes such as violence against minors, the intersection of trap and rap, economic hardship (especially among youth), broken dreams, family dynamics, and the roles of father and mother.
LEX’s delivery is harsh, but never wooden. He doesn’t preach, judge, or attempt to push a manifesto. In GTK, he reinterprets the acronym “T.G.K.” (“Art for the Addicts”) as “G.T.K.” (“For Culture”), offering a body of work that is both dark and luminous. His voice—despite the often bleak lyrical content—somehow leads to light, not despair. GTK went gold faster than any album in Greek recording history, according to his label, Stay Independent. Standout tracks like “Nychterides,” “Alitiki Agapi,” and “Xeirotere Gynaika” each surpassed 2.8 million plays. The album as a whole has amassed more than 25.5 million streams on Spotify.
It’s remarkable how LEX has generated such a massive cultural moment—without playing the media game. Simply by making the music he wants to make. The best part? Even those who never listened to hip hop now know his name.
