Nikon Alex Captures Battle Raps Best and Adapts During COVID-19 Lull
Showstoppa talks to Nikon Alex and Logik Divine during the Body Gang barbecue. (Picture by Dylan Deprey)
Anybody taking a stroll past Hampton Park could have thought the roaring subwoofer, loud chatter and barbecue wafting through the air was just another cookout. In reality, some of Milwaukee’s most heavyweight battle rappers were celebrating before the big day. Milwaukee’s Underground Battle League was hosting their Aug. 15th “Alure” event, which included battles from Body Gang favorites—Viixen the Assassin and Logik Divine.
For those unfamiliar with battle rap, Body Gang is one of the most elite group of battlers in Milwaukee and across the Midwest. They have given the culture some of the most classic battles and handed out humiliating defeats.
Nikon Alex manned the grill, coordinated the party and prepped to shoot a music video and a Body Gang reunion photoshoot. He put on the celebration because the family was back together.
He grew up with veteran battlers and brothers, Killa B and Showstoppa, on 48th and Hampton. He witnessed Body Gang rise through the ranks and grow in talent and numbers—he’s been with them since the beginning.
At 15-years-old, he was living a lavish lifestyle. He was in the nightclubs, driving fast cars and making fast money. It was like he was in a movie and he always thought there should be a camera there to capture the camaraderie and chaos.
While the highs were high, the lows were low. He was in-and-out of jail. After catching a case in North Carolina, he swore when he got out, he was going to pick up a camera.
Nikon Alex. (Picture provided by Stacks TV)
“I wanted to make movies based on the lifestyle, but instead, I decided that I should just document it because I knew back then somebody should have been filming,” Alex said. He noticed his friends were battle rapping when he was first got out and decided to pick up the camera.
“When I picked up the camera, I went to my first event and I’ve been doing it ever since,” he said.
While the battles are the main event, the party that happens outside are just as crazy and entertaining as the one inside.
“Battles are basically like being in the hood. People are partying, then clowning and ribbing turns into freestyling and the entire experience is just addicting,” Alex said.
He took advantage of capturing battlers outside of the ring. It started with candid shots and photos and eventually became him doing mini-interviews with battlers and fans. His videos circulated in battle rap social media groups and were even being used as promotion for future events.
“A lot of people never seen me around because I was always locked up…in and out, in and out. So, I was out there literally trying to talk to everybody, but that’s how it be when you really want to do something,” he said. “Then after a while, I’d be outside events and guys would be coming up to me trying to talk their shit.”
Eventually, his work ethic and willingness to help with media coordination caught local league owner’s attention at Black Ice Cartel and Underground Battle League. He got the official co-sign from the leagues and was shooting behind-the-scenes at every event. He continued to follow his Body Gang brethren on their lyrical rampage.
Pictures provided by Stacks TV.
“We started traveling. We were going to all these different places and doing events. It was lit! But, this time I had the camera. Anywhere we were going, I always had that camera on me,” he said.
#Alexdontshootjustshootthefilm
As COVID-19 pretty much stopped any chance of live battle rap events, Alex said it was time to elevate his photography and video business.
“You can never know too much about something, and every day I’m learning, especially with equipment and software,” he said.
Right now, he has put 100 percent of his time, energy and focus into boosting his Stacks TV multimedia company into the mainstream.
“Now, it’s like I’m really catching on—this is my bag here. I’ve dropped 12 videos in the past 62 days and that doesn’t count photo shoots, so it’s really just progression. I’m grinding. I’m on it, and every video I’m trying to do something different,” he said.
“#Alexdontshootjustshootthefilm” is the infamous tagline that rings at the beginning of his videos. It’s an homage to an old lifestyle and dedication to his craft. Whether he’s coordinating family portraits or a lavish music video, he’s always progressing, yet he remains humble and hungry.
“For me to come in the game an unknown and people started knowing my name before I even became who I am today, it’s like I can’t believe I even got that chance,” he said. “I want to get to the point where I might be in Atlanta, and I have team in New York to shoot for any big-name rapper that calls.”
For more information visit Nikon Alex’s social media at Facebook or Instagram.
Watch one of Nikon Alex Video’s below | Hamp Squad Killa B - Summertime On Hampton: