Exavier Perry, Tha X-Mann, breaking records

Exavier Perry is a Madill native who is hitting it big in the music industry. His album has reached 30k streams in almost two weeks of release on all streaming services. Exavier was born into a talented family bloodline, mostly sports he said.

“My father was mostly known for football back in his high school days,” Perry said. “He still has recorded tapes of all his games.”

He claims he found his rhythm from both of his parents. His dad played drums and his mom used to have some rhyme schemes in high school and was nicknamed “Kandi Fresh.” Their family was known to have talent shows in the house growing up.

“We’d bring our talents to the table whether it was silly, dancing, or whatever. We let our creativity show.”

Perry says he honestly had no idea that any of things like becoming famous was going to happen. At the age of five years, old he discovered his dancing ability by one song that still touches our generation and beyond; Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” He stated how he use to have all of MJ’s DVDs and pretty much memorized all the dance moves to most of his music videos, even his concerts. However, he was eleven years old and video games was the only thing on his mind.

In sixth grade he said he dealt with being bullied, racism, failing all his classes and staying in and out of In School Suspension.

“I was a literal troublemaker but was only misguided. The middle school staff knew I had a good heart and was incredibly intelligent along with being smart, I just followed the wrong crowd.”

He said it all began with his brother coming up with an idea. They had seen “Soulja Boy” on YouTube and he felt he changed the game with the “Crank Dat” dance and being the first artist found on YouTube before Justin Bieber. His brother Myles brought in his cousins Kaylee James known as Kandy K, Terry Johnson known as T-Wayne, and Jalen Williams known as Yung $natch on this big idea, and that’s when TheOnes was born.

Growing up, Perry explained how he didn’t really like his nickname, he had rather just been called by his birth name. When his brother started the group, Perry went by the moniker “X-Man.” He said looking back, he felt as if it was too basic of a stage name and over time it was changed to “Tha X-Mann.”

Another person he said inspired him and still does to this day, is Chris Mullins who is also a native of Madill, Okla. Perry explained how he heard what they started doing and wanted to help them record and remaster their songs. Because of him, they got the chance to perform at the Madill Lazer Tag. He gave them a headlining show and Young Chris was the special guest.

He said he remembers handing out flyers at his seventh-grade dance, performing for the first time at the middle school auditorium. It was a PEACE concert which was an acronym created by Ms. Dodds, a former English teacher and high school Principal at Madill. The acronym stood for pride, excellence, acceptance, character, and enthusiasm. This acronym helped birth a song based on it.

Perry said he did not set out to become a rapper, it just fell in his lap.

“As fun as all of this sounds, I didn’t really want to have a role in rap,” Perry said. “I just wanted to be the popular eleven-year-old that could dance and play video games. Rapping wasn’t really in my dreams at that time and more forced by my brother Myles and due to how determined he was. He pretty much built me to become who I am today, and I never realized it until now.”

Perry said he found himself inspired from various artists, even bands, singers, and other performers.

“People wouldn’t believe me if I told them I was a fan of rock,” he said with a grin. “I’m very open to music in general. It’s a very indescribable feeling. To me, I think it’s important to know every genre. I studied country, rap, R&B, Dubstep or EDM, rock n roll, pop, and the list goes on. You hear everything intertwined nowadays in songs. Sometimes in mine even. You can never tell if it’s a rap/pop song or r&b/rap. I love interpolation too. Songs that I make would sounds familiar to a song that was made but it’s my take of a song. It’s different but I try to pay homage to that song. It just shows how musically inclined I am.”

“I don’t really have a favorite artist, there’s so many on my list. I literally have over hundred thousand songs in my iPhone, but there is one I can definitely say is more than the others and that is The Weeknd,” he continued. “Nobody knew who he was until I graduated high school in 2015. He was the man behind Drake’s Take Care album. His music was different, relaxing, and therapeutic, regardless of the subject matter. Most would consider his voice the new Michael Jackson. Truthfully, I was the only one who would listen to him out of the group I was in. People thought I was weird for it. Most people would recognize him for Wicked Games or the soundtrack for Fifty Shades of Grey. Now he’s one of the most successful artists today. I can say that I watched him grow as an artist ever since I was a junior in high school. The longevity and his passion. It’s motivates me because no matter what, people are watching. There’s somebody out there that’s watching me formulate a legacy now.”

He said he began to relearn how to write raps in his ninth grade year. He was more recognized for his dancing rather than rap and he struggled to balance that out. He and his friend Armando Ruiz were well known for dancing around at that time.

From middle to high school dances, to prom, to the halftime at the basketball gym, they danced all the time. He said he feels as if he’s never really known how to sing.

“I’m still learning to this day,” Perry said. “I learned my tone when I created a song with Caitlyn Gillis two years ago. Very different vibes coming from me.”

Perry said he thinks it was funny when he tried to join the band in school, because he went through six instruments in less than a one month and he couldn’t play any of them. He touched a snare drum and just like that he found a true calling.

“Again, my brother prepared me to become the best drummer there was in Madill, him and Jake Hartin. We became the best of brothers because of band. Not only did we learn from Myles, but we also learned from each other and formulated a bond that’ll never be broken.”

He said he feels like his music is an emotional roller coaster.

“The energy I bring with every performance is the same energy I bring with every song I record, the same energy you’ll see in a live performance. But also, when it’s serious, it’s going to make you cry. Overall, I enjoy giving listeners a different take of me every time they hear new music.”

“My creative process is all over the place,” he continued. “I could think of ten songs in my head and write them all out in different ways while working or sitting at the city lake. My mind is cleared whenever I see an open environment. I feel at peace with my thoughts, and I can focus. I treat instrumentals as my therapist, and I answer all its questions with my pen. I freestyle a lot and find my direction of the song when I’m making them by taking the words I say and writing them down. I will even use them for quotes. I enjoy watching movies like Star Wars just to clear my mind. Even Quentin Tarantino movies. All of them especially. You’ll mostly hear references from movies in my raps. If you truly know me and my lyricism, you’ll hear it. For a songwriter who’s creative, it’s all about pushing the lyrical boundaries and going down an avenue that no one else has dared to venture. I really consider myself an artist. An entertainer.”

He said his main inspiration and his success comes from the people around him.

“I feel like since [the] lockdown to right now I’ve been around some pretty tight people. It has made me realize who’s really supportive and who isn’t. I analyzed my circle and eliminated unnecessary people. My people boost each other up in whatever it is we do in this crazy world we live in. I’m always inspired.”

He noted motivation, determination and perseverance and the confidence to record or even perform in front of people is learned over time but always being creative is another.

“You gotta stay inspired,” he said. “I never get a nervous feeling, not anymore at least. I used to be scared of dancing in front of my family. I overcame my fears in middle & high school.”

When it comes to creating music, he said it’s all about the feeling.

“I write what I feel mostly. Back then I used to follow the crowd and make songs to please everybody,” Perry said. “Overtime I learned that not everyone will be satisfied with everything I do and there will be those that do like my songs. There will also be some that hates it, and that’s okay.”

“I love my X-Fans, they’re remarkable,” he continued. “No matter, what I don’t take life for granted. We tend to take a lot of things in life for granted by looking at what we don’t have. I’m starting to realize this more each and every day. So, I appreciate each and every one of you. You know who you are. This is just the beginning.”

He said his fans mean a lot to him.

“My fans are like my family. I treat them as brothers and sisters from different fathers and mothers. I connect with all of them. The principle is you heard it. You gave me a listen and that’s all that matters to me.”

Perry said he feels as if he has evolved a lot over time. Not only as an artist, but also more of a human.

“I’m not a perfect person, I’ve done things I regret doing, but I can only learn from my mistakes and continue to grow from it. I began to find my balance in life and It has taken me two years to find it and now I’m in a great place,” he said. “Dealing with depression, I used it to create music and it made me happy. I uplifted others when I was at a breaking point. I created this song with Christian Davis about the miscarriage of my firstborn. It touched so many people and I want to continue doing that. I want to tell people it’s okay to cry. I want to tell people it’s okay to be yourself. You can be whatever your heart desires.”

He said he feels like he is competing with himself, not having competition with anyone in particular. He explains he always wanted to top what his done before. He tries to always think to himself, “What’s next? What can Tha X-Mann do that’s better than the previous?”

“It’s like these remakes you see like Candyman, Evil Dead, Jumanji, and all the Disney movies we grew up watching that’s getting the live action treatment. How are you going to make this better than its predecessors?”

Perry said he loves it when fans reach out.

“I love when people randomly send me videos of them playing my music,” Perry said. “I love seeing that. Anytime I get a mention on my Snapchat, somebody is playing my music on the road, or at a party. Just seeing my music in someone’s playlist makes me happy more than they will ever know. It’s an amazing feeling. I love when people come to me sharing with me their favorite song and why. Some of these songs have changed people’s lives and that reverts back to uplifting others.”

He recalls his performance before the lockdown.

“My last biggest performance was preCOVID at this place in Sherman called Roozie’s. People seen me wearing this collar shirt tucked in with some suit pants and dress shoes and didn’t know what to think once I set foot on stage. It was incredible, I had people that knew my songs and started singing it. The live performance is on my Facebook page.”

He deems that performance his best.

“The crowd control was insane.”

His worst performing experience was also at Roozie’s in Sherman., He said he was going over the upcoming performance when people started fighting and started a shootout.

“I felt embarrassed because I brought my mom, my entire family in the middle of this senseless act of violence. I was truly upset.”

Perry said he feels his biggest encounter is feeling like I could never do better than what I did before, and yet he manages to still outdo himself in songs. He shares how that is his objective in rap is just challenging himself.

Currently, Perry said he is preparing for a huge music video.

“I look forward to shoot at the end of September or beginning of October. I can’t really give any details but this next one is definitely my best. I’m recruiting some professionals and some very talented people from back home in preparation. This one is going to be my best I can promise you that.”

He said that some people thought he was retiring after his Gemini 2 album, but he’s here to stay.

“I’m taking a leave of absence from making albums so I can network with some new talent and some talented friends of mine. But there’s more music underway from me. I’ve been writing and I have been recording recently.”

To make ends meet through COVID, Perry currently is employed at Choctaw Casino. He worked as a valet attendant for a year and just got the job he has wanted for almost two years in player development.

“I’m ready to see how far it’ll take me to reach where I need to be. I’ve met so many great people along with coworkers ever since I’ve started. This has made me feel like family. I am forever thankful for them.”