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  Lexicon

UCLA student Nick Black, with his brother, Gideon Oakley Black, make up the hip-hop group Lexicon, performing at the Cooperage, Friday.

By Ruvin Spivak

Daily Bruin Contributor

Nick Black is a fifth-year senior leading two lives. By day, he’s a sociology student, occasionally working at the Wooden Center, but by night, this mild-mannered Bruin becomes Nick Fury, half of the hip-hop group Lexicon.

How does Nick Black balance school and music?

“Not very well,” he said, laughing. “I think I’ve handled it as best I can, but it’s definitely taken its toll.”

Last fall, Black went on tour for two weeks in the middle of the quarter. By the time he got back, he’d dropped two of his four courses. Despite the hurdles of promoting his music, Nick Black is going to graduate this year, and unlike many graduating Bruins, he’s got his career path set. He’s ready to find success in the music industry.

It’s been a busy year for Lexicon. He and his brother/partner, Big Oak (Gideon Oakley Black) recorded their first full-length album, “It’s The L” and have been touring on and off across the country.

The sibling duo got its first breaks when Nick was only a sophomore in high school. He and his mother moved up to Santa Barbara to be closer to Gideon, who’d just begun attending UC Santa Barbara. Gideon made friends with the disc jockeys on campus radio, which eventually opened the two brothers to the music scene.

“We would record our music karaoke style and then pass the recordings off to friends and other people,” said Nick.

Even then he had to juggle school with his passion for music. The difference between then and now is that high school seemed like a breeze. UCLA, on the other hand, has been a serious challenge.

There was a time when Nick Black hoped to double major in English and sociology. Today, with the success of Lexicon, he has to settle for just a sociology degree. The trade-off has been worth it because Nick Black has received more job experience than most alumni after college.

The Black brothers’ efforts have put them in a good place as Nick gets ready to say good-bye to UCLA. Perhaps one of the biggest roles in their success comes from college radio stations. Besides getting exposure at UCSB, another University of California campus proved to be instrumental in the group’s recent success.

While doing interviews for UC Irvine’s radio station, Lexicon met DJ Cheapshot, one of the program managers at the station. They remained friends and collaborators. When Cheapshot decided to start SpyTech Records, Lexicon became one of the first groups to get signed.

Nick and Gideon had good reason to hop on board with SpyTech. Their boss is one of the underground’s foremost producers and DJ’s. He’s barely started the record label but is already responsible for production credits with Styles of Beyond, Linkin Park remixes and Nappy Roots’ debut album.

Needless to say, Lexicon is happy to be working with someone they look up to and trust as a friend.

“We’re all basically starting at the same level and building together,” Nick said about Cheapshot.

Lexicon is building the foundation for a successful underground career, but they’ve also got their eyes set on mainstream audiences. They’ve been doing shows with underground artists such as Brand Nubian and Mystic but they’ve also done interviews with Felli Fell on Power 106 FM.

Nick’s theory on Lexicon’s future is simple.

“We’re not doing it like other underground artists,” he said. “We don’t spend our time selling tapes and CD’s for 10 bucks at other people’s shows. We’re really trying to get out there.”

Through touring, Lexicon has built a wide base of listeners. They’ve played in a variety of places, from their current big-city home base in Los Angeles to small college towns from Eureka, Calif. to Missoula, Mont.

In March they will release the follow up single to “It’s The L,” which peaked at No. 2 on the CMJ charts and eventually became the 17th most-played hip-hop single in the country on the same charts.

Aside from a special noon appearance at the Cooperage on Friday, March 1, and a UCSB show with MixMaster Mike, Planet Asia and Aceyalone, the two brothers have been asked to help promote Ezekiel’s spring fashion line.

Clothing sponsorships signify success in the hip-hop community, but this spring Nick Black will be sporting some other items that mean success everywhere else – a tassel and robe from UCLA.

A bachelor’s degree in sociology may not mean much in the music world, but to Nick Black, a degree is one more accomplishment to add on the resume.

“It’s been hard to balance school and music but it’s been worth it,” he said. “When we all first get to college they tell you to pick a major. Unfortunately I wasn’t offered the major of my choice. I had to go out and create my own, but it’s been a great experience. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”