September 8, 2025 – Today, 24-year-old rapper, singer, and producer Lexa Gatesannounces her highly anticipated sophomore album, I Am, marking the next chapter of her career. Alongside the album news, Lexa reveals her “I Am Tour,” kicking off October 27 in Toronto. The 16-date North American run will hit major cities including Chicago, Austin, and Washington, D.C., before concluding with a special hometown show in New York City. Artist presale begins September 9 at 10 AM local time, with general on-sale starting September 12 at 10 AM local time HERE. Full routing below.
This announcement follows Lexa’s debut festival run, which included standout performances at Capitol Hill Block Party(Seattle), Jazz Café Festival (UK), and Outside Lands (San Francisco). Her Jazz Café Festival set drew praise from CLASH, who called her “prolific… effortlessly gliding between tracks punctuated by her dry humour in between, she had London in the palm of her hand, converting new fans with every bar.” Earlier this summer, Lexa also surprised fans with a free pop-up show in Manhattan, where over 300 attendees turned out.
The tour news arrives on the heels of Lexa’s latest single, “
Past It,” the first single from her forthcoming sophomore album, which
Billboardhighlighted on their “R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week,” calling her “one of the refreshing faces of rap’s next generation.” Produced by
Emilie Haynie (Lana Del Rey, Kid Cudi, FKA Twigs), the dreamy, groove-laced track leans into a playful, lo-fi bounce while unpacking the disconnect between success and satisfaction. Lexa reflects on burning out, pressure, and the speed at which life moves: “The future seems so far ‘til you’re past it,” she raps. Listen
HEREvia Capitol Records.
This year Lexa also shared “Latency,” produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Jasper Harris (Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X) and Aaron Shadrow (Doja Cat, Yeat). Built around hypnotic piano lines and a sample of Hamilton Bohannon’s “Tell Me You’ll Wait,” the track showcases Lexa’s signature balance of vulnerability and self-assuredness. Since its release the track has amassed nearly 1 million streams globally, as well as garnered support from Billboard, Rolling Stone, VIBE, Pigeons & Planes, and more.
2025 has been a major ride for Lexa, who’s quickly cemented her place as one of music’s most exciting new voices. She starred in a KITH campaign alongside Fabolous and Jadakiss, wrapped her first sold-out headline tour, earned Billboard’s “Rookie of the Month” title, and performed a standout cover of Amy Winehouse’s “I Heard Love Is Blind” for Apple Music. With co-signs from SZA, Aminé, and Isaiah Rashad, and “Artist to Watch” praise from People, Billboard, and Hypebeast, Lexa Gates is continuing to shape a singular path.
Last year, she released her critically acclaimed label debut album Elite Vessel, a 12-track project exploring self-discovery, resilience, and ambition. The album features collaborations with Alé Araya, Zelooperz, and Billy Lemos,and debuted on the Billboard Heatseekers and Current R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Elite Vessel earned support from Rolling Stone(“Artist You Need To Know”), Complex (“one of the best under-the-radar rap albums of 2024”), Billboard, among others. A standout moment was Lexa’s 10-hour art installation in New York City inside a transparent box, exploring her connection to her music and fans—an event that has since amassed over 300 million views across platforms. Introspective, magnetic, and bold, Lexa Gates is in a lane entirely her own.
