Meet Alex Milani | Hiphop Artist and Multi-Instrumentalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Milani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve been a musician all my life. my father has played since he was 12 so music was everything in my home growing up. I believe I was 6 years old when I took my first drum lessons from Patrick Wellington and Paul Marchetti; both extremely talented and successful professional percussionists. I’ll always be grateful to them, rest in peace to Paul. I went on to play drums and guitar in multiple metal and punk bands through middle and high school. Through it all I was always fascinated with hiphop and the stories that come along with the genre.

Around age 13 I started freestyling with friends in the halls. I still remember the moment I realized that I could do exactly what I do on the drums over a beat with my voice and then everything changed. I’ve chased a career in hiphop relentlessly ever since.

What should our readers know about your business?
Aside from my music career, I own and run a smokeshop in Pāʻia, Maui.

I opened Hi Tides 808 Smoke Shop in 2010 when I was 21 and quickly learned that I didn’t have the capital to start a business of this nature at that age. My mother stepped in and took the business over and I returned to a life of construction. I was a carpenter for 18 years. In 2019 my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I could see the disease in her on the shelves in our shop. It was then that I bought the business back and now am the sole owner. Continuing the business my mom worked so hard on while caring for her has been the biggest privilege and at the same time challenge of my lifetime.

If there’s any advice I can give to any young entrepreneur it’s to just keep showing up every single day. Show up for yourself, show up for you family, show up for your friends, and show up for the things that set your heart on fire. If you can’t stop thinking about something, it probably means that’s what you’re supposed to be doing.

My music is a true embodiment my myself. As i use the stage name “Alex Milani” (my real name), my sound can be nothing short of authentic. I’m not trying to sound like anyone else. The world will know my name.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m from Maui, one of, if not the most popular destinations for tourism in the world. I’ve brought many artists that I grew up listening to over from the mainland to shoot music videos. For instance, when i brought out Lil Wyte, we did it all. Went to Mākena Beach, ate at Mama’s Fish House, went to Hāna. I tried to bring them all over the island. When Saigon came over from NY we did all of the above and even flew to O’ahu to shoot part of our video in Honolulu.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to first shoutout my producer Vince Esquire. Vince is a super musician and his presence has been paramount to my process. My music would not be what it is without him.

I’d also like to shoutout my homie Nick Ricca who saw my vision from the jump. He has shot and edited the majority of my music videos.

I’d also like to thank my parents for always encouraging my musical efforts. Although things at home were not always the best growing up, if theres one thing I know, It’s that they were both proud of the musician I was becoming as a young man. They did their best. My family suffered a great loss when I was very young; my older sister was killed in a car accident. I was sitting right next to her and I’m very lucky to be alive.

So I’d also like to thank my older sister Stacee Milani. She bought the car seat that saved my life. I’m still here because of her. Rest in paradise Stacee.

Website: https://www.alexmilaniraps.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmilani?igsh=bW1zNmFyazlxaDZl&utm_source=qr

Twitter: https://x.com/alexmilanimusic?s=21

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14NVqd3CY4t/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@alexmilaniofficial?si=OyzItbaNElCC5GO4

Other: Spotify:

https://youtube.com/@alexmilaniofficial?si=OyzItbaNElCC5GO4

Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/alex-milani/1478466686