From Prison & Gang Life to Full-Time Christian: King Lexodus

Today, I have the privilege of being joined by Brother Lex, also known by his rap name, King Lexodus. In this heartfelt conversation, Lex opens up about how he was drawn into a life of gangs, drug dealing, and rap at a young age. His journey led him through years of struggles, with multiple stints in jail. But it was when he faced a life-changing case that ultimately landed him in prison that everything took a turn. It was in that darkest moment that Lex cried out to the Lord for help. Since then, his life has been completely transformed.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

I just remember saying, you know, I know what I was doing when I was living that life. You know, I know how dedicated I was to the streets and to that lifestyle. And I knew that I would risk my freedom. I would lay down my life, you know, for my partners and my neighborhood, you know, without a doubt, like without even questioning. So I knew when I gave my life, I said, why wouldn't I lay down my life like Jesus has laid down his life for me? He forgave me. He transformed me, you know, he forgave me for my sins, you know, and he's allowed me, you know, another opportunity, you know, to be a vessel for him for his kingdom. And I I I gotta do the same thing. I I don't want to be somebody that says, oh, you know, I'm about God and I'm about Jesus, and then, you know, your your life doesn't match. There's no power behind that. Your your life is your biggest testimony.

SPEAKER_03 0:57

Welcome back to another powerful testimony. Today I have the privilege of being joined by Brother Lex, also known by his rap name, King Lexidus. In this heart-filled conversation, Lex opens up about how he was drawn into a life of gangs, drug dealing, and rap at a young age. His journey led him through years of struggles with multiple stints in jail. But it was when he faced a life-changing case that ultimately landed him in a prison that everything took a turn. It was in his darkest moment that Lex cried out to the Lord for help. Since then, his life has been completely transformed, and we're gonna get into that today. Don't forget to hit subscribe for more powerful testimonies like this. And without further ado, let's get into Brother Lex's story. Alright, everyone. Thank you for tuning in for another episode. Today I got Brother Lex on today. Thank you, Lex, for coming on today. I really do appreciate this.

SPEAKER_01 1:44

No problem, bro. God bless you. Thank you for the opportunity.

SPEAKER_03 1:47

Yeah, well, uh, I really appreciate you making this happen on short notice and just being able to be here face to face after only knowing each other for meeting this meeting. I guess we've only known each other for since Wednesday, I I think, so it's only been a couple days, but I feel like, you know, after the conversation we had yesterday, I've heard a lot about your story and seen how much you've grown and changed over the last I don't know, years, man. It's it's just I I'm already pretty blown away by your story, and I think after this uh people hear your story, they're really gonna be able to see what I have heard from you and see the growth and be inspired as well.

SPEAKER_01 2:26

Amen. Amen.

SPEAKER_03 2:27

Yeah, well, um, you know, I think the best way to go into your story, man, is to hear about your early life. So um feel comfortable. Uh whatever you feel comfortable with talking about, go ahead and share about your early life and how it was for you growing up.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

Yeah, well, I grew up in San Francisco, California, the Bay Area, and I was raised in uh housing projects called Midway Village, uh Bay Shore District. And, you know, uh in my neighborhood, there's uh four other projects around. Um it's like we're on the borderline of uh the tip of Daily City, and you walk across the street of San Francisco, and up the block, there's uh the Sunnydale projects, and you walk down like maybe another, I don't know, another 200 feet. There's the Geneva Towers, and then you walk in to the left, and then there's the brick homes, and then you walk down a little further, and then that's where I'm at in the Midway Village projects.

SPEAKER_03 3:31

Oh, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 3:32

Um, yeah, no, I was just gonna say, like um, you know, it's it's it's it was a pretty hostile environment, you know, growing up in my area, you know, in the in the early 80s, you know, late, late 80s and 90s, even even 2000s.

SPEAKER_03 3:49

Yeah, and so how did you like navigate through that during that time?

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Well, growing up uh growing up in the projects and in a single parent home, you know, my dad wasn't around um at that time. Uh I got an older brother. My older brother was like my dad, but you know, he was still young and he was growing himself, you know, and and uh moms was always at work, you know, and uh we're we're just out out in the streets, you know, just learning what what we would learn outside, you know, being outside and um growing up over here was a lot of fighting. A lot of fighting, a lot of uh, you know, a lot of um, you know, just standing up for yourself and and you know, for the neighborhood and stuff like that at that time, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:42

Yeah, so I mean there was definitely like a lot of um just back and forth fighting between different neighborhoods and sets.

SPEAKER_01 4:49

I mean, was there a lot of gang activity going on at the time or were you too young to um yeah, I mean, uh I guess you could consider it gangs, um, but there was like no colors involved. It was more like sets, more hoods than anything. Um you know, streets and blocks and stuff like that. Um basically one project, you know, to another, you know. Just everybody was trying to hold their own ground, you know, and you know, I uh everybody was like, you know, uh like there was competition, you know, like everybody trying to um you know make a name for their neighborhood and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_03 5:36

Yeah, I mean for you and your brother and other family members and friends around you, did uh they ever have any like church background or anything? Or was it just that came later?

SPEAKER_01 5:51

Yeah, um well uh my a lot of my family uh you know were some of them were raised uh Catholic but converted to Christian. And then uh a good majority of my family were Christians, but they weren't fully walking right from what I saw, you know.

SPEAKER_03 6:14

And so like seeing that, you I guess had some of that instilled in you when you were growing up, maybe, or I mean you you did you have that fear of God?

SPEAKER_01 6:25

No, I didn't I didn't have a fear of God uh at all at that time. Um I I you know I went to church a couple times, but you know, I was uh I was a knucklehead, like you know, growing up, and you know, because of the area that I grew up grew up in, um, you know, I was doing a lot of fighting, and you know, that built something uh negative in me. It gave me a lot of pride and uh I was a lot of anger that I had inside of me. And also because my my home, I felt uh I felt like my home was never like never really like a home because my dad wasn't around and it was just me, my brother, and my mom. And you know, my mom was always at work, so it was me and my brother, but we were always in the streets, so you know it was like the the streets became, you know, our family.

SPEAKER_03 7:14

Yeah, and so with with that being said, like the the family you went into how how how did that come about then, the the street family?

SPEAKER_01 7:27

Well it it it got I would say it got deeper as you know the the trials that we went through as far as far as uh you know fighting with other neighborhoods and stuff like that and standing our ground and um you know the other kids that were in the area would know like if if something was to happen, like who are we gonna call? You know, who who we gonna ride with? You know, and I was always one of those people that you know they knew I would I would stand my ground, like it didn't matter, like how big you were or nothing.

SPEAKER_03 8:04

Yeah, so I mean you definitely had uh uh some strength back way back then and you were the kind of like the tough guy kind of thing.

SPEAKER_01 8:12

Yeah, and and it was it was like kind of because um my brother, you know, we were we were, you know, just me and him, you know, just a lot of the times at home and trying to figure things out because our mom was always, you know, at work and stuff. So we never really had um we're never really catered to or we never had like a lot of money, you know, growing up. So we we would look for ways to make money, and um, you know, I would like I would like fight other people for money.

SPEAKER_03 8:45

Dang, and so how how did they do that? I mean, is it just like a neighborhood thing where they just bet on you?

SPEAKER_01 8:51

Yeah, pretty much, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:54

Oh, and so when that when they would do that, then like how did that make you feel?

SPEAKER_01 8:59

I mean, would you win some, lose some, or I would win, I would win, and that's that's the I think that was like uh you know, was something that I didn't see, you know, at that time when it was happening, but it was a you know was a bad thing as far as you know what it was building inside of me was you know is making me more prideful, more angry, just like it was building a beast inside of me without even knowing it.

SPEAKER_03 9:29

Yeah, I mean it kind of just really fed your ego, you'd say, and yeah, just yeah, and like um so what did that evolve into then for you?

SPEAKER_01 9:40

Man, uh as as I got older, you know, I started you know being more cocky, more arrogant, more willing to, you know, do things, you know, just like I was like a walking time bomb. Like if if if you were from the wrong side, you know, or somebody that we had beef with, or if you even, you know, looked at me or said something wrong, like I was ready to go at you, like, and it didn't matter where I was, like.

SPEAKER_03 10:09

Yeah, it was just kind of an on-site kind of thing.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:13

Yeah. So this eventually uh led into more trouble then just because how how long was your your street career? I mean, because you know, I'm just trying to get a timeline of you know, before you went to prison.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

Yeah, yeah, so I started going, I started going to juvenile when I was nine years old. Um that's when I caught my first case. I was already, you know, uh stealing and breaking into cars. Um, you know, because it for me starting, I was like five years old when I started going outside and and you know, just being in the neighborhood and and like starting to fight with people and stuff like that. So I started off around like five years old.

unknown 10:57

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 10:57

And then as you know, I got a little older, you know, of course I saw more things. I was involved in more stuff. I picked up more stuff, you know, from my brother and and other people that I knew from the neighborhood, and you know, uh, but not by nine years old, I was already going uh to juvenile in and out, you know, and then all throughout my my teenage years, I was, you know, in and out of uh different juveniles, and they sent me to camp, you know, sent me away for two years. And then um, you know, I as I was getting older, you know, time don't stop, you know, even if you're in there, time don't stop, right? So I was getting older, but it was like I was graduating into, you know, from one thing to the next. You know, it went from juvenile to the camp, then it went from the camp to the county, and and then from uh eventually it went from the county to prison.

SPEAKER_03 11:55

And so um, what is juvenile for like a nine-year-old? Like, what does that look like?

SPEAKER_01 12:03

Um well, as far as what I remember, it was just, you know, it was like a uh a glass building with thick wooden doors, and you're you're basically you're told what to do, when to eat, you know, uh when you could use the restroom, uh, when you could come out, shower. Um, you're basically you're you're being told what to do. You don't you there's no freedom in there, and and you're locked in a room, you know, a good majority of the day. So, you know, I would say at least like uh I don't know, about 20 hours out of the day. Wow.

SPEAKER_03 12:44

Yeah, so really just you know, from being in and out from all those years as a teenager and everything, your mind started becoming like preparing you for being institutionalized kind of thing, would you say?

SPEAKER_01 12:57

Yeah, I mean, that's probably what it was doing without me even knowing it. Like, so eventually when I did go, when I did, you know, when I got older and I started going to the county and stuff like that, it wasn't too much different. You know, it was just a a bigger, like a bigger facility, um, more rules and uh, of course, you know, more more serious uh offenses and um other individuals, you know, that were in the same position.

SPEAKER_03 13:33

And you know, what were some of the you know key events that were happening when you were in these younger juvenile facilities?

SPEAKER_01 13:42

Um a lot of fighting, a lot of fighting. Um there was a little bit of drugs uh here and there, but um yeah, that that's that's about it, you know, just mostly fighting and and drugs and yeah, you know, um they would try to, you know, make us go to school and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_03 14:04

So but even in school, you know, we're fighting and all that stuff, so so eventually like you you were hinting at that, you eventually got sentenced to prison. So do you are you think that now would be a good time to transition into that that part of your life?

SPEAKER_01 14:22

Um, well, it went I would say I would say from the juvenile to the county, and then for going, you know, in and out of county, you know, as from my teenage years to my adulthood, um, you know, I was doing a lot of you know, like I said, I was outside a lot. So I got involved into a lot of uh, you know, drug dealing and and you know, just uh violent, violent things, you know, and that's that's what I was living, you know. That's what I was I was living a worldly life, you know, and I was out there heavy, you know, um just you know, cooking dope and selling pills and weed and you know, and powder and um, you know, in and out of trap houses, selling guns and you know, using guns and you know, just going through uh what you would go through, you know, when you're living that life.

SPEAKER_03 15:29

And you were also making music too, right?

SPEAKER_01 15:32

I was making music, yeah. I was making music. I was making secular music and I was um I was connected with a well-known uh a well-known um record label called Black and Brown from Northern California. And I also had my own record label called Bay Shore Business. And and then I even uh when I hooked up with them, I ended up having, like we put it together and I I had another label called Disland Beijle. And um they were they were pretty well known uh like worldwide, and uh they were uh heavy, you know, heavy in the um like in the in in the gang world, right? Um but I wasn't so much in the gang thing, it's I was just connected to them through the music. And um, but you know, I I ran with them for a long time, and we did a lot of uh mixtapes, um albums, and did a lot of shows, a lot of traveling uh all throughout the Bay Area and down south. Um we were also hooked up with uh Mac Dre's uh people, the Diz Nation. Um and yeah, you know, that I was doing that at the same time as I was doing what I was doing in my neighborhood. So it it was like it was a plus for me because uh doing the music would take me off the streets. So that I see that now though. You know, I didn't see it at that time, like I didn't think about it so much, but I know that um staying focused on the music, it uh took me off the streets um off of being on the streets, you know, consistently all the time, which possibly uh saved my life.

SPEAKER_03 17:27

So yeah. And so I mean, for you being involved with the the music, the drug dealing, and the you know, all the things that came with it, uh how long, you know, was your your reign with all that like before you because you went to prison, you know what I mean? But when you got out of prison, did you continue that? Like, because I don't want to skip over the prison part because that was a major part, but like yeah, how long was that?

SPEAKER_01 17:58

So I was doing I was doing that music, uh I was doing secular music for like any uh what's saying like 15 to 18 years, I was doing that um since I was like 18. Like I you know, I started off like freestyling, battling, you know, and just going to parties and you know, different neighborhoods, wherever, at a spare the moment, you know, battling and stuff like that. Um but I was uh you know getting into trouble. I was doing what I you know stuff that didn't have nothing to do with the music. So it was, you know, I was like living in kind of like two two worlds. Um so yeah, I did that, I did that to about uh I was about 34. Yeah, I want to say 30, yeah, like 34 um when I stopped uh doing the secular music. But when I was in the so what happened was um in in 2006, in 2006, I was still doing the secular music. I got shot twice. Um I got shot twice. Um and then I I went down south because I was doing the music still, and I was out there, you know, networking and healing at the same time. I came back and in 2007, um late 2007, I had my my second daughter. I had my second daughter, and um I wanted to like slow down my life. So I was, you know, I was having conversations with myself and telling myself that I needed to uh you know be around for my child and um that I you know I wanted to make some changes in my life. And um when I was doing that, um I I kind of separated myself from everybody and you know, I started, you know, taking care of my daughter and being with you know the mother of my child, and and you know, when you're in the game, you know, and you have people under you, um, you know, they don't necessarily think what you're thinking or know what you're thinking, right? So um a couple people, a couple cats that I had under me that I had um basically had them under my wing. Um they tried to they tried to come to my house um and rob me. And it didn't it didn't go down that way uh the way they thought it would. But what happened was it ended up bringing my anger out of me. It ended up setting me off. So after that, it was like I went back and back into the streets like full-blown, like I was on a on a murder mission, you know, trying to hunt this this person down, you know, and it was like a back and forth uh thing, you know, where we were basically headhunting each other. And yeah, and that's what led me uh to get locked up. So I ended up getting into it with somebody else. Um and then they they called the police on me, and then I got I got chased on a high speed chase. Um and as I was getting chased, uh I threw I threw the gun out the window, the gun went off, somebody found the gun. Um I'm taking the police on a high speed chase, and then I get pulled over. They they all draw down, black and whites, bunch of north cars, they all pull over, they're all in front of me, all in back of me, and they lay me down, and I get took to jail. And this is uh the end of 07 and I'm in the county. So I'm in the county now, and uh I'm fighting this case. You know, I'm fighting this case. And the first offer was 13 years. And while I'm sitting in there, you know, I'm I'm going through things, you know, I'm fighting a lot. And people wanted me to click up. They wanted me to click up with their their organization because they knew who I was running with. You know, they knew I was affiliated with other individuals who were part of their organization. And they assumed that, you know, I was one of them. And when they when they you know asked me uh, you know, if I was one of them, and I told them no, they didn't like that. So they put a hit on me. They put a hit on me. They sent uh three guys uh to get me in the in the gym, and uh it that didn't turn out the way that they thought it would. And I ended up uh getting one of the guys and and I slammed him um on his head, and then the other two guys, you know, left. Um and but then I got bit, I got beat up by the COs. I got beat up by the COs pretty bad. And then they threw me in the hole. And at this time, I'm already sitting in the county like 16 months in, uh, you know, fighting the case, going back and forth to court. Um, and so now I'm in the hole. Now I'm in the hole. And um, you know, when you're in the hole, you really don't got too much to do. So you're you're you're sitting there, you know, thinking about everything, reflecting on your life. And I know uh as time went by, I know I I started thinking about everything, you know, my life and what was going on. And I started questioning, uh, you know, I started questioning God. I started saying, you know, why is all this, why is all this stuff happening to me? You know, I'm like, I was thinking like, I just wanted to be a good father. I said, I'm trying to change my life. And I said, I just wanted to be there for my kid and for the mother of my kid, right? And I was just thinking, you know, I was thinking all these thoughts were coming, all these these feelings were coming, right? And I was just, you know, feeling heavy. And I just remember, you know, I I fell to my knees. I fell to my knees and and I started tearing and I started talking to God, and I and I just started asking God to forgive me. And I was asking them, God, forgive me. I said, I know what I did was wrong. I said, I know what I was doing was wrong. And and I also I said, God, I forgive the people that double crossed me. I said, I forgive them for what they did to me. And and when I said that, I could feel like all this weight being lifted off me. It was like when you go to the gym and you're lifting heavy weights on the bench and you you need a spotter, and it's and then the weight is so heavy, it's like you're you're trying to get that that that pump, but you can't, you know, it's too much weight. And then all of a sudden, you the spotter, you know, grabs the weight and pulls it up. That's what it felt like. It felt like like God was my spotter, and he and he pulled the weight off me. He pulled the weight off me, and I could just feel this release. And and I know it was the presence of God. Like at that time, I didn't know that it was the presence of God that was falling on me. I didn't know anything about repentance either. So I know now that that's what it was. You know, I was repenting and and asking God for forgiveness, and I was sincere and and he heard me. And right after that, um, you know, I I looked, you know, to the side and I had a Bible. I had a Bible in my room, and I started getting into my Bible every day and started praying, and you know, just started learning and and and studying the scriptures.

SPEAKER_03 26:28

Yeah, I mean, that's that's amazing. I think that how it all you had to be at your lowest moment, it seemed like, for you to really have that alternate mindset change, you know, and for you to be at your lowest, and to for you to you know realize this, and you know, you drop to your knees and everything, and I I just love the way you explain the weight being lifted off your your shoulders, like you had the spotter, and when you're lifting weights and everything, man, and then of course you had the Bible in there and you started reading and getting into the word just like that. I mean, no, seriously, for all that, like how did how so how did the follow-up on that go? Where where'd you end up after that?

SPEAKER_01 27:14

So I was I was in there about like 18 months in there, and then I was still fighting my case. Um, and I knew they were gonna send me to prison. Um, I just didn't know exactly how much time they were gonna uh send me with. Um and the you know, the first offer was 13 years, and then I I went back to you know court uh like not too much longer after that, and they they offered me another deal, which was three years. And so when I heard the three years and I knew that I had some time in, I said, I said, I'm gonna take it. So I took it, and then they sent me to San Quentin. And then, you know, as you go into the the intake, um, they ask you questions and stuff. They ask you, you know, are you able to be in general population or do you need to be PC, which is protective custody? And knowing what I have been through, knowing that I already had got into it with these people, and you know, I'm knowing that the information from county travels to the penitentiary, and they let people know ahead of time that you're coming up there. You know, I'm thinking of all these things, and and at the same time, when they ask me this question, you know, I'm having a conversation in my heart with God, and I'm saying to myself, and I'm saying to God, I said, if this if anything is gonna happen, it's gonna happen now. And but I put my trust in you, I put my trust in you, God. So just protect me. And so I told I told them, you know, throw me in general population. And so they did, and then, you know, as they they took me in and they gave me my bedding and all that stuff, and they walked me to my cell, and then they don't tell you who you're who you're gonna be, celllies with, they just throw you in there. And so when they threw me in there, it happened to be uh somebody who was affiliated with the organization that I already had got in into it with.

SPEAKER_03 29:26

Yeah, I mean, really, of course, what are the odds of that? And so instantly you're gonna be tested right away, right? And right, and so your faith is tested here. So with that, how how would how did you handle it?

SPEAKER_01 29:41

So, I mean, I just let it flow like because I knew um I knew that God was working in me. I I knew that I was trying to change, I knew that I wasn't part of what they were, you know, I wasn't involved in that. I knew what they were doing and what they were all about, but I didn't I didn't want any part of that, right? And it was not even like, you know, I didn't, it was not like I felt any better than them or anything because we're all we're all criminals in there, right? So it's just that I knew that, you know, God was doing something in me. I really couldn't, I really couldn't um explain it or or even fully understand it at that time. But, you know, I would um you know, I would just keep it real, you know, with with with the roommate, I would told them what happened, you know, with the situation that happened in the county. I told them, you know, what I was all about. And I told them, you know, that I'm trying to change my life, you know, and you know, that I read the Bible, you know, and that I believe in God, you know, and and you know, before you know it, it was like a month in, you know, and and me and this dude, you know, we're we're getting pretty close. Like, you know what I mean? We're we we're even, you know, talking about the Bible, and you know, he's he's watching me, you know, because he's basically doing inventory for for his people, you know, he's like the third man, he's like the middleman, uh, because he's closest to me and he's already, you know, connected. So they're using him to talk to me and to figure out am I is this real? Like is is what I'm saying, is it adding up, you know what I mean? Or is there something going on? Is he trying to hide or is he for real, you know? And so with that being said, you know, the the the brother that was in there, you know, uh, we ended up becoming cool, you know, and and he he knew where I was coming from, and he let them know, um, you know, from his point of view, um, what kind of person I was, you know, and we were Roomy's uh cellmates for for for about a month. And of course, you know, you you still gotta you still gotta hit the yard. So that's a whole nother thing. It's like, okay, that's just one person, but you're in a prison with thousands of people, and there's all kinds of people saying this and saying that, and you know, some people are uh looked up to more, and and you know, there's different rankings and uh, you know, in the politics and stuff like that. So um I had to hit the yard, you know. And when I hit the yard, um the shot caller, you know, one of the shot callers that was there, you know, part of the organization, he told me, he said, you know, take a walk with me. And so I started taking a walk with him. And as I'm taking a walk with him, you know, I noticed there's there's two other uh men in front of us, like a couple feet in front of us, maybe like two, four feet away from us in front. There's two more uh men behind us, another two feet behind, and then there's another two on the left side and another two on the right side. So I'm I'm surrounded. I'm surrounded while I'm talking to this individual. And he asks, well, he said he says to me, He goes, I see you got a lot of uh respect from the homies because you know they they noticed that people would, you know, say what's up to me. And you know, people knew who I was. Like they knew who I was because of everything that was going on, and they knew who I was because of the music as well. So he uh he said, Yeah, I see that, you know, a lot of the homies, you know, got got love for you. And he said, I want you to know that, you know, that you're welcome to eat at our table. You can sit with us, you know, you want to be with us, is it's cool, right? And I remember telling him that, you know, that it was no disrespect, you know. I I said it was it's no disrespect, you know. I said, I got love for y'all, I got love for uh, you know, a lot of your folks, you know what I mean? I said, but I just came to do my time. I said, I just want to be myself. You know, I want to do my time, and and and that's it. And and he looked at me. He looked at me and he and he and he gave me this head nod, and he was like, he was like, you're good. It was like you're good. And I remember at that moment, I said, if anything is gonna happen, it's gonna happen right now because I'm surrounded. I'm in the middle, right? You know, this could be all a setup in my mind. I'm having all these thoughts, you know, and I'm like, but if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. I said, God, you know, just protect me. And when he said he was said I'm good, everybody like dispersed, like all the the two in the front, two in the back, two on the left, two on the right, everybody just like left, scattered, went their way.

SPEAKER_03 35:07

Wow. So at that moment you knew you were you were probably in the clear for the rest of your stay.

SPEAKER_01 35:12

Right. Of course, uh, you know, uh it felt it felt it felt good, right? Felt good. Um but that thought is always there, you know. It's like, you know, because in that in that environment, you know, it's pretty dominant. Evil is pretty dominant in that environment. So it's like you could never uh really put your guard down. You know, you gotta still stay, you know, sharp because at any moment they could just switch on you, you know. But I I took him for his word and I seen uh you know the actions of the other people, and uh it it all worked out. And then um I ended up going from there um to another part of the prison in San Quentin. I went to where the lifers were, and I was in there for a while, and then from there I went to the ranch. And then when I went to the ranch, it was you know, it was a little different. There was more flexibility, and I ended up seeing like a lot of individuals that I was cool with that were part of their organization, and that's when I I knew that um it was cleared because everybody was like, what's up? You know, everybody was like extra cool, like, but before that, you could feel the tension in the air, you could see the looks and you could feel the you know the the spirits that were around, like you could feel the evil, you know, and um I just thank God for that, man. I just thank God for you know protecting me and keeping me strong, you know, and and me uh taking that step in the faith, you know, and and just leaving it in his hands, you know, because it could have gone a whole lot different, you know. A lot of people don't make it out of there, a lot of people come out worse. Um, you know, some people they get hit, you know, um bad, you know what I mean? And it and it's just like you you never know, you know, how it's gonna go in there, you know. But I thank God for that, man.

SPEAKER_03 37:20

Yeah, and like for you, how did you make it so that it wasn't a bad thing for you when you came out?

SPEAKER_01 37:27

So uh as far as when I came out, um, you know, while while I was in there before I even came out, you know, I was I was reading, I was praying. Um, I ended up connecting with uh some other individuals who also um, you know, believed in God and and were reading the word and and we started um fellowshipping in there. We started praying, you know, together we made like a little prayer circle and we would pray, like in the middle of the ranch. You know, we would pray for our families and everything, and we'll pray for the people in the prison. And and that's you know, that was like um the start before I left. Yeah, so then when I left, when I got released in uh 2010, I started going to church, you know, I started going to church and I kept reading my Bible, kept praying, and you know, just was hungry, you know.

SPEAKER_03 38:29

Yeah, and so when you finally did get released and entered society, how was the transition and and you know talk about any backslides or slip-ups or anything that you had because getting back into society definitely is gonna be hard.

SPEAKER_01 38:49

Yeah, it's it's it's a big difference, you know, because there's a lot more, there's a lot more uh everything going on. You know, there's uh more distractions. Um so when I came out, you know, I started going to church, I stood in prayer, and you know, I was uh reading my Bible, and of course, you know, God was doing what he was doing in me, but when I came home, you know, I was with my with my lady at the time. And, you know, I know what was going on with me, but not really all the way because I was baby Krishna, you know, I was like a baby, you know, in the beginning, right? And um, but I'm trying to tell her, like, you know, go to church with me, you know, you know, I'm trying to get her to to walk the walk with me. And um she went to church with me a few times, but um it was a battle. It was a battle, you know, and it was it was a spiritual battle that I didn't know um about at that time. I didn't know how the enemy can use your loved ones, the ones that are closest to you, to to derail you from your relationship with God. So that was what was happening um to me. And, you know, slowly but surely um, you know, I fell off because my relationship was it was bad, you know, because I wanted one thing and she wanted another thing. She wanted to keep doing her own thing, and I wanted to do this God thing, and you know, it was like, you know, it's like there's no fellowship with, you know, the light doesn't fellowship with darkness, you know, and I'm trying to, you know, do the right thing and go to church and learn, and she didn't want to do that. So that became uh a fight in itself. And, you know, I would end up going to church, you know, hurt. I would end up going to church hurt because of my relationship. And because I wasn't I wasn't rooted in the church at that time. I wasn't uh fellowshipping, I didn't have a relationship with my pastor, you know, um, or my pastors. Um so I wasn't uh spiritually strong enough, and I didn't I didn't have the discernment yet. And so the enemy was using my lady at the time to take me away from that, and slowly but surely it did. And because of that, um because of my hurt, because of the anger behind my relationship, I slipped back into the world and started smoking, started drinking, and then I was doing the music still. So, but it was it was getting more um like more aggressive. So I was getting more involved, uh more heavy. Um and before I knew it, you know, I was I wasn't going to church. Uh, I wasn't reading my Bible as much. I would I would always pray, but it was very minimal. You know, it was very minimal prayer. Um and then later on, like as as uh a few years went by, you know, I had to go through a couple other things, right? But while I was going through those things, you know, my daughter was getting older. You know, my baby, she wasn't a little baby anymore. Now she's, you know, getting older. And um I remember that when when I left, when I departed from her mom, when we separated, um I prayed, I prayed and asked God, I said, I said, God, uh help me be the best father I can. Help me to become a better dad. And after that, I started going back to church. I started going back to church and and my daughter would go with me. And so now I'm I'm trying to lead by example, and and I know that I'm doing the right thing. And, you know, time goes by, you know, I'm going to church and I'm I'm growing in the church, and my daughter's getting older, and you know, we're driving, and out of nowhere, my my daughter, she asks me, she goes, Dad, when am I gonna get baptized? And she's like, I don't know, nine, ten years old, you know, and just asks me that out of nowhere, right? She goes, Dad, when am I gonna get baptized? And I start uh playing a conversation in my head, remembering um that I had spoken to her mom about getting her baptized, and I wanted to get her baptized the Christian way, and her mom was raised Catholic, so she wanted. Do it the Catholic way, but I said, and at this time my daughter was with me, and I said, wait a minute. I said, I'm not, I'm not with her mom anymore. And I said, She's with me, and I'm going to church. I said, There's no reason why I can't get her baptized, right? And so with that being said, I I told her soon, you know, sometime soon, but I didn't have like a special date or a time to give her, you know, I just told her soon, right? So the following week we go to church, right? And the pastor announces, he says, next week we're gonna be having a baptism. You know, and I'm like, wow, I'm like, wow, I'm like just thinking in my in my heart and in my mind, I'm thinking, like, wow, they're gonna have a baptism. And so I sign up my daughter for the baptism. I sign her up, and then um, you know, uh uh time went by and and like a couple days, and then you know, we have services like two or three times a week, right? So by the next time we went to service, um I could feel God tugging on my heart and I could hear him, you know, I could hear him, and he's telling me, you need to do it too, you need to do it too. And every day is getting louder, every day is getting louder, it's getting louder, it's getting more clear. And I hear, you need to do it too. You need to do it too, you need to lead by example. Don't let her do it by herself. So I signed myself up for the for the baptism, and I had been baptized before when I was young, but not as an adult. And so I signed myself up for the baptism, and then the baptism was like uh I don't know, a couple weeks later, and then we both ended up getting baptized uh together.

SPEAKER_03 46:03

How did that feel?

SPEAKER_01 46:05

Oh man, it was great. It was great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 46:10

Yeah, I'm sure, man, after all all the things you had to go through and you know, being able to get back into the church and wanting to get more closer to God at that point. And so I mean, after that was were you pretty pretty solid after that? Did you continue to grow and stay with it?

SPEAKER_01 46:32

Yeah, for sure. I mean, that was like it was uh it solidified it, you know what I mean? I was already getting stronger, you know, and I was um I was, you know, doing the things that I should have been doing before, but I didn't know. So I didn't, you know, back then I didn't I didn't have anybody like discipling me. Um I didn't have anybody telling me, you know, that this is how the enemy moves, this is, you know, to look out for these things, you know. If if you start feeling these type of things or seeing these type of things, know that it's an attack from the enemy, you know. But at at this time, I was already uh rooted, I was already rooted and I was getting stronger. So I was fellowshipping and I did have a relationship with my pastor, and you know, I was connected more, and I was, you know, uh reading my Bible and and praying every day. And yeah.

SPEAKER_03 47:36

Wow. So where are you at with it now?

SPEAKER_01 47:40

Well now, uh man, uh God has been uh using me in all kinds of different ways, uh, especially through the music. So um about several years, going on seven years. Um when I gave my life to the Lord, uh, you know, God told me that you know you're not gonna use your the gift, you know, the gift that I gave you, you know, you've been using it for the wrong kingdom. You're gonna use it for my kingdom now. You're gonna use it to glorify me. You're gonna use it to to share your testimonies with people. And I said, All right, God. I said, Yeah, I'll I'll do that. And when when he told me that, I I started thinking about like my name, you know, and what everybody knew me by, you know, as far as the secular music, everybody knew me by Lexo or Lex Diamonds and you know, Lexo Shobiz and all these other names, and I was like, I don't want to go by that name. And I remember, you know, telling God that I don't want to go by that name anymore. And, you know, I was reading, you know, in my Bible, and I I read somewhere where it said that we're supposed to live like kings and queens, right? And then also I was reading the book of Exodus, you know, and one thing led to another, and I started thinking about my life and just everything that he was doing, you know, and I felt like uh, you know, the the Israelites, how they were being freed, you know, from from Egypt, you know, the Exodus, right? And I I I started looking at the the name, the book of Exodus, the name, right? And I said, Exodus. And then I said, if I put an L in front of that, I said it'll say Lexodus. And I said, God says that we're supposed to live like kings and queens. And I said, I'm gonna peek, that's me. I said, um that's that's what I'm gonna change my name to, King Lexodus, because God changed my heart. You know, I went from being a poor, broken man in the spirit, you know, to to living like a king, you know, in the spirit. And God freed me, you know, from from my Egypt, you know, all that that torment, that hurt, that that addiction to the lifestyle and all that, you know, it's just I said, yeah, I said that's what I'm gonna do. And you know, that that was it. And I said, I'm changing all my platforms. I said, uh, you know, I had a conversation with myself and with God. I said, it doesn't matter what anybody says, you know, and I had been doing the music for years, and I already had did all kinds of stuff, and my name was all over everywhere, and I'm like, it don't matter. I even had projects, um like uh albums ready to go, like with other people that I had paid for and invested a whole lot of time and I was and I just remember saying it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. And I said, every platform, every area, everything that I can do, I said I'm I'm gonna glorify you, God. I said, I'm gonna use my gift for you, God, and I'm gonna change everything and I'm gonna show people, you know, what you're doing in my life, and and and I'm gonna let them know that, you know, this is where I'm at in my life. You know, if they like it, fine. If they don't like it, fine. But I know where I'm at, and and I knew that I was gonna stand on that, you know, because God is our firm foundation, and and I, you know, I'm I'm I'm thinking about you know scriptures uh at the same time, and it's like, you know, God speaks to us, you know what I mean? He speaks to you. And it's like I knew there was gonna be uh people, you know, questioning or hating and this, this and that. I said, it don't matter. It doesn't matter, you know, it's for God. I'm doing it for God because I know what God was doing for me. I know what God, how He was changing my heart, and um I just wanted to be right with God, you know.

SPEAKER_03 52:02

Yeah, and I think the way you were able to just say I think it just shows that you were really ready to fully commit when you said that nothing else matters, you know, you're ready to just give up your old name, your old life, and just fully, you know, change the name and everything. It didn't matter, everything they all the work and stuff you put in to it, you're ready just to just change it up and go full force with this new this new lifestyle. And you know, that's that's how you know you're really you're ready to fully give it up and you know switch it up because that is a big a big deal. You know, you put it in a lot of time and effort and then it is, it is, you know. Because you put in a lot of time and work, but you know, now you know what you want to go for now. Right what you want to spend all your energy and time for now.

SPEAKER_01 52:54

Yeah. So when I when I laid it down like that, uh, you know, uh the scriptures they always talk to me like the word, you know, the word. I always go back to the word, you know, and God would show me and say so much to me, you know, it would and it would make so much sense, you know. And I just remember saying, I I, you know, I know what I was doing, you know, when I was living that life. You know, I know how dedicated I was to the streets and and to that lifestyle. And I knew that I would, you know, I would I would risk my freedom. I would I would lay down my life, you know, for for my partners and my neighborhood, you know, without a doubt, like without even questioning. So I knew when I gave my life, I said, you know, what why wouldn't I lay down my life like Jesus has laid down his life for me? He forgave me, you know, he he transformed me, you know, he he forgave me for my sins, you know, and he's allowed me, you know, another opportunity, you know, to be a vessel for him for his kingdom. And you know, I said, I I I gotta do the same thing, you know. I I don't wanna be somebody that says, oh, you know, I'm about God and I'm about Jesus, and then, you know, your your life doesn't match, you know. There's no power behind that. You know, there's no power behind that. You know, your your life is your biggest testimony. You can say what you want with your mouth, but your life will show it, you know, and and that's where I was. It's like, I don't, I don't, I don't ever want to be uh some hypocrite or or or somebody to look at me and be like, oh, you're telling us to do this and that we should do that, but you're doing this and you're doing that, you know what I mean? So I said, I gotta lay my life down. I gotta lay it all down. I said, and I would always go back to the scriptures, you know, and I know that God, you know, he doesn't want to be second to no one or to anything. You know, he wants to be number one in our lives, you know, and and that's what I wanted to do is I wanted to make him number one in my life because um, you know, he's more than worthy.

SPEAKER_03 55:13

And it definitely was a no-loss by any means. It was nothing but a gain.

SPEAKER_01 55:18

No, I I've it's it's it's it's nothing but uh, you know, it's a miracle, man. It's a miracle because honestly, you know, if if I didn't have God in my life, if I didn't accept him, if I never would have called out to him, that whole situation of me, you know, going to prison and all that, it could have played, it could have panned out different. It could have gone different, it could have gone bad, you know, and and even I could have got worse, or you know, just things would have I I believe and I know that God does things, you know, that we can't see and and we don't understand until he does it, and then he has a way of revealing it to you, showing it to you, like, you know, this is what could have happened, you know, but he stepped in, you know, he interceded, you know, and we know, you know, what with the enemy meant for evil, God turns it for the good, right? So with the music, with the music, with the talent that he gave me, you know, he's he gives me the the flow, he gives me the lyrics, you know. It's uh I tell people that you know the lyrics that I get, it's not just it's not just music to me. You know, it's not it this is not just music to me, it's more than music. You know what I mean? This is my life, this is the gospel, this is uh, you know, this is the message that needs to be shared with people because you know, there's a lot of people that are losing. There's a lot of people that are spiritually dead and they don't they don't know why they're going through what they're going through. They don't know why their family is, you know, going through what they're going through. And you know, it I'm just very grateful and thankful that I'm able to be uh a vessel for God to to edify people and to bring spiritual awareness and and and guidance and even conviction to to to believers, you know what I mean? Because it does a lot. You know, there's power in in music, you know, especially when you're doing it for God, you know. Um Yeah, God is just good, man.

SPEAKER_03 57:33

He he Yeah, I was gonna say, you wouldn't you like to pray for those people then that may be struggling with that may be in in the same situation as you in prison, get involved with gangs, crime, just anybody that's struggling with any kind of things that may need to find their way to God or you know, some kind of you know, some of the people that may be watching may have a family member that may be in the position you are, you know. The people that watch may just love to hear a redemption story, they just want to hear your story and give it motivates them to encourage their walk of their faith with God, and it just continues to show them that God is working through people. So, I mean, just to say a little quick.

SPEAKER_01 58:17

Yeah, yeah, no doubt, man. No doubt. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, for today, Father God. We thank you for what you're gonna do, Father God, and what you are doing right now, Father God. We know that your word never comes back void, Father God. And we just thank you, Lord, that you may bless each and every person, Father God, that is listening to this interview, those that are watching this interview, Father God, that you will penetrate their souls, Father God, that you will water the seeds that have been planted today, Father God. I pray, Father God, and ask for your healing power to fall upon their lives, Father God, that you may open their spiritual eyes and their spiritual ears to hear from heaven, Father God, that they may come to know you as Lord and Savior, Father God, that they may accept you, Father God, and believe that you are who you say you are, Father God, and that you will do something miraculous in their lives, Father God. Every man, woman, and child, Father God. And we just thank you, Lord, for the breath that you give us, Lord. Thank you for all the abilities that you allow us to have, Father God. Thank you for every gift, Father God, that you give us people, Father God. Thank you for the gift of salvation, Father God. Thank you for laying down your life, Father God, and becoming sin. Even though you were sinless, you became sin for us, Father God, to allow us an opportunity, Father God, to receive you so that we may see the Father, Father God. And I just ask, Lord, that you strengthen each and every person, Father God, that may be going through something hard. Those that are struggling with addiction, those that are battling uh, you know, mental uh problems, you know, uh depression, Father God, anxiety, Father God, those that are that are stuck in the gangs, Father God, and that they they don't know how to get out, Father God, and they feel alone, Father God. Those that are that are just depressed, Father God, and depending on other things, Father God, Lord, that you may become that source, Father God, that you may become that person that that that heals them, Father God, that fills their hearts, Lord, with comfort, with love, Lord, with your truth, Father God, and your holy fire, Lord. And we just thank you, Father God. We thank you for who you are, and we thank you for what you will do, Father God, for them, Lord. And we ask in Jesus' name, amen.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:34

Amen. Yes. And for anybody watching, uh, be sure to stay tuned as well, because we're gonna play a song, one of uh brother Lex's songs here at the end of the this video. Any final any final words, Lex?

SPEAKER_01 1:00:50

And right here, this is uh, I don't know if you can see it, but this is uh my clothing brand is uh music and ministry. Oh, music and ministry, yeah. So if you you know want to go check out the music, I got music all over. Um Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Title, YouTube, iHeart Radio, um, just all over. It's under King Lexitus, K-I-N-G, L E X O D U S, Music and Ministry. And uh God bless you, man.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:24

God bless you too. Thank you for coming on. And everyone, be sure to stay tuned for the song. Brother Lex's testimony is deeply moving. The incredible story of how he walked away from his past and was given a completely new life by the Lord is nothing short of a miracle. The Lord is still working in the business of transforming lives every single day. Please leave a comment. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Share this video with someone that needs to hear it, or just share this with someone that loves a great testimony. Like this video if it really impacted you today. Don't forget to hit the notification bell so you never miss any life-changing testimonies. Please don't forget to hit subscribe as well. At the end of this video, two playlists will pop up, and you can continue to watch more videos of mine. Thank you again so much for watching, and of course, we'll see everyone on the next one.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:12

Roger on easy one two one.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:29

I cool up in the struggle, I cool up in the struggle, like a pile of dirt, sitting in a water water on the hustle, five. I remember playing to the door, please don't let me struggle, I'll go up in the struggle, like a pile of dirt, and then I'm water playing on the hustle. I remember playing to the lower place, don't let me find the member, please don't let me fall, don't let me fall, don't let me follow me full. I've made a five don't let me fall. Therefore, you are inexcusable, oh man, whoever you are who judge, or whatever you judge another, you condemn yourselves, for you who judge practice the same things. I remember prayin' to the Lord, please don't let me fumble. Let me grew up in the struggle. I grew up in the struggle. Like a pile of dirt, sitting in a water pile of water, always on the hustle. Trying not to stumble. I remember praying to the Lord, please don't let me fumble. Let me grew up in the struggle. I grew up in the struggle. Like a pile of dirt, sitting in a water pile of water, always on the hustle. Trying not to stumble. I remember praying to the Lord, please don't let me fumble. Don't let me fumble.

unknown 1:06:30

Let me fumble.