B.A.D. Takes Over The Lexi Hotel

What do you get when you combine Las Vegas’ supergroup B.A.D. and The Lexi Hotel? An epic residency which needs to be experienced by locals and tourists alike. 

B.A.D. (Babae and DJ Dynamixx) have been entertaining music lovers since 2008 with their original residency at Hooters Hotel, then named Dixie’s Dam Bar. It is impossible to box them into any genre as their sets span from old-school hip-hop to pop-punk to reggae to country and everything in between. Their sets also differ from all others as they are interactive with the crowd. From Babae’s emcee interactions to trivia games, and pool games, to mention a few, you are more than just a spectator enjoying music, you are a part of the show.

Their residency at The Lexi consists of two different shows a week. On Friday afternoons from 1pm to 5pm they have a set at the pool. Saturday nights from 10pm to 2am they have a set in the bar. 

Pool: 

Under the unforgiving sun of the Las Vegas desert, visitors and locals at like have found a reprieve on Friday afternoons at The Lexi’s pool with B.A.D. Donovan and Babae engage with guests soaking in the rays and cooling off in the pool in full European style (topless). B.A.D. continues to play and preform their genre-bending sets intertwined with trivia and pool games. You win at a game or yell out a correct trivia answer, you get a shot! A full bar is available at the pool and the kitchen is open for when you get hungry! 

Bar: 

Saturday nights in Vegas is like a smorgasbord of entertainment opportunities. However, no other place is going to offer option like B.A.D.’s show located in the bar at The Lexi. You want to dance? You can dance the night away. You want to play unique party games? You got it! You want to eat and drink? Not a problem! The best part is that it is all in one room. You can find yourself working up an appetite while dancing on the floor with Babae, so you take a few steps over to the bar and order some food (cooked fresh in the kitchen) and a drink.

While you eat and drink, you can sit back with options from couches to chairs and take in the mixes DJ Dynamixx puts out. They also open the stage for “Rock the Mic” allowing anyone who wants to take the stage the ability to say, “I have performed on a Vegas stage.” Local performers to famous visitors who happen to be at the show have performed everything from their own music to comedy sets. Most recent “Rock the Mic” performers include Lee Huh, King Zion, and Rodney William Munnings.

Interview with B.A.D.  

Mary: What is your history of DJing?

Donovan: I Started in 92, joined Record Systems record pool in 92.  Spent all my money on gear and records from Tower Records and Record City, DJ’d weddings, corporate and private parties for a few years. Then moved to Sea World of Texas and Orlando for 2 years for BMX. I came back in ‘96 and started DJ’ing again and making mix tapes, started producing music for Culture Shock in ‘98, and MGM Grand in 2000. I Released a single in 2001 and then released full length album and CD in 2005. I released digital music after that to online record pools and residencies throughout. 

Mary: Where else have you had shows or residencies?

Donovan: Diablos, Double Barrel, House of Blues, Level Up, Foundation Room, Studio 54, C2K, Venus, Syn City, Dixies Dam Bar, Lucky Bar, Cherry. I also have a syndicated radio show called Club Dynamixx in Michigan and was in New Mexico.

Mary: Why do you continue to scratch with vinyl as opposed to digitally scratching?

Donovan: It’s what I learned on, and you can’t fake the mix. Analog records must spin to match beats, the digital can auto mix for you.  That’s not DJ’ing, that’s programming huge difference.

Mary:  An emcee needs to always be on their game to keep the crowd engaged. Is that something that has to be learned or is it a “natural talent”?

Babae: I think it’s a natural talent or maybe I’m just starving for attention.

Mary: When did you discover that you’re an amazing emcee?

Babae: When I hopped out the womb and I started chewing on my umbilical cord like I was rapping into a microphone! at that very moment I knew!

Mary: What is one of your favorite moments performing?

Donovan: When we are in that pocket of “old-school” that people our age really appreciate. It takes me years to refine the set to run well with the selections, even had to remix a few of the songs to make it make sense.

Babae: When the crowd participants and are engaged, waving their hands side to side or doing a sing along at the top of their voices. 

Mary: What made you decide to take up DJ’ing and decide that you had the talent to make it into a show?

Donovan: I was a bike rider performer at the Riviera Hotel in 92. A buddy said, “let’s make videos of our riding.” I always wanted to scratch and be a DJ so I said I would buy the gear. Well, I bought it, and he never bought a camera. Even earlier on in my life people flaked! I never had the talent. I knew nothing about music before I started DJ’ing. I had to learn the hard way. There was no internet. DJ Silver was the only DJ I knew before I met Q Bert that had any kind of turntable skills. Before them I was just mutilating mixes.

Mary: What is your favorite part of your show at The Lexi?

Donovan: Crowd interaction and making people feel like they’re part of the show.

Babae: Enjoying the smiles, we put on peoples face while they are enjoying themselves. 

The Lexi, formally The Artisan is a hotel and entertainment venue for patrons 21+. It is cannabis friendly with a European style pool (topless). With classic romanticized architecture and draping trees over the driveway, it is unlike any other place in Las Vegas. It is easy to access as it is not far off the strip and there is always free parking.