Trainwreck’d Society’s Person of 2013: Alexander Hallett [Exclusive]

When it came to choosing this year’s Person of Year I have to admit, I think I chose them very early on in the year.  Yes, there were a few contenders to pour in later, but I think I always had my heart set on this guy.  Sir Alexander Hallett.

I first came to know Alex almost five years ago when I was writing primarily for Fensepost.com under the wing of the wise and talented Andrew Fenstermaker.  Fensepost wasn’t known for its inclusion of hip hop music in its then twice daily music posts.  But, Fense knew I was a fan of “alternative” hip hop, so he passed along a request from an artist named Alexipharmic.  The name alone intrigued me, as I could hardly figure out how to say it.  I remember listening to one of his many  Good Side of Bad volumes at a little breakfast nook in a temporary home when I first moved to Spokane, WA.  I was absolutely blown away.  At this point in my life, my resignation of listening to the hip hop world was almost in full effect, but I was always holding on.  In fact I am certain that Alex only found me because I had recently done my first ever hip hop album review for one of comrades, John Overlie a.k.a. Grynch.  And thus the story of how I have come to know and become in awe of Alexander Hallett began.

Years later, Alex would change his staged name to Bodi.  Which was a name that I would also butcher for a while before hearing it pronounced right (It’s Bo-Dee).  And he continued to make beautiful songs and perform across the country.  His strength in lyrics has always been a high selling point for his work for me, and he still manages to grow with every song he throws down.  The point where Alex truly became a dear friend of mine (although, we have never actually met, but one day!) was in the earliest part of 2011 when I was working on a charity based

collective works book entitled Children of Mercy: Tales and Teachings From The World of Independent Music.  It was a collection of essays by some of the fine folks I have managed to get to know in the independent music world.  And Alex wrote one of the dearest, most heart-felt essays that paid tribute to the near recent passing of one of his friends/idols, Michael “Eyedea” Larsen, a man whose rise to fame was obvious with a bustling career and large fan base, but was sadly cut short at a young age.  Alex’s brilliant words about Michael led me to decide that COM had to be dedicated in his honor.  I am eternally grateful that Alex was so willing, and practically eager, to help out with this project.

So, that is how I know him.  I know that is a long-winded explanation of two people meeting, without actually meeting, for an article that is supposed to be about the great things somebody did in a certain year, not about essays and music released 3-5 years ago.  So here we go:  Whenever I think of how to describe Alexander Hallet, there is always one simple word that comes to mind.  Selfless.

As some of you may know, Bodi topped the end of year lists this year here at TWS.  His single “Clotho” came in as our #2 favorite song of the year, and his album The Fall of Atlas came in as our #1 favorite album.  Yes, it was that damn good, I will recommend it to everyone out there who says hip hop is dead (but that is a whole other can of worms to open).  It was not only my favorite album of the year, it will certainly be a contender throughout the rest of my days as, “one of the greatest” I have ever heard.  But, it isn’t just Alex’s talents as Bodi that make him so special.  Let’s go on

The album was released last February, and two days later Alex hit the road.  Only Alex wasn’t going on tour to promote his latest and greatest efforts.  No, the artist known as Bodi was setting off on what he would call The Volunteer Adventure.  I don’t know about you, but heading to an orphanage outside of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is about the strangest way to promote an album release I have ever heard of.  Of course, this brings us back to the big word.  Selfless.  And Alex was not just headed to Vietnam for a week to help out, the man set out on an entire year of volunteering across the globe!  This cat also spent a month to two months in Cambodia, Nepal, Kenya, South Africa, Romania, Colombia, and Peru.  All the while, lending whatever services were needed from him.  Even as I type these words, I find it completely astonishing and breathtaking just how much of himself Alex gave up for almost an entire year to help those less fortunate than himself.  In fact, I am beginning to wonder if the world “Selfless” just isn’t enough.

What is most peculiar about Alex taking this adventure really is just how NOT surprised I, and certainly others, were to hear that Alex would do such a thing.  He has always been a charitable lad.  Since his inception as a hip hop artist, he has donated at least 50% of any proceeds he receives to one great cause or another.  He has already been to Kenya in the years prior to this volunteer adventure, which was probably what sparked his interest in moving about the earth once again.  Those who know and love Alex, surely understand all of these things, and have to be even more proud of him than I am.  I’m just a blogger with a little website I like to use to talk about my friends.  And when I know somebody like this, it is such a privilege to attempt to honor him in any way possible.

And like we always do, we felt it was necessary to invite some of Alex’s friends to join in on the fun and tell us why exactly Alex deserves this nomination, and probably even more recognition than he will ever deserve.  I may have already stolen the thunder from some of the contributors in the previous text, but let it be known that these are HIS friends he has, in some form or another worked with or knows personally.  And it truly solidifies the fact that Alex is just a great person, and a prime example of how more people should be.  Just about everyone who knows Alex, even those not featured below, will surely tell you that he is without a doubt one of the kindest souls you may ever have the great fortune of knowing, hearing about, or simply passing by on the street.

Thank you Alex for your contributions in music that we so adore, and especially for contributions to the world.  You are a beautiful man.

Megan Herdeman (Girlfriend)

Alex is, without question, the most incredible, selfless, compassionate and inspiring man I have ever met. He is always working to make himself, others, and the world better, and does it with more grace and unwavering positivity than I could have imagined. I have spent a lot of time with Alex, and have seen first hand the impact he has on everyone and every thing he touches, always leaving things in a better place than how he found them. What he’s doing now is maybe his greatest feat yet, and it’s incredible for me to know and witness him changing lives across the globe. I am incredibly fortunate to be able to have been a part of it with him. He has become the change he wants to see in the world, and I am so proud of that. He deserves for every dream to come true, and I think being recognized for the amazing and hard work he is doing is a great start.

Wesley de la Hunt (hip hop artist, Thinxx)

I know Alex through hiphop and music. About 6 years ago I left a message on Grieves’ Myspace page and got a message from Alex saying if I like what Grieves is doing it’s quite possible that I’d like his stuff. So I checked it out and I really liked what I heard. We’ve been friends ever since and I actually never met him in person till a few months ago but meeting him was as if we’d known each other for ages.

I think Alex deserves the award because he has an unsatisfying desire to help people, whether it’s through his music or his album sales(of which he has always given half to charity) or his volunteer work we’re he gives himself tirelessly. I don’t know of too many people, firstly with this type of commitment and then the actual desire and drive to actually get up and do something. What he’s done over the years and this year in specific deems him well-worthy of this award in my eyes. He is changing people’s lives for the better and I have nothing but the utmost respect for that. So, thanks Alex.

Eric Murphy (hip hop artist, Errol Hem)

I met Alex through another artist, my mentor M.anifest. M.anifest (yes, with a period) had told me about a very passionate, creative artist named Bodi and how he really works to connect art and social change. I work as an Artist Educator for Face Forward, a group in Minnesota, and was contacted by Alex via email a few months after learning about his work. He asked me to be a part of his project, The Fall of Atlas, and I was taken aback by his warmth and brilliance.  Alex is worthy of this nomination because he truly is a person that encapsulates a good, admirable human being. He is so genuine about doing work to help benefit other people. In the music industry, it is rare to find someone who cares more about others than they do about themselves. Alex is that person.