MAUI, HAWAI‘I – (June 16, 2025) – Maui-born rapper, musician, and multi-instrumentalist Alex Milani is making a bold entrance into the hip-hop world with his debut album, MOVING WITH AMBITION, released May 2, 2025. The 14-track project is a deeply personal and sonically rich exploration of Milani’s journey through grief, addiction recovery, and artistic reinvention—anchored by standout production from Vince Esquire and a fearless fusion of styles.
Milani’s lifelong relationship with music began early. He started drumming at the age of five, eventually joining a middle school metal band while sharpening his freestyle skills between classes.
“Music has always been therapy for me,” he shares. “I lost my older sister in a car accident when I was young—I was sitting right next to her. Later, I lost my brother to an overdose. I’ve battled addiction too. This album is about survival and choosing to keep moving forward.”
MOVING WITH AMBITION features high-powered collaborations with Lil Wyte, Saigon, JamWayne, Lex Bratcher, and Henry AZ (signed to Juicy J’s MoFaces imprint). While each feature brings a unique edge to the project, Milani’s voice remains its emotional and musical anchor.
The journey to completing the album was far from smooth. Halfway through the process, Milani suffered a serious neck injury while training Brazilian jiu-jitsu—a discipline he’s practiced for 20 years. The injury, which temporarily impaired function in his hands, required cervical fusion surgery.
“Just a month after surgery, I was out filming music videos again,” he says. “That experience proved to me how resilient I’ve become.”
As a skilled drummer and guitarist, Milani brings a wide range of influences—punk, metal, hip-hop, and island soul—into his work. Growing up in Maui has deeply shaped his artistry.
“There’s something grounding about being raised here,” he says. “Maui keeps me close to the earth. That energy flows through my music. I’m not trying to sound like anyone else.”
Outside the studio, Milani is also the owner of Hi Tides 808, a Maui-based smoke shop that champions local glass artists. But with the success of his debut and a second project already in motion—featuring collaborations with Joey Cool and JL from Strange Music—he’s ready to shift his full attention to music.
“My dream is to make music my full-time career—tour the world, keep leveling up, and tell real stories through my art. MOVING WITH AMBITION is just the beginning.”
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