Lost Angel of Havik (known as L.A. and/or Lay by family and peers) was born Lawrence Arthur Dale Lyons on April 17th, 1987 in Takoma Park, Maryland. Born & raised in Maryland, L.A. always had interests in the arts. He began writing in the sixth grade, and played the tuba from the sixth grade throughout the ninth grade. Always loving a variety of music, L.A. began rapping at the age of 16. Mentored by his longtime friend, Warren Peace, L.A. began studying his craft and as the years passed, recorded a vast amount of material.
After graduating from high school in 2005, L.A. and his mother relocated to Broadway, North Carolina to aid his grandfather in caring for his ailing grandmother. It was this time that L.A. began to take his music to another level. Learning on his own how to work with artists via the internet, L.A. also began to produce his own beats, and created a variety of instrumentals uniquely crafted to his own tastes in music.
The following year, he met Rayne with whom he collaborated with on the song "Hear My Battle Cry." Deciding to join Rayne's own independent underground label, JnC Records, L.A. also met Secrets, & Ness Rhyme whom he also collaborated with on the song "All I Can Be." Both collaborations found their way onto what would become L.A.'s first solo mixtape, "Str8 Outta Tha 301: The Mixtape," which was released in January 2007.
Immediately following the completion of his first project, L.A. went to work on his next album, "E.M.O.T.H.U.G.", an acronym for "Evil Master Of The Hate U Gave." The album's title was drawn from a joke among L.A. and his friends about his music being a form of "Emo Rap" due to its passionate and often emotional content. This second mixtape contained features from Warren Peace as well as JnC label-mate Ness Rhyme. The album however, was more so noted for it's strong emotional content and also the memorable single "Sippin' On Dat Haterade" featuring Ness Rhyme & The Str8 Ridaz. "E.M.O.T.H.U.G." was released in December of 2007 online via his myspace and several forums which he visited frequently.
Late in 2007, around the time L.A. was wrapping up work on "E.M.O.T.H.U.G.," he founded the group "Havik" with Rayne, Secrets, Ness Rhyme and another JnC Records member, Stak. It was Rayne's theory that the five artists blended perfectly in terms of style, musical content, and energy. Havik began working as a group immediately and at the beginning of 2008, had several songs finished and were on the way to having a complete album. L.A., being the workaholic of the group, simultaneously began work on his third solo effort, entitled "Phoenix Rising." Having recorded, 20+ songs for the project (including a tribute to his grandfather whom passed in August of 2007), L.A. had ventured in experimental territory, creating songs with supernatural themes, and also becoming a more r&b oriented artist. "Phoenix Rising" was released in May 2008, and was recieved very well. Later year in September, L.A. shared excitement with the other members of Havik as they completed & released their first album, entitled "The Road Ahead."
2009 saw yet another advancement in L.A.'s musical progress as he undertook the making of a fourth solo project, this time being a majority r&b effort. After alot of work with in short period of time, L.A. released "Gifted & Cursed," a 10 song R&B EP which contained only two featured artists (Rayne & Audrey Morrow).
In between the work on "Gifted & Cursed" and the highly anticipated sophmore album from Havik, "Feel The Vibe," L.A. continued his solo efforts, recording 32 songs for a fifth solo mixtape. A song, "Mama Told Me" featuring a longtime friend and collaborator, Phantom, was among the variety of music put together for this fifth mixtape,"Nosferatu Outlaw." However, the final cut of the mixtape (released May 2009), which maintained 19 of the original 32 songs, was received poorly due to most of the material having been released prior as singles. For L.A. it was a time where his focus then went %100 towards Havik, feeling that his career seemed to remain on the ups given Havik's ever increasing popularity due to the group's unique style & concept heavy material.
Havik's "Feel The Vibe" mixtape, the group's first mixtape with featured artists (Flosja & Troublesome of Florida's "Downbottom") was released June 16th, 2009. The song's "Turn 'Em All Out" & "Mr. Cellophane" (A rap rendition of the song from the play "Chicago") increased the groups appeal and popularity among fans exponentially.
Deciding once again to not rest outside of Havik's efforts, L.A. returned to solo work, creating material for his sixth and final "free" digital mixtape, "Brotha Lay." Shortly after the release of "Feel The Vibe," L.A. has also continuously participated in Havik's third album which will also be the group's first retail release, "Third Lane."
As of July 2010, "Brotha Lay" has 20+ songs recorded for it and features a host of up and coming artists. "Brotha Lay" will also be L.A.'s first solo project to feature all active members of Havik. A release date has yet to be determined as, L.A. has promised not to even consider a final tracklist until 50 songs have been recorded for the project. "Brotha Lay" promises to be the very best L.A. has to offer stylistically, conceptually, and artistically.
To date, L.A. plans to continue active participation in Havik and also continue his solo efforts.
Lost Angel has been a recording artist since 2006. He's formed and actively participated in "Vampires Incorporated" until the group lost touch after their 2008 compilation album. Likewise, Lost Angel helped to found and is currently an active member of the underground hip hop concept group known as Havik, appearing on all of the group's material to date.
December 2006 - Montgomery College Rockville Campus (Rockville, MD)
July 2008 - Family Reunion (Herndon, VA)
November 2009 - Las Palmas Nite Club (Sanford, NC)
January 17th, 2010 - The Pour House w/ Havik (Raleigh, NC)
April 14th, 2010 - Club Reality w/ Havik (Baltimore, MD)
July 2010 - Leadbetter's (Baltimore, MD)
August 3rd, 2010 - The Rep Your Squad Showcase (WINNER) @ The 5 Seasons (Baltimore, MD)
Eminem, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Rayne, Secrets, Stak, Warren Peace, LiveWire, T-Dubb, D-Eagle, etc...
Samson CO1U Condenser Mic, Cool Edit Pro 2.0
Lost Angel of Havik On The Web
http://lostangelofhavik.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/lostangel2k5
http://www.youtube.com/lostangel2k5
http://www.twitter.com/lostangel2k5
http://www.facebook.com/lostangelofhavik