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Raven Felix

Los Angeles

Raven Felix didn't start off listening to rap. In fact, the artist of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent was more of a metal head, thanks to her mother. It wasn't until her two-year stint in high school that she discovered Nicki Minaj, Eve, and got into hip-hop. "I just kind of fell in love with how powerful female rappers were," she says. A Snoop Dogg endorsement and a mixtape later, Felix, now 21, is a rapper herself, planning to drop her next project, Valifornication, this fall. In the meantime, the Taylor Gang affiliate chills in her hometown in the Valley.

Raven Felix

Venue

Felix played her first show in the Valley at the California Institute of Abnormalarts, a.k.a. the CIA. The North Hollywood performance space has a circus theme and hosts not only musicians but also fire-eaters, puppeteers, and magicians. "I think the only rap show they ever had was mine," she says, "but it was cool because it was somewhere I used to go growing up."

Raven Felix

Destination

Felix only turned 21 this year, and since then, she's become a big fan of Lee's 4 Cocktails, an inexpensive dive bar located in Northridge. Lee's is no frills and has dartboards, pool tables, and happy hour specials. "It's super fun," Felix says. "Everybody knows each other there."

Raven Felix

Dining Out

Felix likes to grab Salvadoran cuisine at a restaurant called Mestizo in the Valley or tacos from Rigo's, but if you are looking for something a little different, she recommends Xevichez, a sushi bar with a twist. "It's like Mexican-inspired sushi," she says. "And they have the best micheladas ever."