Luchador mask-wearing KC DJ is as much a showman as the Mexican wrestlers in his family
Editor’s note: These five stories are part of Faces of Kansas City, an ongoing series that builds on The Star’s efforts to improve coverage of our diverse communities. They are gathered here as a compilation to highlight this year’s coverage
Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, FK Menace, watched his father step into a wrestling ring under the name of Lemus II and put on a show for the crowd. Although he came from a family of lucha libre wrestlers, Menace found his calling in the arts.
Discovering a love for the visual arts, design and music, Menace, the son of a wrestler, donned his father’s mask in honor of his wrestling roots and put on his own performance. Under this alter ego, Menace embodies the persona and fighting spirit of the family who wore the mask before him — always ready to put on a show.
After moving to Kansas City in 2012 to attend the Kansas City Arts Institute, Menace, 30, has made a name for himself in the KC music scene for his exciting sets that fuse Latin music, hip-hop and the theatrics of lucha libre. As a clothing designer for the local KC brand, MADE MOBB; a painter; event coordinator, and DJ, he considers himself just as much a showman as his three generations of wrestling relatives.
Though he is not a luchador (Spanish for freestyle wrestler) Menace embodies the customs and traditions that come with the responsibilities of wearing his family’s mask. The mask, which covers the entire face, tells the wrestling family’s story through its colors and its design. Menace wears his family mask with a heap of pride.
Recently, Menace sat down with The Kansas City Star’s culture and identity reporter, J.M. Banks to talk about finding his passion outside of the family business, upholding the customs of lucha libre and the connective power of story telling through artistic expression.
Banks: Can you begin by telling me about your early life and upbringing?
Menace: I was raised in San Antonio, Texas by my mom and dad. My mom was a hairdresser and my pops worked for the county. He was in the Navy reserves (U.S. Navy Reserve) and also was a lucha libre wrestler. In total we have three wrestlers that go under the Lemus name so we are known as the Lemus Familia. So my dad’s uncle was Lemus. My dad is Lemus II, and my uncle was Lemus III but it was very short-lived. The active third one is my cousin Lemus Jr. My family are like the bad guys or “rudos” is what they call them in Spanish. We have been around since the late ‘70s or early ‘80s.
Can you tell me about the significance of the mask in lucha libre wrestling?
We got the mask from Sangre Chicana. The mask represents a lot in lucha. It usually has a standard design and as the years go on there are usually color variations. I love design and fashion so I get to really think about the colors and the textures. I have about six masks right now with different variations. The original mask I wore are my own colors which are black and gold and I stayed away from the original colors (of the original Lemus mask) of his that are red and gold. But the mask is supposed to tell the story of who you are. Every line and grid or symbol means something.
Did you ever train to wrestle?
No, I mean I did some things here and there when I was little because I was around wrestling all the time. I got to see a lot of the behind the scenes and the business side, but I never got into the ring and it was never my jam. My dad used to tell us as kids we hated to see him getting roughed up in the ring, so maybe it was seeing that.
People will say wrestling is fake and the storyline may be scripted. But the moves and the physical stuff is real. But it was an everyday thing that I got to soak up and I never thought anything about it or that it was out of the ordinary. That was just my dad’s work. I didn’t really get it pushed on me and my dad was always supportive of my interests as long as I had my head screwed on right.
Why did you start wearing the mask if you were not wrestling?
I was apprehensive at first. The root of that was, should I be wearing this mask without being in wrestling. They approved of it. They are fans and told me as long as you wear it with respect, representing it in the best light, I got their support. Lucha wrestlers have a lot of pride and passion for their craft so I get to represent my family and culture and my story through the mask.
How do you infuse lucha libre into your work as a DJ and artist?
America likes to put lucha into two categories, which is Rey Mysterio (WWE wrestler) and Nacho Libre (a 2006 film staring Jack Black a non-Hispanic actor). Most don’t know the long history and traditions that go into it. It is about legacy, family and story telling.
Wrestlers take it very seriously and you don’t know who they are outside the character. You will see these guys at formal events dressed in tuxedos and their mask. I take that sense and put it into my work in the DJ world and the artist world. If I am at an event or set, I am always rocking the mask. Wearing it and being unapologetic is me not abiding by the rules of staying into one lane. I found my own style and technique.
I DJ like a wrestler because it is like, what move is he going to pull out of his trick bag. Wrestlers are like dancers waltzing in a ring. So, I think of using my music to create that vibe by feeding that energy into the crowd. I may not be there to wrestle, but I am there to put on a show.
What made you want to go into those particular areas for a career?
A lot of the early recognition I got as a kid was through art so I started getting into the arts in middle school. A lot of that was focused around the visual arts back then. It wasn’t until around high school that I started to get my art into galleries. I applied to different art schools and got into Kansas City Art Institute. Then I started to get into music and found a passion and love for that also. I feel like I have been an artist since I was born and it has taken me 30 years to kind of figure out.
What are the challenges that you face in your career?
Nothing too crazy now. I faced the identity thing as a Latino for a minute. I grew up in the Hispanic community in Texas and when I moved here there was a little bit of a disconnect. Some of the cultural ways we celebrated in Texas were different here. Me personally, I feel like when I got here I was raised by the Black community. They put me on my game and gave me a leg up. It was just a lot of love. But, in due time, I was able to break into the Latino world here.
What is the most fulfilling part of your work.
The impact for sure. A lot of what I do is embracing everything I have come from. I am fortunate to have a family that appreciates all of it and that has helped me to get to where I am going. Embracing my roots continues to motivate me to keep going because it feels like we did it as a family. As a creative, life is a whirlwind and always thinking what the next move is so you just never know how your work impacts people until you meet them and they tell you. So I know I am on the right path with the work I am doing. Just pure intentions.
Do you have a personal motto or philosophy that guides you?
It is about following your heart and passion and letting that guide you. When you are passionate about what you do you can’t go wrong.
What are your goals for the future?
I have done some really big shows. Last year I opened up for Ice Cube and have had some amazing opportunities to work with some amazing people. Right now it is to build this community event I have been running for the past three years called Sabados. It is every second Saturday, and Sabados means second Saturdays. The event is for everyone not and not just a Latino event and some people hear the name but our slogan is celebrating creatives and encouraging collaboration.We will be starting it back up in May. It has allowed me to get work through activism in the Latino community. It is specifically highlighted artists I won an award for activism; the Impact and Change Maker Award from the Latino Education Collaborative. But I want to create more space and platforms to celebrate art and collaboration. If you are a musician, artist, business, or food truck, that is what the event is for.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to follow the same career path as you?
It all starts with finding something you are passionate about and starting there. Be patient. Find the people who love to do what you have a passion for and build off that.
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This story was originally published November 9, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
