After the Black Beverly Hills EP and a trip to California, a performance and studio session with Atlantic Records, Trapo and his manager Steven Louis started Esselgy Records. Since then they’ve dropped the SHE EP, and now we have the debut album Shade Trees. Trapo continues to grow with each new record.
Chance The Rapper is currently the most talented Hip Hop artist outta Chicago, Illinois (May 12, 2016). His flow and ideas are progressive, but not without his own personality. Old heads will hate this album. The artist doesn’t conform to archaic rap stereotypes. Chance keeps it street with a book smart perspective. That’s Midwest style.
For the last couple weeks, we’ve been waiting on edge to hear more about his Chance 3 project… I love it! This is just a sample of what’s to come for the poet, emcee, dancer, educator and leader too. The Coloring Book album is the creation of a young god with genius level brainpower. Plenty of soul and collaboration on this to follow his SURF, Acid Rap and 10 Day albums.
GOOD to see Chance and Kanye working together, regardless of how ya feel about the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star. Both have been critical in bringing the EDM to the jazzy and funky Chicago Hip Hop, which has since spread out to Wisconsin, Missouri and many other parts of the re-surging Midwest music scene.
Chance The Rapper pushes the boundaries of race, class, gender, religion and music. Hip Hop and humanitarianism can be one and the same. This is much bigger than Southside Chi.
From “All We Got” :
“I get my word from the sermon
I do not talk to the serpent
That’s the holistic discernment
Daddy said I’m so determined”
Chicago Emcee, DJ and Engineer Sunny Woodz drops the Sunny Side Up joint with a stacked tracklist, showing what true Hip Hop collaboration really looks like (February 15, 2016). This is fire for your sessions. Bless. See the “Roots” visual too.
Defcee impresses on his second full-length solo project (December 14, 2015). At first listen, Damn Near Grown is one of the most complete albums I’ve heard this year. For more on the Chicago-based First Wave alumnus, read my last post on his “Pleasantville II” cut.
Xavier Holliday debuted his active-aggressive conscious album on February 24, 2015. Not for the lighthearted.
Chicago’s Pivot Gang leader SABA dropped a groovy instrumental tape a couple days back (September 25, 2015). Shit is slappin, kid. As an emcee, SABA is able to create these experimental sounds with ease, combining seemingly dis-coordinate rhythms together, whereas other producers tend to stay in one flow.
These sounds are dirty… but SABA’s been murking flows this past year. After that ComfortZone tape popped up, all I’ve wanted is more words from Pivot‘s de-facto leader.
Mick Jenkins is an innovator. He’s one of the leaders of the new conscious but won’t hesitate to shake things up. Wave[s] is the mantra for woke citizens, forward thinking but based on the past. Listen, learn and proceed with your life choices.
Also, take time to experience Mick’s “Get Up Get Down” video and previous tape, The Water[s].
