Watch Chance The Rapper Drop Some Gems in New Interview with Peter Rosenberg
"If you care about humans, if you care about people, you just got to be on some real shit."
Last night, Chance The Rapper joined Peter Rosenberg for the season finale of Complex's Open Late. Speaking from CRC, wearing a Chicago Native hoodie, and fresh from a trip to the water park with is KOK campers, Chance spoke about a wide range of topics from new music to his social activism. Among the gems that Chance dropped, we have the knowledge that he's going to work on a 7-song album with Kanye West next month, his long-awaited collab with Childish Gambino will be a proper full-length LP, and he's most fascinated with how to release music in 2018.
Chance also spoke about police brutality, and the way in which institutionalized racism treats people unequally using an easy to understand analogy to the popular game Uno. "It's easy to say 'I love America,' if you think of it like Uno. I could say, 'I love Uno,' but it depends on how I'm playing. If it's easier for me, I don't have to play by all the rules, then of course, I love Uno. But then when you start getting smacked with, 'oh, you can only put down one card. You can't stack a draw four, or you can't skip me... When you actually have to play by all the rules and every tax and tariff applies to you, then... You don't have any choice to play the game, but you feel differently about it."
It's a nice interview from Chance. Watch the full clip below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbhlv9XbbIQ&index=1&list=PLNE967m3_UeTvZgxvxj7a2gMA_i4iVYUP
Martin $ky Drops 5 Song Project Lessism
Martin $ky has been a well known name in Chicago for some time now. He started getting major attention as a rapper after putting out several hits such as, "Pearl Gawd" and "Reach". More recently Martin has taken his passion in music to another level. Setting down the microphone and producing full time. His attention to detail on tracks like, "Checkpoint" speak for itself.
I have spent hours in his production studio watching him work. The dedication Martin has for his craft is the reason he is where he is. Regardless of rapping or producing, if you put yourself in a room five days a week for hours and create, it's going to sound dope. When artists ask me about what it takes to put out a good record, I often find myself telling them about Martin's work ethic.
Stream his project, Lessism below.
WebsterX Starts His Restless Summer With "Feels"
WebsterX just dropped the first song of his Restless Summer titled "Feels". This summer the Milwaukee MC will release a new single every other week along with a slew of performances.
"Feels" is a three part criticism of the state of the world, the first verse is a general approach starting with the line, "everything feels so basic, everything feels so racist, everything feels so vacant, everything feels so makeshift, everything feels complacent". He continues to talk about the surface level, coming after social media and article culture. On the second verse WebsterX wonders why people can't form their own opinions before an abrupt stop in the song leading to the bridge/third verse. On the third verse he offers a different perspective, a more positive or hopeful view that he juxtaposes to the first two verses, making the "all my dogs move in stealth" line in the chorus mean even more, the stealth comes from a different world view that they are able to keep, even in a tumultuous world.
Stream "Feels" below and stay on the look out for more releases through out the summer.
https://soundcloud.com/websterx/feels
Tyler, The Creator Remixes The Prophet
Tyler, The Creator has been releasing a ton of loose singles recently. Today he added a remix to Prophet's "I Wanna Be Your Man" called "Peach Fuzz". Tyler kicks things off by singing the hook before getting into a verse where he shouts out Prophet and Stones Throw. "Peach Fuzz" is a quick one off song like the other singles he's released this summer. The original song came out in 1984 but was re-issued by Stones Throw Records this year. Listen below.
https://youtu.be/dlG-1sQfEyE
SoloSam Releases "ITIS"
With the first line of his latest EP ITIS, rapper/producer SoloSam ask "what is you plottin, what is you schemin?", a question that anyone who has been following his rise has wondered for the last few months. It turns out that what he was plotting was a 7 track EP that shows off his versatility as both a rapper and a producer. Each track attacks a different idea with a surgical precision, bouncing from his personal story to larger social commentary.
ITIS was written, produced and composed by SoloSam. With ITIS, Solo delivers a body of work that exudes confidence, self-awareness, and gratitude from the MC. The project is based on the concept of escaping excessive consumerism and the feeling that comes with it once you give in. For those who are unaware, "itis" is the lethargy that comes after overeating, yet ironically, there is a sense of urgency to ITIS.
SoloSam uses his powerful baritone to show the ills of a society based on overconsumption, and to motivate listeners to think about what they are taking in, and what they are accepting because of their apathy. The instrumentals vary in style, but have an underlying cohesiveness that brings the whole project together. ITIS was engineered by long-time collaborator, Rob Mefford b.k.a. BanksTheGenius and features singles ‘Fast’ and ‘The Come Up’. ITIS feels like an instant classic and like most classic projectsthe more you listen to it, the more you find.
Give it a listen below.
https://open.spotify.com/album/65xazlxGRXVrdwqyiSTDGl?si=XZkt9s5HRkqgKCZyocpJ8Q
A few months ago SoloSam released the video to the single "Fast"
https://youtu.be/6YifjGKauKM
SoloSam entered the Chicago local scene after deciding to leave college as a psychology and communications double major and Division I football player to pursue music full-time. SoloSam has captured the attention of the local scene and more through his captivating performances and invigorating records. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here.
Valee & Jeremih Drop "Womp Womp" Music Video
Chicago artists Valee and Jeremih team up on their new visual "Womp Womp". A crime movie framed with remote control settings changing the language from english to "Womp Womp". The Hebru Brantley directed film makes this their second collaboration.
Valee has been on the steady clime over the past year. Signing to G.O.O.D. Music, Def Jam earlier in 2018. His innovative flow and ability to flip words separates Valee from other new rappers.
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Peter CottonTale Releases Star Studded Single
Peter Cottontale, known for his extensive work with Chance The Rapper, just put together the most impressive feature list on a track this year. His latest release, "Forever Always" combines his impecable production with the talents of Rex Orange County, Chance The Rapper, Daniel Caesar, Madison Ryann Ward and YEBBA. A sweet, sentimental track full of harmonies and fluid vocals, Chance holds down the middle of it, with a needed rap verse. Adding itself to the list of tracks that feature Chance and Daniel Caeser, "Forever Always" manages to have so many artists on it without anyone being overshadowed.
Check it out
https://open.spotify.com/track/4B2kIC5F0kSVfTD5crzgm9?si=JTYkzoBhQtabMwCFEucfxw
Freddie Gibbs Drops Self-Titled Project
Freddie, the self named project was announced by Freddie Gibbs on Twitter June 21st, with a teaser video in the style of an old infographic commercial. The project isn't an R&B record, but the pink vinyl and classic cover would make you think different.
[youtube id="-TAuNKLRhD0"]
"Death Row" featuring 03 Greedo is a throwback to the NWA era. "Cruisin' through the city in my oh-eighteen (skrrt), Sendin' the bitches, servin' the fiends (ooh)."
Nostalgic beats combined with street lyrics makes this a must listen project.