Is it really November now? Earlier this week we celebrated Halloween but you might as well have brought out some cookies, milk, menorah’s, rain deer and gold chocolate because it was definitely the first dose of holiday season. Freddie Gibbs & LEP Bogus Boys both dropped on Monday, flooding the internet with this Midwest Gangsta Rap that is virtually unfuckwitable as we near 2012. Between those two monster releases, here at Ruby Hornet we spoke in-depth with Rockie Fresh about his upcoming Driving88 Project, as well as speaking with BBU learning about the movement they hope to garner with their music and their thoughts on #OccupyChicago. For the past couple years, we as a city have been slowly but surely been asserting our self as a major hub for popular independent music and we have yet to let up. This week we have new music and announcements from artists like Freddie Gibbs, Scheme, Sir Michael Rocks, Kidz In The Hall, LEP Bogus Boys, Blended Babies, Mic Terror, Million $ Mano, Rockie Fresh, Their Ocean, PYYRAMIDS, Que B.I.L.L.A.H, Common, Von Avery + More.
Earlier in the week we hit the studio with Rockie Fresh to discuss his new project Driving88, he stated“I really wanted to make it a fun project for listeners. Of course, lyrically focused, but it’s got some real crazy production on it and I kind of stuck to the theme of the movie in the sense that they went to the future sometimes in the series, and other points they went back in time.” Read more to hear Rockie speak on his growth as an MC, living in LA + more. Don’t miss out at Rockie’s listening party tonight for Driving88 at 7pm @ Leaders.
RTC interviewed BBU recently where they spoke on the vision as a crew for their sound, saying “our music traditionally was music that always envisioned this kind of movement like Public Enemy and Rage. Disobedient, in your face, but still deliberate and thoughtful.” Read more to hear the crew speak on #OccupyChicago, whats next for them + more.
Kidz In The Hall released the tracklist + artwork for their November 22nd release of The Occasion. The project features local mc’s, Sulaiman, Freddie Gibbs, Vic Spencer, Mikkey Halsted + more. Look out for an illy video coming from Elephilms before the drop.
As we all know the WTT tour kicked off last week in Greensboro, NC and our homie Million $ Mano is definitely doing his thing on the 1 & 2’s during the tour, turning arena’s virtually into Superfun Party on steroids. I know the prices are high, but ask yourself when you will ever see something like this again in your life.
Common has definitely hit his stride at this point in time. From dropping a new LP produced entirely by No I.D. too acting in movies and a new AMC Series, and releasing an auto-biography, it is definitely Common’s season. Watch here as he hits 106 & Park to promote his newest endeavors.
Mic Terror has a new album in the works, looking to be a themed project but certainly not a mixtape. Be on the lookout for much more on that, and tune into “Chief Samspon”, to get a hint of what to expect.
The Blended Babies are definitely some of Chicago’s most mysterious production teams, having birthed bangers for Kid Cudi, Gibbs, Rockie Fresh, GLC, Chip Tha Ripper and many more, the duo will release their debut instrumental LP Shooter McGavin November 8th. Get ready to light a few and let the trunk slap.
As we all know, Cold Day In Hell dropped Monday with a bang, crashing Soundcloud and LRG’s servers. Figures. If you just awoke from a coma then download CDH now. #Str8Slammin – Don’t Miss the visuals for “Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away” off he & Statik Selektah’s collab EP.
LEP Bogus Boys didn’t let anything stop their shine as Now Or Neva was right on par Gibbs, proving to the nation the significance of this Gangsta music the Midwest is pioneering back to the forefront of rap. Grab that now and be on the the hard copies of Now or Neva coming soon, featuring a special bonus track, you’ll love to see on the tape. + Watch the video of “25th Hour”
Monday was a busy day, as we premiered Scheme’s new single “Hello” (What Up?) Feat. Astonish in our First Look column, that saw a significant response as Scheme readies his December 6th project Life That I Chose produced entirely by Slot-A.
Local indie outfit Their Ocean dropped the single for their upcoming 11.11.11 release of Sunstroke EP. Seeing a strong response from their debut EP Still Waters, the crew hibernated in the studio lately to create their follow-up a more mature, comprehensive sound. Listen to the single “Haunted House” Here.
Common dropped another gem from The Dreamer, The Believer – “Sweet”. Here Com addresses any kind of hater, showcasing why he cannot be F’d with moving into his 11th LP. Can’t wait, till December…
Sir Michael Rocks is still on fire after dropping Premier Politics & signing to Jets International, as this week he brought us his first Jets feature “1st Class” off their upcoming LP Jet Life due November 28th as well as visuals for “Wassup” off the tape. Toothpickclique is moving fools!
The local talent The GTW hit me earlier this week with some newness from the Saturday Youth crew member Von Avery. Got a chance to check some of this tape out, and it is definitely worth your ear. Listen up, and listen on for more from Von and this crew. Listen + Download to Von’s Production of Determination project Here. S/O Sunny Norway.
Local talent Drea Smith (formally of Hey Say, She Say W/ Mano) and OK Go’s Tim Norwind have linked to create to eclectic pop-rock outfit PYYRAMIDS. The duo released their debut EP Human Beings on Monday and you can stream that here, as well as watch the visuals for their single “That Ain’t Right” Here.
Que B.I.L.L.A.H dropped some new bars over Snoops classic “G’z & Huslta’z – Listen here. Go Green or Go home.
Top 5
This week’s Top 5 is simply coming straight from what I spent the most time doing this week. Listening to Cold Day in Hell. Following are my Top 5 (In Order) off the epic LP Mixtape in which Freddie Gibbs displays why he is the best rapper in the game.
Freddie Gibbs: “Cold Day In Hell”
1.) Heaven Can Wait – This seems like one of Gibbs’ most honest tracks, digging into the violent life he has lived,the goals he has now as a successful rapper, all while divulging the fact he is here to live life to the fullest. Beatnick & K-Salaam also snapped with perhaps the best beat on the tape.
2.) Menace II Society – Your telling me Dom and Gibbs linked over a Cardo beat with Polyester on the hook… Gibbs continually proves he can rhyme over any and every beat, and proceeds to bring in Dom on the second verse. Enough said. For players only…
3.) 187 Proof – This joint has the most classic Gibbs quotables, setting the tone for the rest of the tape after he just “Robbed a Nigga”. “Flow Stupid like I rode the bus to school with Wacka Flocka.” “Some of my niggas rap, but most of of em beat a murder wrap”.
4.) B.A.Nned – Gibbs attacks another Cardo beat, making one specially dedicated to the ones that motivate him the most. This sh*t is just hard. When the hook drops, so does your heart.
5.) Str8 Slammin – If there is one person smoking more swishers that Gibbs it is Juicy J. Fred enlists trap musics godfather for this sonically gory track, and the two tackle this one is classic fashion. In the words of J “If a nigga violate me out here, my young niggga’s gonna erase it.”
Definitely one of the strongest weeks we’ve seen this year in Chicago. Shouts to Gibbs, LEP, and everyone else who decided to make one of the industries most talked about week, Chicago’s/Midwest’s week. Don’t know how we’ll out due this weeks drops, but we’ll def try. If you’d like to contribute to Local Sounds, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook or send and email to SeanCK@Rubyhornet.com.
