And then the rain falls…So it’s been an excruciatingly hot week across the nation and especially in the Chi. It may have been because of some power outages or just the mere draining affect the heat has on us, but it was a somewhat quiet week here in the Chi. This edition of Local Sounds includes a healthy dosage of news, tidbits, and music from a wide array of local artists including, Kanye West Common, GLC, Rockie Fresh, Kids These Days, Freddie Gibbs, Scheme, Flosstradamus, Tennile, L.E.P Bogus Boys + More.
In Case You Missed It – Local Sounds: 7/15/11
Due to his immense star power, it may not seem like Kanye West belongs in RH’s Local Sounds. Despite living in Paris + Soho half the year Kanye Omari West is still Chicago’s son. As we await Watch The Throne, We’ve been hit with an amazing single “Otis”, a surprising breakdown of the samples for the LP and most recently a 10 minute mini-documentary on the project. In other Local celebrity news, Common’s The Dreamer, The Believer LP was announced to be released November 22nd, 2011.
*Update* The Watch The Throne documentary was LEAKED and is not the finished version. The final documentary is directed by Mike Waxx Mike Carson & Virgil Abloh. More info coming soon.
While Kanye & Common (don’t forget No I.D.) are holding us down internationally, young homies Kids These Days, Rockie Fresh and other Chi-town noisemakers are keeping the scene thriving at home. KTD recently announced they’ll be playing at The Hideout Block Party in September, and also were featured on WGN TV this week, playing a short studio performance, perfecting their live show as they await their 4:15 Friday set at Lollapolooza.
In another interview with Complex Freddie Gibbs sounded off about his hometown of Gary, IN. When commenting on The Jackson Family’s contribution to Gary he stated, “Gary really didn’t benefit from Michael Jackson being from Gary. Not saying that the Jacksons owe us a damn thing; they don’t owe us a dime. But I think that them being there and their struggle should have been, you know, something that they could of looked at more, because obviously they documented it in their story.” He continued by elaborating on what was and what has become of the Jackson household in Gary when the interviewer asked if it’s currently preserved. “Now they do. Since Michael Jackson died. Before he died that shit was just a regular-ass crack house. There was a nigga living in there. I don’t know who he was, but he was definitely smoking crack. But since Mike died, they got it all gated off, like it’s a landmark.”
GLC and Ends/Wealth Corp have linked for a mini campaign leading to an In-store Thursday July 28th, at Leaders celebrating the release of their #ism inspired, Cathedral T-shirt. Definitely got to grab one of those.
Molemen representer Scheme is currently working on a new EP titled “Almighty Supreme” something that he holds in an extremely high regard stating, “This is what I chose to do with my life. So my music determines my future and where it goes. I could choose to sit here in Chicago, or get to work and see the world. I want to see the world. Simple as that.”
Rockie Fresh dropped “We Good” off of The Otherside Redux which drops this week on July 27th. After a solid first week for When Fish Ride Bicycles (moving 6500 digitally) an unreleased Cool Kids gem surfaced thanks to the hard-drive digging skills of the homies Flosstradamus. They originally recorded and produced the about 4-year-old track “Flossin” that was put out with Chuck’s remade beat instead.
Tennille also dropped us a gem this week with “Special Erbs” Produced by California’s own Polyester. A track that requires driving slow, windows down, and a swisher lit.
Local producer Grant Parks dropped the joint “Undefeated” featuring General Steele of Smif-N-Wessun as well as VvS Verbals, and Jewels off his upcoming LP Parkstrumentals due this Tuesday. The album is looking to be a very solid release featuring, adat X, Grand Daddy I.U., Krs One, AG of DITC, Masta Ace, K. Sparks, Lennon of Project Mayhem, + Many more.
Recent MTV Sucker Free alum Add-2 dropped a new single called “Iron Mic” showcasing his untouchable lyrical skills. Off of his forthcoming project Save.Our.Souls – Add will out rap just about any MC you put in front of him. “Blacker than Howard homecoming in a power outage.”
The L.E.P Bogus Boys linked with their NYC equivalent Mobb Deep and cranked out this street corner classic “Gangtaz Only”. No more to be said here, we”ll leave it there as the weekend commences. Have a safe one Chicago, we know it’s hot but that doesn’t mean 25+ people need to get clapped.
