Taylor Bennett: "Ballin"
Yesterday, Chicago's latest up and comer, Taylor Bennett, celebrated his 18th birthday with the Hypetrak premier of his latest track, "Ballin," due out on his anticipated 2014 project, Mainstream Music. The follow-up to last month's debut single "Heartbreaker," Bennett is proving that there is more to him than his older brother (Chance The Rapper).
He's a mile-a-minute on the haunting Saint The Good Boy beat, tossing together rhymes in rapid-fire succession while allowing listeners to digest his thought-provoking and insightful bars he's throwing at them. It's equal parts Twista and Lupe as he churns his way through the track. Check out the latest from Taylor Bennett from yourself, streaming below.
[RH First Glance] Taylor Bennett
Alright, let's get it out of the way. Yes, Taylor Bennett's brother is Chance. Yes, that Chance; the rapper. With that out of the way we can get on to more important aspects of Taylor Bennett's life, such as his sold out debut headlining show last Friday at Reggie's Rock House on Chicago's south loop that had fans lined outside in the freezing rain.The 17-year-old high school senior took the stage to his frenetic "Speed Racer" after a solid lineup showcasing the next wave of Chicago hip-hop to flow from the city. As a packed crowd at Reggie's rapped and sang along to songs like "Heartbreaker" and "Dear Daddy" before turning up to "Rolling With The Gods", it became readily evident that Taylor Bennett is not happy being known only as Chance's brother. Friday night, he looked like he was ready to make his own moves going into the new year.
This year, artists in Chicago had reason to be pressed and hopeful at the same time as they collectively watched Chance rise from the guy down the block to one of the biggest stars in the country. Perhaps no one had a closer front row seat to the experience than the younger Bennett. While there's always competition with an older sibling, Taylor has set out to carve out his own lane in hip-hop with a unique blend of pure rhyming talent, personable nature and thoughtful prose. To be sure, things are very different for Taylor than his brother. Through his success, more eyes are on the younger Bennett, who received a write up in XXL recently and has become a regular on blogs across the country. While Chano was able to come up under the radar, Taylor has been squarely on the map of a lot of rap fans for a minute now. With all the attention, nerves and pressure would be easily understandable, especially for a 17-year-old, but Taylor's not sweating. I had a chance to catch him on the phone after his show, as he was working on his next project, Mainstream Music, to chop it up real quick about living in and out of other people's shadows, growing up in Chicago, his mixtape-The Taylor Bennett Show and more. Check out our Q+A below.
[Video] Taylor Bennett: "Heartbreaker"
Chicago's own Taylor Bennett has been gaining steam since dropping his mixtape, The Taylor Bennett Show this summer, and tonight dropped the video for his single, "Heartbreaker" off his upcoming 2014 project, Mainstream Music. The video, shot by 16-year-old Thelonious Stokes and premiered by IllRoots, is interesting, with Taylor musing over the intricacies of relationship issues, playing between a melodic hook and mixed bag of rhyme schemes throughout the track. The video is a small preview of what fans can expect from the 17-year-old's upcoming, sold out show at Reggie's Rock House in Chicago on December 20. Check out the video below, and keep it locked to RH for more on Taylor Bennett.
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Taylor Bennett: "Heartbreaker"
With everyone talking about Chance The Rapper at the end of the monster year he had, you'd be easily forgiven for not knowing that Chano isn't the only Bennett with some bars. Younger brother Taylor Bennett has been making a name for himself around Chicago in a hurry, performing in a flurry of shows since releasing The Taylor Bennett Show earlier this year. An XXL writeup already under his belt at the tender age of 17, Bennett saw what his big brother did this year, and is hot on his heels.
Aside from a name, the two Bennett's have similar, but uniquely different rhyme schemes and strengths, but the occasional crooning hooks or embellished words are a certain calling card for the family. Tonight, Taylor dropped "Heartbreaker" via Fake Shore Drive, the first single off his upcoming project, Mainstream Music, due out in the Spring of 2014. Produced by Saint The Good Boy, the track has plenty to get excited about. Be sure to catch Taylor live for his debut headlining show at Reggie's Rock House on Chicago's South Loop on December 20, track below.
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ProbCause, Caleb James & More Perform Live at Lincoln Hall (11/14/13)
If you're in Chicago, there's really only one way to be spending your Thursday night-taking in some of the top hip hop acts the city has to offer. Tonight, On The Grind Management presents a top to bottom tight lineup with ProbCause, Save Money's Caleb James, Taylor Bennett, The Palmer Squares, Kidd The Chicagoan and DGainz. Check out the promo video for the show below, grab tickets here and read below for a quick synopsis on who will be in the house tonight at Lincoln Hall.
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ProbCause has had a hell of a year since dropping his critically-acclaimed project The Recipe Vol. 2 earlier this year. Since then he has headed out on several tours with dance duo Cherub, headlined shows in and out of Chicago and performed at North Coast Music Festival. Life has been good for Prob as of late and the live show he has crafted with his drummer through endless shows was pulling fans from Mac Miller's set at NCMF and is not to be missed.
Caleb James has been making major moves since he dropped his latest project, The Jones earlier this year. The Save Money member is a throwback to late 90s playful, upbeat hip-hop a la Ma$e and early Bad Boy, but with his own flair for lyricism and crafty beats. With Caleb, it's always a party.
Taylor Bennet, widely known around town as "Chance's little brother" has been making a statement as of late that he is more than the sibling of one of the hottest artists on the planet right now-recently dropping The Taylor Bennett Show and scheduling his first headlining show at Reggie's in December. The show tonight should be a tune-up but Taylor always has plenty of energy to keep things going strong throughout his set.
The Palmer Squares have been steadily gaining ground in the Chicago hip-hop market through carefully chosen features and a project, Finna, released last month. The crew is endlessly multi-dimensional and should be making some big moves as they continue to move up the ladder of acts in the city.
Kidd The Chicagoan is, as you may have guessed, also from Chicago. The young artist has popped up here and there, earlier this year with his mixtape, #KiddChiMania, earlier this year and has followed that up with several inspired singles and features. Definitely someone worth keeping an eye on as he grows with his music.
[Video] Taylor Bennett: "A Non Mixed Exclusive"
Fresh off being featured in the latest issue of XXL, Taylor Bennett keeps the ball rolling with a dope new visual directed by his friend Thelonious Stoke. “A Non Mixed Exclusive” is a bombastic, purposely un-mixed track accompanied by a psychedelic video that puts Taylor in the spotlight with no adjustments or effects. The young emcee is having a show in Chicago this December, buy your tickets now!
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Carl: "Crystals" (Feat. Taylor Bennett)
Carl of Supreme Regime teamed up with Taylor Bennett for this loosie produced by Noah Sims. The track, produced at Classick Studios, features some singing from the pair that is not to be missed, check it out below.
[Mixtape] Taylor Bennett: "The Taylor Bennett Show"
After receiving positive feedback on his latest video release and a successful listening party Saturday at Jugnraut, Taylor Bennett decided to release a deluxe version of his breakthrough 'tape The Taylor Bennett Show. With three new songs, new cover-art and a few updated joints, this will be a totally unique experience and a departure from the first release. Stream below.