Rockie Fresh Celebrates Electric Highway 2/2 At Bottom Lounge, Special Announcement Tonight
Rockie Fresh will celebrate the release of Electric Highway tomorrow night in what should be a pretty high energy show at Bottom Lounge. It's another homecoming of sorts for Rockie, and will also feature Chance The Rapper. Both are nominated for a spot on the XXL Freshmen cover, and Chance just dropped a great video in "Juice". Rockie will be on 103.5 FM tonight at 8:30pm to announce a special guest host, tune in tonight and turn up tomorrow.
[Interview] ProbCause: Turning Points
"Some artists can just pick up the mic and make amazing, confident songs and blow up quickly! I needed more time to develop and improve, but I think that will just make me even better in the end. Everyone can't be like Derrick Rose and have an immediate impact on the game - Some of us have to be more scrappy like Joakim Noah and show steady improvement over the course of our careers."
[Listen Live] Closed Sessions Radio with DJ RTC & JR Bang
It's Friday, which means it's time for Closed Sessions Radio with DJ RTC and JR Bang. Today we'll be talking about the XXL Freshmen nominations, the week in Chicago Hip Hop, and more. We'll also be joined in studio by YP.
Chicago Tribune Profiles Closed Sessions
Today's Chicago Tribune has a nice feature on Closed Sessions, the indie record label I started with Michael Kolar of SoundScape Studios. Many of you guys have seen our documentaries and releases with artists like Curren$y, Raekwon, Action Bronson, Gzus Piece, and more. We are taking Closed Sessions to the next level, with the hopes of becoming a Rawkus, Stones Throw, Decon type of label for Chicago's hip hop community. We want to work with artists that want to be a part of this label and provide them with an alternative to moving out of Chicago or signing to a major label prematurely.
Our first artist is Alex Wiley, prepping a spring release of his debut ClubWiley. We also have an EP with Julian Malone set to drop next month, plus an album with Thelonious Martin, and more to be announced. We are on the cusp of something special. Thank you to everyone who has helped us get this far. Only the beginning.
Check out the piece in the Tribune right here.
Excerpt:
Q: What is your vision for the label, locally?
A: Chicago has always had a little pocket of hip-hop, but now there is a huge amount of creativity in it. We want to be part of showcasing it so that when people look back, they can know the real stories behind the label or a song or an artist.
I care about that, from a cultural standpoint first and foremost — not just about getting my name on these songs. We are genuine about wanting to capture the story in this historic period. A lot of the artists we've worked with are approaching a breakout, and so we can go back now and see where they were with this.
Tay Jasper: "Believe It" (prod by Misfitz Beatz)
"Bulls bitch, I'm trucking matadors."
Chicago's Tay Jasper sends over "Believe It" a heavily windy city skewered record full of boasts over production from Misfitz Beatz. This is off Tay's debut mixtape, Nights Like This, which will be released later today via Datpiff.
Nick Astro: "Give Me Your Love"
Nick Astro is readying the release of Super16, which is really shaping up to be a breakout project for the young emcee. After a series of solid releases, Nick gives us the final leak from Super16, with this short and sweet track, "Give Me Your Love". Nick doesn't go all Drake on us though, as Astro raps about taking money as a consolation prize, and making his own music after producers refused to give him beats. When Super16 drops, I don't think Astro will have that problem anymore. Peep the song below, and the video premiere today at 4pm.
[Video] Antwon: "Still Guarded"
I got hipped to Antwon during a recent trip to LA. He's got a kind of weirdo-indie vibe that I enjoy. He's very comfortable being that dude, and the music he makes is pretty dope, if you dig the more lo-fi, artsy type shit. I don't know... Check out the new video from Antwon, "Still Guarded", which is off his forthcoming Greedhead debut, Dark In Denim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QZqFwrNqKew
Action Bronson: "Strictly For My Jeeps" (prod. by Harry Fraud)
"I'm a hero in my hometown, baby."
Action Bronson gives us something to ride to with "Strictly For My Jeeps", production courtesy of Harry Fraud. I actually drive a Jeep, so, man, thanks for that... This is a funky joint.