KAMI- PAYLOAD
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KAMI rings in the new year with a jubilant new video for "PAYLOAD". With his excitable delivery and a synth heavy instrumental the track is a certified banger. Starting off with a grainy IPhone video the video morphs into a behind the scenes experience showcasing KAMI and the Savemoney crews carefree antics. The song is a celebration, toasting to coming from nothing, and making it in this cruel world.
A perfect mood for 2018. Listen above.
SHIRT drops "Flight Home" + Announces New LP with Third Man Records!
"I'm stronger than I thought I was... shit dawning on me."
Shouts to SHIRT, man. I've been saying for years how dope this dude is at rap music. You may recall I put the money where my mouth is in 2015 when Closed Sessions partnered with SHIRT to release the stellar EP, Rap Money. SHIRT also delivered stand out poetry on Rude One's ONEderful, via the song "1,000 Dutches".
Over the holiday break, Kris Ex relayed the news that Jack White's Third Man Records signed their first rapper. I, like, several other people guessed that the rapper was Black Milk - Black is a fellow Detroit native, and has worked with Third Man in the past. Kris coyly said that he knew for a fact that the mystery spitter was not Black Milk, and gave the hint - "it's how we met, dude."
Mind blown.
I met Kris through SHIRT while working on PR for Rap Money. Kris wrote a great piece on SHIRT in Feb 2015, I reached out to Kris about Rap Money... And now we're here.
Today, Third Man formally revealed SHIRT to be the first rapper to join their label, and partnered the announcement with SHIRT's new song/video, "Flight Home".
The song carries SHIRT's signature bravado. SHIRT has an unmistakeable voice and way of spacing his words that is truly unique and raw. Every bar has a tinge of something like "I don't give a fuck. I did contemplate it in earnest, but I don't give a fuck." Like he's thoughtful with the dismisses.
"Flight Home" is filled with raps about immaculately embroidered Gucci belts, museum visits in doo-rags, and the imagery of Sheek Louch copping Picasso's, while the video sees him ride around NYC atop a truck painted with his Nike Adidas design, "Nike cease & desist, but they still ain't stop me," he raps in the first verse. Apparently, this is something SHIRT has done many times before it was captured for this video.
That aside, it's not all boasting and bragging on "Flight Home", as SHIRT sends his praise and respect to Colin Kaepernick, points out the whiteness of domestic terrorism, and touches on the job market effects of uber and AirBnb expansions. He begins the third verse by illustrating the huge bummer that is daily news, well, on the daily.
In the chorus, SHIRT raps that he's traded his desire for copping shoes to airplane tickets, "used to want kicks, now it's flights home." For SHIRT, and billions around the world, Home is indeed a place that might not be perfect, but it's still home. For everybody.
Shouts to SHIRT for finding a new home at Third Man Records. His debut LP, Pure Beauty, is dropping digitally February 9th, with limited edition physical copies on February 23rd.
Saba and Zack Villere Team Up on "360"
Pivot Gang rapper, Saba, delivers punching lyrics over Zack Villere's bubbly beats in their latest single, "360".
"360" is the first collaboration between the Chicago rapper and Louisiana-native producer. In the song, Saba offers up a perspective on the doubts and concerns of signing off to a major record label while Zack Villere maintains a fun, flickering beat.
Just off a European tour and celebrating the one-year anniversary of Bucket List Project, Saba is currently gearing up for his inaugural John Walt Day concert. Set to be held on November 25th at the House of Blues, all proceeds will be going towards his John Walt Foundation created in honor of his late friend. Tickets are available here.
Kipp Stone Drops New Video and Debut LP Release Date
Kipp Stone recently posted on Instagram that his music is meant for listeners that enjoy digging into the lyrics, finding double-meanings, and rewind songs over and over again. It's a great admission, and comes with Kipp's understanding that it is not for everyone. If that does apply to you though, get excited because Kipp is dropping his debut LP, Dirty Face Angel on 12/8.
This long awaited LP has been in the works for two years and will feature artists such as Niia, Nuke Franklin and V’Ari. The project as a whole is produced by Blockhead Johnny and Mr. Anderson, Cleveland natives along with Kipp. The LP is expected to deliver a 360 degree perspective of his beloved neighborhood and community.
We can already see this viewpoint in his latest video for “Vacation”. The video opens up with a wide shot of a city block, showcasing the houses reminiscent to Cleveland. Kipp is perched on the back of a pickup truck as the drone camera pans between him, the road, and the passing environment around him. It ends with a sun soaked scene of Kipp and his friend fishing on a lake, all while his supposed girlfriend angrily waits for him to text her back.
Throughout the song, Kipp throws a lot of references to his neighborhood as well as his desire for a break from the daily turbulences of life. In "Vacation", Kipp raps, "I wish peace of mind was contagious". More details on Kipp's viewpoint from East Cleveland is expected to be laid out in his forthcoming album.
Get a sneak peek of the track list below, and pre-order the album on iTunes or Amazon.
Dirty Face Angel Track List:
- Dirty Face Angel ft. V'Ari
- Celebration
- We Back
- 7 Dayz
- Millions Billions Thousands
- Wishful Thinking
- Megatron ft. Nuke Franklin
- High Road ft. Niia
- Shoebox
- Always Love
- Vacation
- Small Things
Smino On Sway in the Morning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=221&v=1OZO81cu-xQ
While on break from tour with Sza, St. Louis native, Smino, is hopping on stage with T-Pain (of whom recently put his signature auto-tune lyrics over the hit, “Anita”). On track with his rising popularity, Smino recently managed to catch the attention of Sway in the Morning. On Sway, Smino speaks to his origins and hustle that finally got his talent and style the credit it deserves. Classick Studios engineer, Elton Chueng, speaks on Smino's "personality that was cutting through the music" in the way he flips words that made his music superstar quality. Smino also goes in depth of how he's learned to guide his style from his first headlining show where he broke his foot after the second show and had to focus on his vocal deliverance, to performing in front of impressive Sza crowds and needing to hype himself up, to now on T-Pain's acoustic tour where he balances between hype and minimalism. Smino frequently echoes his drive for creating his distinct and thoughtful sound throughout the interview.
With the rest of Sza's US Tour and an upcoming sold out headlining show alongside Ravyn Lenae, Monte Booker, Bari and Jay2 at Lincoln Hall for Red Bull’s inaugural 30 Days in Chicago, Smino is surely closing out 2017 only to set the bar higher in 2018.
Songs For Keith Olbermann - A Collaborative Playlist
Man... I know, I know, I'm late. All the Eminem BET Cypher discussion happened last week. We're passed that now. I'm not really here to add another think-piece about Marshall Mathers and his Anti-Trump performance, there are plenty already out there that make points way better than I could.
What I do want to write about is fucking Keith Olbermann and his smug comment that Eminem's freestyle removed 27 years (?!) worth of doubt that he had about rap music. He never fully explained what the doubt centered on, so I can only assume he doubted it as a genre capable of important social messaging? Maybe the doubt was about a rapper's ability to hold political thoughts? Keith, did you doubt an emcee's desire to pay attention to current events?
That comment and the way he made it - as if his tweet provided some sort of holy and sought after validation on rap music - really bothered me. Oh shit, Keith Olbermann is on board?! I think we got something with this hip hop shit after all. GTFOH Keith. Seriously.
I am a big fan of your videos on GQ and your persistent stance against Donald Trump. But you continue to deliver that message with a tone of arrogance and cockiness that is extremely off-putting. This tweet you made is a prime example of why people don't fuck with you...
But, yo, now that you have no more doubts about rap music, I have a secret for you - rappers aren't just rapping about Donald Trump! Shocking right.
What if I told you that Hip Hop music has centered on societal critiques since its inception - gasp - over 40 years ago! What if I also told you that there are songs about past presidents too. Hold up Keith, did you know your boy Eminem actually made an anti-George Bush song back in 2004 to inspire people to vote for John Kerry? Maybe if you were paying attention and shared that one, history would have played out a little different.
Anyway, Keith, here's a little playlist I made literally in 5 minutes without even really thinking. The playlist contains Hip Hop songs that address everything from politics to healthy eating, from police brutality, racial inequality, zealous patriotism, xenophobia and general complacency Check this out, and let me know what you think. Isn't crazy how deep this genre gets?
To our readers - please hit us up with more songs that should be added and lets make this a collaborative playlist.
Monte Booker - Drunk
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One of the best producers out now, Zero Fatigues own Monte Booker has blessed us with his latest production: "Drunk". Apparently the result of being drunk at the airport during his usual musical escapades, the track is a trippy & hypnotic journey. The percussion lags behind somewhat offkilter but this is what gives off the chill vibe that we are so used to from Monte beats. The track is a lesson to all the young producers about the effectiveness of some nifty filtering and sparse but meaningful instrumentation.
"Drunk" is a tranquil state, best for listening 10,000 miles in the sky. Stream above and get lifted.
Tatiana Hazel - Do It Big
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Tatiana Hazel is a singer/songwriter based in Chicago from the Logan Square area. Her song "Do It Big" details past love and how it once held Tatiana back. After losing sight of her goals she realizes that there is no one else but herself to try and satisfy. She has a sultry Pop/Indie Rock vibe reminiscent of a Lana Del Ray; blending angelic harmonies with melancholy lyrics to create a fallen from heaven aesthetic.
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Soundscape Studios by Jeff Arenson "Do It Big" is perfect for a glass of red wine and plotting out your schemes and future endeavors. So stream above and get familiar with one of Chicago's finest Indie talents.
I didnt know myself,
when you up and left me,
left me in your memory,
i'm supposed to love myself,
I was all alone then.