SoloSam Releases "ITIS"
With the first line of his latest EP ITIS, rapper/producer SoloSam ask "what is you plottin, what is you schemin?", a question that anyone who has been following his rise has wondered for the last few months. It turns out that what he was plotting was a 7 track EP that shows off his versatility as both a rapper and a producer. Each track attacks a different idea with a surgical precision, bouncing from his personal story to larger social commentary.
ITIS was written, produced and composed by SoloSam. With ITIS, Solo delivers a body of work that exudes confidence, self-awareness, and gratitude from the MC. The project is based on the concept of escaping excessive consumerism and the feeling that comes with it once you give in. For those who are unaware, "itis" is the lethargy that comes after overeating, yet ironically, there is a sense of urgency to ITIS.
SoloSam uses his powerful baritone to show the ills of a society based on overconsumption, and to motivate listeners to think about what they are taking in, and what they are accepting because of their apathy. The instrumentals vary in style, but have an underlying cohesiveness that brings the whole project together. ITIS was engineered by long-time collaborator, Rob Mefford b.k.a. BanksTheGenius and features singles ‘Fast’ and ‘The Come Up’. ITIS feels like an instant classic and like most classic projectsthe more you listen to it, the more you find.
Give it a listen below.
https://open.spotify.com/album/65xazlxGRXVrdwqyiSTDGl?si=XZkt9s5HRkqgKCZyocpJ8Q
A few months ago SoloSam released the video to the single "Fast"
https://youtu.be/6YifjGKauKM
SoloSam entered the Chicago local scene after deciding to leave college as a psychology and communications double major and Division I football player to pursue music full-time. SoloSam has captured the attention of the local scene and more through his captivating performances and invigorating records. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here.
Ajani Jones' New EP Is An Exhibition of Growth
Ajani Jones released his new EP today, Cocoons. As the title suggests, transformation and growth is a large theme for the new project.
It's fitting that the EP dropped on the same day that Ajani announced joining Closed Sessions. I'm really excited about this EP. It is layered, it is specific, and it's competitive. Beats, rhymes, and life from a 24 year-old from the southside of Chicago, finding himself and his music.
Listen below on all platforms.
SoloSam - Fast
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An infectious hook over a self produced beat is only the beginning of SoloSams musical showcase. Lyrical dexterity with a calm collected flow give "Fast" a feeling of effortless ease. Solo doesn't miss a step over the beat and is lyrically one of Chicagos heavy hitters, so you know he brought the bars. By handling the production he is showcasing a newfound dimension to his game; mixing it down and putting it all together is none other than BanksTheGenius.
SoloSam is rising quickly, performing around the country this charismatic MC is going to be around for a while. Be ready for his upcoming project "itis", I have a feeling it'll be a coming out party to a lot of onlookers.