NoNameGypsy: "Samaritan" (Feat. Mick Jenkins)
NoNameGypsy has been one of my favorite, low-key artists in the city for some time now. From catching her spitting spoken word poetry on a snowy Tuesday to performing rap songs in the midst of cluttered lineup, NoName has always been able to fully and succinctly embody who she is, both as an artist and a person. She has followed her inspired guest verse on Chance The Rapper's track "Lost" off of Acid Rap with a sputtering flow of new music that has kept listeners largely at bay. Today, though, we got "Samaritan", featuring Mick Jenkins. The title is fitting, given the time of the year and onus on "Good Samaritans". Rhyming over 90s-influenced production from Keanen Terrell paces NoName's narrative about not living up to expectations and dealing with the mundane nature of day-to-day life while yearning for something more. Sounding similar to RapSody without as much inflection in her voice, I'm incessantly drawn to NoName's wordplay and its at its best on "Samaritan" when she flows, "You a female rapper, don't rap about that shit, you're supposed to be a bad bitch, or at least a little confident". Check out "Samaritan" below and stay up on RH for more from NoNameGypsy soon.
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[RH Photos] Vic Mensa: "Live on the Innanet" in Chicago (12/7/14)
Photography by Nolis
This past Saturday, Vic Mensa took over Reggie;s Rock House for his first solo headlining show since breaking up with Kids These Days earlier this year and dropping his solo project, Innanetape, in late September. The buzz Mensa has garnered since releasing the project was palpable, with tickets selling out a week in advance for the tightly-packed affair. Fellow Chicago acts Jean Deaux and The Hood Internet opened things up, appropriately getting the crowd going with a mix of genres that mirrored the kind of frenetically changing and eclectic backdrops Mensa utilizes throughout Innanetape.
Performing with a full band, Mensa seemed right in his element on Reggie's stage. Seeing him onstage with a piano to his right and a drummer to his right, it was hard not to think back to the days of KTD, still fresh in many fans minds as listeners shouted "Vic These Days" over the crowd. Aided by inspired back up vocals from Chicago soulstresses Lili K and Eryn Allen Kane, Mensa overcame some early technical difficulties, commanding the stage professionally, working all sides and hitting almost every note of his fiery delivery, a nod to the endless rehearsal hours and past performances the artist has under his belt.
On "Time Is Money" Mensa flexed, bringing out Maybach Music Group signee Rockie Fresh to do his verse, accented well by an extended bridge played by producer Cam Osteen on the keys and Omar Jahwar on drums. it was fitting call to an artist that helped pave the way for Vic and the rest of Chicago hip-hop, as well as a solid anchor for his other special guest, Save Money artist Joey Purp who spit a chillingly inspired verse from "Fear & Doubt" that invigorated the crowd instantly.
Taking things down for "That Nigga," Vic was most self-assuredly himself, fully throwing himself into every word and rhyme as he recited the words to the song that essentially documented the past few years for an artist that has overcome plenty to arrive at his first solo headlining show in Chicago. Exiting stage left after the track, Mensa came back for an encore of crowd favorite "Orange Soda" and KTD throwback "Don't Harsh My Mellow" that left the young crowd in a frenzy.
While Mensa's show certainly is still rough around the edges, it is head and shoulders above what is seen from most acts, hip-hop or otherwise, with an energy that seems to never end. Most issues were due to sound problems at the venue, and Mensa paid little attention, rhyming through it all while proving to his hometown why seemingly everyone in the country has had him on their lips lately. Along with fellow Save Money artist Chance The Rapper, Mensa is quickly cementing his place at the top of Chicago hip-hop, and Saturday was yet another example of that.
[Video] St. Millie: "Get Em High" (Feat. Lili K.)
Few artists out of the Midwest have been as hungry or as active as Treated Crew artist St. Millie. Walk around the city and you're bound to see the young MC. Whether it be hanging out at Jugrnaut, at a show around town or the larger-than-life face postings that popped up around town depicting him with a crooked crown one thing is clear; St. Millie is working his ass off. With plenty of buzz surrounding his next move, he dropped "Get Em High" produced by The Gift and featuring Milwaukee-bred and current Chicago native Lili K, who amplifies the track the way she has made a habit of lately. The video was shot by VisualMecca, who themselves have been building a reputation as each video shows growth for the video production team on the rise.
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[Video] Twista: "Intro Freestyle"
Twista, long one of the pillars of the Chicago hip-hop scene since entering the game in the late '90s with Do Or Die, Kanye and the old guard of the Windy City. Seemingly re-invigorated by the new crop of artists blossoming in his hometown, Twista has headed back to the studio to work on his forthcoming EP, Back to Basics. It's a fitting title for the 100 word-per-second MC, formerly known as Tung Twista in his early days, who had been largely quiet before jumping on Chance The Rapper's "Cocoa Butter Kisses" track with Vic Mensa and doing a feature with another fellow Chicagoan when he added a verse to R. Kelly's "Throwin' My Money" before hopping on Lady Gaga's "Jewels and Drugs". He literally goes back to his early days, linking back up with Adrenaline Rush producer, Legendary Traxster for this latest release.
After celebrating his birthday this weekend taking in Chance's show at The Riviera on Chicago's north side last Wednesday, the self-described fastest rapper in the world released the Traxster-produced intro off Back to the Basics, a prelude to his major-label release, Dark Horse, his first such album since 2010s The Perfect Storm. Catch the "Intro Freestyle" to Back to the Basics below and keep a look out for Dark Horse, out
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[Video] Calez: "The American Dream Concept Ep. 2"
Calez has been one of my favorite artists to make a big jump through this year. Following 2012s critically-acclaimed Kid With Raps, The 2008ighties member and Chicago native dropped Too Broke Tape, one of the most fully crafted releases to come out of the Second City this year. After parlaying that into a frenetic SXSW that saw Calez hustle shows, clearly on his hustle. His performance at RapGenius had bloggers slamming their keyboards to explain this smooth, lyrical kid from the middle of the map.
Since then, he linked up with DJ Oreo for the G-Unit Bundle Pack, a five song EP released in May. With all that behind him, one wouldn't blame Calez for taking a little break heading into the new year. Instead, Calez has stayed heavy on the grind, opening for Macklemore on his "Heist" tour and producing his own web series, of which we have episode two today. Watch as Calez and Oreo crisscross the country, catch some fish and rock some shows in the video below and keep an eye out for Ceito, coming soon.
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Lady Gaga Loves Chicago Hip Hop
Lady has certainly thrust herself back into the public spectrum lately in the wake of her latest album drop, Art Pop, released November 6. Between dry-humping R. Kelly live onstage on Saturday Night Live and announcing plans to perform from space in 2015, Gaga also found time to show up to last nights AMA Awards red carpet on horseback in a crystal bodysuit.
After gracefully leaving the horse with the valet, Gaga strutted the red carpet where she was asked what she has been listening to. The answer was a bit different than what many would probably have guessed. The Art Pop crooner pointed out the Chicago hip-hop scene as one she has taken note of and specifically singled out GBE superstar Chief Keef as someone she regularly listened to, saying she "has been listening to a lot of Chief Keef." Keef, who was absent from the award show while serving time in a rehab facility, was watching the show and tweeted after hearing Gaga's endrosement. "I love Lady Gaga For Sayin She Listens to a lot of me and What's so crazy I was jus Watchin Dis redcarpet shit Like damn dis Girl fine ??"
With both artists signed to Interscope, a collaboration may just be in the near future. As two of the more polarizing figures in their respective genres, a Chief Keef/Lady Gaga joint would be interesting to say the least. If anything, the endorsement is just yet another reflection of the resurgence that Chicago has seen musically over the past couple of years.
[Video] Que Billah: "KKK"
Earlier this week, Chicago hip-hop artist Que Billah releases the video for his song "KKK (Kids Killing Kids)". His hometown is under a rain of bullets and, with "KKK", Billah is looking to do his part to dispel the violence that has plagued the Windy City streets for too long. Much of the music that has dealt with death and dying in Chicago has been doubly tied to the rise of the "drill" movement on the city's south and west sides that gave birth to artists like Chief Keef, Lil Reese and King Louie. The general theme of the music was stereotypical rap aesthetics with an onus on the guns. We all remember Keef's infamous video for "I Don't Like"-filled with shirtless sixteen year olds waving automatic weapons in the camera. In contrast, Que Billah's effort here is genuine and well thought out. While the scenes shot in front of the cross bring to mind Ma$e and Puffy, the rest of the video examines how the plight of children living in disenfranchised environments, what causes it, and how it is eventually packaged and sold to well-off kids in the suburbs who grow up idolizing the street fables they heard from a screen in the safety of their bedroom. The violence certainly needs to stop, maybe Billah's part will help. Check out the video for yourself here below.
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[Mixtape] Add-2 & Khrysis: "Between Heaven & Hell"
If you've been following the site lately, you may have noticed my excitement at Add-2 being signed by 9th Wonder's JAMLA label. To me, it is a perfect ious MCs with one of the most legendary producers in hip-hop music today. Through JAMLA, 9th has established a group of artists and producers that work under his tutelage. Of those pupils is Khrysis, who Add linked up with for this celebratory mixtape project, Between Heaven and Hell. What ensues is a soulful prelude to what will certainly come from the collaboration of JAMLA's newest signee. Check out the full team tonight at The Shrine, where Add-2, Khrysis, RapSody and 9th Wonder will all be in attendance to celebrate their new member. Info here.
fit of sorts that brings together one of the Midwest's most capable and lyrically consc