[Album] Vic Mensa: "Innanetape"
Download INNANETAPE here --> Vic Mensa: "INNANETAPE"
Talk about a long wait. Today, Chicago's own Vic Mensa released the long overdue follow up to his 2009 solo debut mixtape, Straight Up EP, with the most highly-anticipated release since Chance The Rapper's Acid Rap in April. To step back into the solo spotlight, the Save Money member and former Kids These Days frontman gives us Innanetape, a truly different, at times experimental hip hop release from one of the most fully-formed artists in Chicago. Four years ago, Straight Up Ep served as the spark that lit the wick, leading to the eventual explosion of talent we've seen coming from the Second City over the past few years. At a raucous listening party sponsored by IllRoots and Adidas this past weekend at Lacuna Artist Lofts on the city's southwest side, Mensa performed much of the tape to eager fans, seeming to relish in the moment of limbo before the tape became publicly available. Executive produced by Peter CottonTale and Cam Osteen, it is a multi-genre project with features from Chance The Rapper, BJ The Chicago Kid, Rockie Fresh, Joey Purp and Tundercat that should appeal to a wide range of listeners. If tracks like "Diditb4", "Orange Soda" and "Lovely Day" are any inkling to what is in store, those fans shouldn't be disappointed. Mensa is widely credited with helping open the door for Chicago artists, and it's one he now walks through himself-with the potential to be one of the biggest stars to emerge from his hometown. With a city that has a history including Twista, Common and Kanye, that's saying something. Give Innanetape a listen below and keep it posted to RH all week for my continuing coverage on the release.
http://youtu.be/BewDnzmyZ5E
[Video] Hot Sugar: "Erica" (Feat. The GTW)
The GTW is one of the most interesting artists to come out of Chicago in the past few years. Between his solo work and his work with the JODY project, The GTW produces plenty of content and the other day came out with this track, "Erica" with Hot Sugar. The song was inspired by Erica Meyna of Love and Hip Hop New York and will be featured on Hot Sugar's upcoming release, Made Man EP, dropping October 1. Check out the video below.
http://youtu.be/pz-evc6QZY4
Evan Holt: "In The City" (Prod. By Thelonious Martin)
The latest from Thelonious Martin and Evan Holt, "In The City" complete with a Marvin Gaye sample, is the latest from the dup as the continue to work on their collaborative project, The Tempations due out later this year. Check out the track below and keep an eye out for the full release.
[Video] KSRA Live at The Beat Kitchen
Chicago's own KSRA, who debuted her album Petra last month on RubyHornet, released this exclusive video from her RH-sponsored North Coast after party with whysowhite at The Beat Kitchen on August 30. The girl can flat out perform and does her thing on the loop pedals with her song "Bad Habit" and "Red Letter" in this Skyline Productions video. Watch below and catch KSRA tomorrow with Snowmine and Taught Abroad for a set at The Hideout in Chicago.
http://youtu.be/5oS1_clOq18
http://youtu.be/3Gm6kMpgDC4
[Video] theWHOevers Live at Schuba's
theWHOevers graced the Schuba's stage August 24 as part of Closed Session's show with Evidence and George Sol of Sol Films was on hand to catch all the action. The place was rocking and theWHOevers held it down. Watch the video below and keep an eye out for their second album, Ridin' Waves, due out in October.
http://youtu.be/gwwINbujTLU
[Video] Wteve Baker: "Tree Haus"
This is certainly one of the more interesting stories to come across the lines recently. The video for Wteve Baker's "Tree Haus," shot by Chicago's own Elevator allegedly was filmed on location at Wteve's grandfather's trailer in Kankakee, Il. A little strange, but not the weirdest thing we've ever heard. What made this setting choice a bit more interesting was the fact that his grandfather was mysteriously murdered there only weeks earlier. The trailer also allegedly had not been opened until Wteve and the Elevator crew showed up to film. The video has a chilly feeling and the verse is uniquely off-key and slanted which all comes together for a completely different aesthetic.
http://youtu.be/VsOrwkLfUZ8
[Video] Netherfriends: "Sex Beat" (feat. Chandler London)
Chicago transplant and current in-house producer at Kimball House Netherfriends has been making a name for himself all summer around the Windy City with experimental production and raucous live performances with the likes of Chandler London, Impolite Society and more. Today, Netherfriends teams up with London again to take a spin behind the mic on "Sex Beat" off his Kanye West sample album, Netherfriends Goes West, due out soon. Check out the video below.
http://youtu.be/wvmeU6iO5pI
[RH Feature] Lili K: Hard out here for a soul singer
Photography By: Jeremy Frank
Lili K is very much a different breed in today's music scene. Without frills, clever marketing schemes or extravagant funding, the Milwaukee native and current Chicagoan has made a name for herself on talent and hustle, in a genre that is lacking listeners or widespread publicity.
It is hard to pin down Lili at first glance. The tattooed, blond haired white girl, occasionally sporting a hoop between her nostrils, sometimes looks better suited for a hardcore rock show than a jazz club, albeit with a sort of elegant swagger that can be hard to pinpoint.
Success can be relative for a neo-soul singer in the modern age, and a tough exterior can go a long way. Having just played an opening set with one of her heroes, Musiq Soulchild, weeks ago at The Shrine on Chicago's near south side, the recent Columbia College graduate exited stage left, got a hug from the man of the hour, teared up a little bit at meeting one of her heroes; and retreated back to her far North side loft to prepare for the next thing on the agenda. Because, if all you have is your fans and your health, the hustle is a little more real.
Soul music doesn't always pay the bills. But the difference between Lili and many of her contemporaries is her unwillingness to bargain with her passion, a sort of tunnel vision that has helped carve her standing amongst fellow singers across the country.
"I feel like my aesthetic and music and personality combine into this quirky, not-what-people-expect type of artist, and I love that. I sing soul and jazz music, I love hip hop so that's always in there somehow, I like to wear weird clothes, and I love to be goofy," said Lili. "I don't have a gimmick, I don't use the whole 'sex sells' mantra, I just make the music I love and stay true to myself. It's not mainstream, but it's real."