Saba returns with "Busy" Video

"Tell me, how are you said? You got all of these friends, you got all of these fans." 

Man, it feels good to write about Saba again. One of my favorite artists, and former students, Saba is back in 2018 with a new haircut, new music, and a new nationwide tour. While that's all cause of celebration, his first musical offering carries a melancholy vibe and speaks to being lonely in a room full of people. "Busy" is the name of the song and video that Saba teased on social media for about a week. He doesn't disappoint in its delivery, however, the young veteran seems to be a bit disappointed in the emptiness that can be a music career, as well as relationships and loved ones gone.

To fully understand "Busy" requires multiple listens. Get started right now with the video below.


Watch Bishop Nehru's New Video for "Rooftops" (prod by DOOM)

Bishop Nehru is aiming high, and for very good reason. The young emcee with a strong resume is gearing up to release Elevators, a conceptual project that carries production exclusively handled by DOOM and Kaytranada. On paper, this is going to be fantastic. But, music is made on paper and eventually, every tracklist has to show and prove.

Nehru took a big step forward in that regard with his new video for "Rooftops", which premiered yesterday via Complex. The visuals don't disappoint, and the song is horn driven and very jazzy as Bishop tells the story of his life as an artist, where he is, where he's been, and where he wants to be. That's at the heart of Elevators as well. Bishop told Complex that it is feeling-based, and his attempt at something like Pet Sounds, by the Beach Boys.

Peep the video below.

Elevators releases 3/16.


Watch Caleborate's Excellent New Video for "Bank Robber"

"To make it big in this world, you can't be in your sorrow, fuck what happened yesterday, you could blow up tomorrow."

Before coming back to rubyhornet, I was kind of in a music bubble - only really listening to and aware of new sounds coming out of Closed Sessions. In the time since coming back to RH, I've gotten out of my tunnel-vision, and discovered a slew of new music from artists new and old that is quite fucking good.

In the "quite fucking good" category is the Bay Area's Caleborate. He released a project called Real Person last October, and as soon as I'm done here, that's what I'm about to go listen to. Yesterday, he released a video for the album cut, "Bank Robber". The video and the record showcase multiple perspectives, and the speak on the way we may want to live vs the way we are living. There is a lot of cleverness in the lyrics, but it's all super simple and super honest. I hate to use the cliche, "it's a real record", but that's the best way to describe. A perfect one to check out if you've never heard of Caleborate, which was me before this video, and look where I am now.

Peep the video below, and if you wan to learn more check out this interview he did with Pigeons and Planes, where he also premiered this clip.

Extra side-note, he is going to be at SPACE in Evanston on 3/28. I will be there.


Musa Reems Presents A Deep Dive Into Motivation with "44 4's"

"Before I knew it, I was moving up, I would forego classes just to get a couple bucks."

Musa Reems is dedicated. That's apparent as soon as you meet the emcee and college student who is quickly earning his stripes in Chicago's Hip Hop scene. Musa is purposeful in much of what he does, and not afraid of hard work. I know, because since September, Musa has been working with AEMMP Hip Hop, the Columbia College run rap label that has a long history of working with Chicago's top talent (Thelonious Martin, Saba, theWHOevers, C-Sick...).

For those that don't know Musa, his latest joint "44 4's" is a crash course he what he does, and who he does it for. The production is handled by Curbside Jones, a familiar collaborator for Musa and they make a good pairing again on this new joint. Listen up.


Hear An Uncovered Malcolm London + Kweku Collins Track on the LTAB 2018 Mixtape

"Always bout my bills, no Bill Cosby."

The only things certain are death and taxes. Just below that are other things we can begin to count on every year, the LTAB mixtape has become one of those things. For the last few years, Young Chicago Authors, has put together a free mixtape to coincide with their annual youth poetry slam, Louder Than A Bomb. This year's mixtape includes an almost overwhelming 26 tracks from familiar as well as unfamiliar names ranging from Femdot and Matt Muse to Aeon Moore and Loona Dae. Also included is an uncovered collaboration from Malcolm London and Kweku Collins.

I do remember Malcolm and Kweku recording this in the Closed Sessions C-Room, I believe it was very close to the time Kweku started coming around. I don't really remember much outside of that, and honestly totally forgot about this song. This is actually the first time I've heard it, and I fucking dig it.

Outside of the song's quality, it's just dope to see this record come to life via the LTAB mixtape. Good mixtapes include rarities and b-sides, and YCA is keeping that spirit alive.  Peep the full mixtape below, you might just find a new favorite.


Kembe X Returns with Fierce "Goofass"

"It's plain to see there's a void under your fitted caps." 

Kembe X's talent has never been a question. Since his debut Self-Rule in 2012, Kembe X has turned in great on-record performances, as well as thought provoking lyrics and story-telling. I think what puzzles fans the most, is the lack of consistent new material. I was looking on social media after Kembe X dropped his latest record, "Goofass" and many of the tweeters remarked something to the extent of "Kembe's back" or "Kembe returns".... While some artists "return", others never leave by releasing new content with regularity (music, videos, other forms of content). I'm not saying one is better than the other, but I do think that Kembe is much better than his status would indicate. His skills are on full display here, both in the bars he delivers as well as the way in which he delivers them.

This is a strong fucking record right here. Enjoy it. I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next one.


Bars! Listen to Seven1's "The Only One"

"Told my momma, 'fuck school, I got a plan bigger'/ she said, 'you're ass grown, you make your own dinner.'

Come get these bars... Seven1 was someone who caught my attention my first time around on rubyhornet with his poignant and menacing take on the violence impacting Chicago. In my time away, Seven has continued making music and he's releasing a new album on March 9th, From EastSide With Love.  Today he sent over the album's intro, the fierce and haunting, "The Holy One". This is a great intro track, which is an art in itself. This pure rhymes, no hook, just bar after bar, painting a picture of who Seven is, where he comes from and what we may expect on the project.

C-Sick produced the beat, and C-Sick is always on point. He's one of my favorite producers and just a good dude. Listen to Seven's track below, and get the rewind button ready.


RH In The Studio With: Ajani Jones

When I started rubyhornet damn near 10 years ago, one of the biggest things for me and Virgil was being the studio with artists. Just the idea of “the studio” was a magic place, something like behind the curtain of the Wizard of Oz. I remember those early days fondly of being in the studio with artists like Naledge, GLC, Mikkey Halsted, Rhymefest and many others. The studio is where Closed Sessions launched, where I first met a 15 year-old Vic Mensa, and got to watch a hero like Raekwon breakdown his approach to music. I think back on that time, my early and mid-twenties, running around like a kid in the candy store. I had a flip cam, and would just hit record. One of my favorite articles on RH were the in-studio pieces where artists would share their creative process and their new work. Since I’m back at rubyhornet, we want to get back to some of our strengths, and the In The Studio articles are at the top of the list.

For this edition, Cooper Fox hung out with Ajani Jones at SoundScape Studio. He talked to Ajani about his new music, life since he released Eternal Bliss last year, and got a glimpse of new music to come. Check out the piece below, and look for more of these on the regular.

RubyHornet: What are you working on today?

Ajani Jones: Today I’m working on "Bloom", a song I did with my Manager (Alexy), and (Netherlands-based producer) Pim. And it’s going on a project called Cocoons.

When going into these sessions are you looking to build towards a project or just recording songs and figuring it afterwards?

Ajani Jones: I usually come up with a concept before I start a project. I like to have a genuine message behind what I’m doing, so when I get into it it’s not just music. There’s something behind it. Cocoons is an EP, and I have an LP I’m also doing after. They tie together, this one’s called Cocoons and the other one’s called Dragonfly. I have a third one, which I’m still working on. It’s basically all symbolizing growth, growth as an artist, growth as a human being. And having fun and being happy in life.

RubyHornet: What would you consider your ideal situation going into a session?

Ajani Jones: I don’t produce. I like to be with a producer. Usually it’s Banks The Genius or Boathouse. Both of them I can make a song with in 20 minutes. The vibe is, they start working and I let them do them. If there’s something I don’t like, I’ll say it, but for the most part I let them inspire me and I’ll go from there. I put down my ideas and it’s usually just we’re working together to complete the record.

RubyHornet: Do you usually come into them with a game plan?

Ajani Jones: It’s definitely off the cuff, they’ll play some shit and I’ll be like 'fire, lets run it.' And that’s what I do, it’s just good vibes everywhere.

RubyHornet: What’s been going on since putting out your last project Eternal Bliss?

Ajani Jones: The game plan after that was to push it, work on making a better sound than we made before and bettering our situation. And we did that. We now have the resources to work as much as we want, and be more creative and have the quality there as well. That was the plan and now it’s about delivering and letting everything come together.