[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] Nico Segal: "New Bisness"
Donnie Trumpet/Nico Genius/Nico Segal himself took some time while on tour overseas with Frank Ocean to shoot a video for "New Bisness," off his solo project, Donnie Trumpet. The video, shot and edited by Andy Singh, was actually shot on the last day of the California Live Tour in Melbourne, Australia. The former Kids These Days member gets his workout on in the hotel gym and spends some time strolling the halls in a fresh robe. If you haven't gotten the project yet, it's definitely recommended because, as Nico lays out in the video below he's "gonna be somebody."
[youtube id="5assBsJZzxE"]
[Mixtape] Nico Segal: "Donnie Trumpet"
Nico Segal's, Illasoul, is a 'tape that I still bump to this day and that has a lot to do with the many subjects talked about in that project and Nico's ability to sway the listener with beautiful melodies. The trumpeter is now back with "Donnie Trumpet", a 'tape that distances itself a little from spoken word and focuses on the vibes and synergy between Nico and collaborators Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, Kiara Lanier & Emilio Chestevez while expanding on new concepts and themes.
[Video] Vic Mensa: "Did It B4" + KTD Breakup
Vic Mensa was arguably the first artist from this booming Chicago generation to obtain national attention when he released his debut EP Straight Up, a couple of years ago. Now that everybody is trying to share the spotlight, Vic felt fitting to remind you all who paved the way with this new video/single entitled "Did It B4". The SaveMoney emcee murked the track with straight raps and no fillers, while director Austin Vesely brings the eccentric and edgy feeling the song transpires through a visual perspective.
On a sad note though, today was officially announced the Kids These Days break-up. Vic talked to XXL about the split:
"It’s never going to be an “I hate you” type of situation. For the most part it’s a happy settlement. There were certain moves made by some people that weren’t all the way stand-up moves, but at the end of the day there isn’t really any bad blood. It’s not like I can’t be in the room with everybody in the band, and I wish everybody the best. But the band breaking up wasn’t my ultimatum, I didn’t bring that to the table, but once it was brought to the table it kind of opened up a world I’d already been living in in my own head for a while. I just see it as a great opportunity. Kids These Days was great and it was a lot of fun, but now I want to do something different."
We wish everyone involved in KTD the best of luck in any future endeavors and hopefully we'll hear more from them individually soon!
http://youtu.be/qvXnymQ1Glw
Kids These Days x Phony Ppl: "Mary Christmas"
These are likely to two most talented rising young bands the U.S.A has to offer, and what a better time than the holidays to link up & create with friends. The track was recorded last week while Nico & Vic where in NYC, and wrapped with a verse from Elbee Thrie X-mas morning. We need more of this & I assume they agree. "Merry Christmas." Spark.
[Interview] Kids These Days Speak on New Album, Personal Growth and More
"Let's show motherfuckers what Kids These Days is about right now."
Vic Mensa and Nico Segal from Kids These Days joined me and JR Bang in studio last week for the latest edition of Closed Sessions Radio on WindyCityUnderground.com. Vic and Nico talked candidly about their new album, Traphouse Rock, balancing the talents of everyone in the band, the make or break moment surrounding their appearance on Conan O'Brian, as well as youth violence in Chicago and the mistake of making that shit seem cool. The interview is quite in-depth, sit down, listen and enjoy.
RH First Look: Nico Segal (Of Kids These Days)
It must be interesting to realize your dreams just short time removed from being old enough to vote. But so is the case for Nico Segal, Kids These Days' 18 year old trumpet player. "I've worked really hard playing the trumpet, practicing all the time, and this is all I've ever really dreamed of doing," he says on a calm Chicago morning in the south loop. "I've always wanted to be a broke ass jazz musician. You know what I mean? I just want to play the trumpet, and make music with people. It's been crazy, man."
It's definitely been an interesting 12 months for Nico and Kids These Days. Shortly after graduating high school, the band was onstage at Lollapalooza, appearing on year-end lists, and touring the country. It's a lot to take in for anybody, and via his new solo project IllaSoul: Shades of Blue, Nico is letting listeners know what's been on his mind. "This is me with a mic and talking a whole lot and letting people know who the man behind the trumpet is," he says.
Hip Hop and Jazz have always shared a connection and a history. That intersection is present throughout Illasoul: Shades of Blue, as well as Nico's work in Kids These Days. In fact, the title is a nod to his two main inspirations, J. Dilla and Miles Davis. A couple weeks ago we debuted the album's first song, "Dreamy" featuring Macie Stewart. As we prepare to release Nico's debut album, we take a closer look at the young musician with broke ambitions. Read on to hear about the creation of the album, its relationship to his work with Kids These Days, as well as his collaboration with Coldhard of Crucial Conflict.
Kids These Days: Transition
"At the end of the day, we believe in this s**t more than life itself."
A year ago, Kids These Days were a buzzing band of high school students. Today, they are on the verge of national breakout success, racking up features in outlets such as MTV, and The New York Times. In this new RH video, KTD's Vic Mensa, Liam Cunningham, and Nico Segal talk about the band's transition to full-time musicians, and the commitment they've made to the music, and most importantly, to each other.