RH Pitchfork Festival Schedule
Over the last 13 years Pitchfork Music Festival has become one of the most important and highly curated music festivals in Chicago, which says a lot considering that Chicago has the most summer festivals of any city in America. This year's festival is dominated by internationally known stars like Ms. Lauryn Hill (celebrating the 20th anniversary of her legendary album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill) and Tame Impala headlining, but earlier in the day there are a lot of upcoming rappers and singers from Chicago and beyond like Kweku Collins, Ravyn Lenae and Berhana. Because music festivals can get overwhelming we decided to put together a list of the shows that we're looking forward to seeing.
Friday
4:00 Open Mike Eagle @ Blue Stage
4:15 Tierra Whack @ Green Stage
5:15 Saba @ Red Stage
6:15 Syd @ Green Stage
8:30 Tame Impala @ Green Stage
Saturday
1:00 Paul Cherry @ Green Stage
1:45 Berhana @ Red Stage
3:20 Nilüfer Yanya @ Red Stage
4:15 Moses Sumney @ Green Stage
5:15 Raphael Saadiq @ Red Stage
7:45 Kelela @ Blue Stage
Sunday
1:00 Nnamdi Ogbonnaya @ Green Stage
2:30 Kweku Collins @ Green Stage
3:20 Ravyn Lenae @ Red Stage
4:15 Smino @ Green Stage
5:15 Noname @ Red Stage
6:15 DRAM @ Green Stage
7:25 Chaka Khan @ Red Stage
8:30 Ms. Lauryn Hill @ Green Stage
Noname Teases New Album Release
Noname has been putting out hints about her next album all week, but in an Instagram post today she said "This the last picture I'm posting. Next one will be the album cover."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlVsoqlBuQa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
In classic Noname fashion she is still keeping the release date a secret, but this makes it seem like it's coming soon. It's been two years since Noname put out her debut album Telefone which was a success among critics and fans alike. Telefone marked a serious step forward for Noname as an artist. For years before it came out she was an artist with a handful of tracks and a lot of dope features, coming up with other Y.C.A. kids like Chance, Mick Jenkins and Saba but when she released her album she established herself as one of the dopest MCs in Chicago. It's going to be interesting to see what direction she goes after Telefone, a pensive album that balanced mortality and joy just like her city. Noname is one of the realest rappers because she doesn't try to hide her thoughts and her experiences go straight into her lyrics. I can't wait to see where she goes next.
SqueakPIVOT Releases "Perfect For U"
PivotGang is making waves across the board these days, from Saba touring all around the world to Joseph Chilliams rising within the Chicago scene it's easy to see that this is the group's moment. SqueakPIVOT just put his name fully into the arena with them with his latest release, "Perfect for U" now streaming across platforms. Squeak has been producing tracks for his crew for years but this is his first release on his streaming pages. "Perfect for U" is an unabashed love song featuring Xone White on vocals in a time when artists are more interested in making songs about the end of romance than the romance itself. While this isn't Squeak's first release, it is the first one available on all streaming services. Check it out here
https://open.spotify.com/track/3Sq3uNnE8a0IyPUQmZF3yb?si=8h0_sJ9mSeSKwAitZkcn_A
Akenya Shares New Track "Decay"
For years Akenya has been the secret ingredient that has added jazz-fueled soulful vocals on some of Chicago's hottest artists songs. She went on tour with Noname last year and has recorded with Saba, Smino, Elton and more. She just released her first track as a solo artist in two years. Check it out.
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.
Mick Jenkins Tries To Catch A Vibe on "Energies" with Saba (prod by THEMpeople)
I haven't heard a Bar Mitzvah referenced in a rap song in a minute... If you got more of those send them my way.
But jokes aside, old friends Mick Jenkins and Saba reconnect on this new THEMpeople produced track, "Energies". With what sounds like an actual clock keeping time, Mick Jenkins and Saba take on something that is not seen, but always present. So much of music is about feeling. The feeling the artist has when creating, and the feeling the listener gets from taking it in. We toss around terms like "catching a vibe" or "in the zone" but perhaps nothing is more important in our relationships than the invisible communications transmitted between us, things that can't quite be put to words.
Mick mumbles through the refrain, keeping his words subdued. It's an interesting choice and when paired with the subject matter and paints a picture of Mick sitting somewhere in the corner, or laying on a studio couch just observing and taking in the other people in the room. As he says in the song, he might not talk to you, but he won't ignore the energies. His verse is much more forceful - perhaps the moments after he has observed, picked up a vibe, and determined he's not fucking with it.
There's much to unpack in this one - as are in many tracks from both Saba and Mick Jenkins. Listen to it below. And then listen to it gain.
MFnMelo -Whatcha Feel (Feat. DaeDaePivot)
[iframe id="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DgM_-dcq0dU"]
In his colorful retro inspired video for "Whatcha Feel" MFnMelo showcases a butter smooth delivery. Shot and directed by 119 Productions the video pays homage to simpler times where music videos weren't much more than glorified concert footage with cool effects on them. MFnMelo plays the role as lead singer while his backing band including Saba provides the Funk.
The beat produced by Phoelix and Saba is a Key heavy instrumental with a grooving breakbeat that MFnMelo rides with ease. "Whatcha Feel" is seductive but insightful. A book of poems filled with couplets of knowledge from the authors inner dialogue.
"Won't be just another STAT,
I'm Amar'e in his prime,
Hope I rise like a Phoenix before I make it to New York."
Saba and Zack Villere Team Up on "360"
Pivot Gang rapper, Saba, delivers punching lyrics over Zack Villere's bubbly beats in their latest single, "360".
"360" is the first collaboration between the Chicago rapper and Louisiana-native producer. In the song, Saba offers up a perspective on the doubts and concerns of signing off to a major record label while Zack Villere maintains a fun, flickering beat.
Just off a European tour and celebrating the one-year anniversary of Bucket List Project, Saba is currently gearing up for his inaugural John Walt Day concert. Set to be held on November 25th at the House of Blues, all proceeds will be going towards his John Walt Foundation created in honor of his late friend. Tickets are available here.