Navarro Blends Worlds On Modern Mexican Art: Radio Sondido
"I done paid my dues and have some changed left."
Navarro, known well throughout Chicago's underground Hip Hop scene as Scheme, returned in April of 2018 with a new album centered fiercely on identity and story-telling. The LP, Modern Mexican Art: Radio Sondido, plays out like a documentary set in Chicago's Mexican neighborhood and narrated by the polished emcee.
The album is timely for many reasons. As Donald Trump and his administration continue to harm the immigrant community (and all communities of color), Navarro's perspective as a first generation American who fell in love with Hip Hop is welcomed and needed. Since his last proper LP, Navarro has changed his name, created a successful after school program and also has a growing daughter. Those kind of life changes will force anyone to really examine their life and decide what is most important. As an emcee with over a decade of experience, Navarro has had to clearly define his priorities as well as how he fits into the current climate of commercial music.
Duality is an inherent part of the immigrant experience, and Modern Mexican Art succeeds the most when that duality is at the forefront. The album's first track, "Sin Singre En Las Venas" is a perfect example of the recipe as Navarro raps in both Spanish and English over hard drums provided by long-time collaborator, Nascent. The track also welcomes listeners into Navarro's world, using old audio about Mexican immigrants and the ways in which they have used music for escape, empowerment, and action.
Action is the subject of the album's second track, "Feel The Earth Move", another track with Navarro in his bag, clearly displaying his lyrical skills. Tracks like "The Jordan Era" and "City Never Sleeps" featuring GLC bring in the Chicago perspective and add some lightness to the album. "Timeless", produced by Panik is another favorite on the LP, with Navarro recounting his experiences as an emcee and the frustrations with hitting a ceiling as far as recognition and accolades in the first verse. The second verse, he adopts the perspective of greed and motivation, showing the search for such accolades and success as a relationship and actor in the frustration.
The album ends with "Final Peace" a dedication to Hip Hop culture, something that gave him a voice when he thought he had none. I feel like this is the track in which Navarro brings everything together - his current family needs, his place in music, and a love for Hip Hop above fame. It's a sentiment that's not popular, but needed.
New Year, New Name, Same Kills. Watch Navarro's New Video For "Sin Sangre En Las Vinas"
"Son of a mother and a father who done did themselves, them dollars calling cause them pesos never added up well."
"Sin Sangre En Las Venas" is the newest single from longtime friend of the program, Navarro - who many rubyhornet readers will know very well as Scheme. For good measure, peep our video from 2010 of Scheme cooking up "Lose Your Soul" with Mikkey Halsted.
While the name has changed, the skills have not diminished in the slightest. Perhaps you could say the lyrical sword is as sharp as ever on "Sin Sangre En Las Venas", which translates to "No Blood In The Veins". As the title can suggest, this is not necessarily a happy track you dance to. It is a pointed narration of an immigrant's experience, and starts fitting with a news report about life in the barrio and songs of the street. Navarro picks up where the newscaster left off, giving the listener a visitor's pass.
The song begins in Spanish, with mentions of Cadillacs and Cervezas, before Navarro switches seamlessly to English for a proper introduction - "manifesting ghetto glory, tell'em this that boy, Scheme," he raps.
The single is the first from Modern Mexican Art: Radio Sonido, his first proper LP since he started the Beats and Bars program, where he mentors CPS students through the creation of new music and videos.
Frequent collaborator, Nascent is supplies the production and Gerardo Duran provides the visuals for "Sin Sangre En Las Vinas". There is something both triumph and haunting about the song and the story that Navarro tells. There is plenty of hope amongst the despair and struggle, and there plenty of quotables to keep the rewind button busy. Navarro saves one of his most potent bars for last, as he ends with "It's all power, I'm just trying to make it further, But Rahm could try to hide my murder."
Enjoy.
[Mixtape] Scheme & DJ Scend: "Pocket Full of Pesos"
Scheme and DJ Scend have kept hotness coming from Chicago for a minute now, and today return with their latest offering, Pocket Full of Pesos, the duo's first foray into an dual-language project that is as uniquely diverse as it is in its creative intonations and ability to pull from so many influences for the wordplay. Truly the essence of hip-hop, Scheme & DJ Scend took time to put together Pocket Full of Pesos, last dropping tracks and songs back in 2012, but the work is well worth the wait as each side of the pair is in their own workable place that comes together for one of the more impressive releases from Scheme & DJ Scend. Check out the full project below.
Scheme: "The Crooked Ones" (prod. The Analyst)
Scheme kept a low-profile this last month, but the Chicago veteran is back with "The Crooked Ones" and the official announcement of a collaborative EP with producer The Analyst. The project will be entitled Respect All, Fear None and the song below is the first single from it. Stream the brand new track and be sure to follow Scheme on twitter for more updates on the EP and his forthcoming album.
Scheme: "5AM En Chicago"
Scheme is carving his own niche in the Chicago scene with music that mashes two cultures that have influenced his life and his upcoming projects Pocket Full of Pesos & Pesos Turn To Dollars will showcase his new sound on a larger scale. "5AM En Chicago" is a socially-conscious record in which Scheme raps primarily in Spanish but occasionally spits in English. Listen below.
Na$im Williams: "61 Lilies" (feat. Sulaiman, Scheme & Doc)
I've had several discussions with Scheme concerning his current position in the local scene, we've both agreed that --although he's one of the most respected and talented emcees in the city--there's still a lot of people that overlook him and his skill-set. Thankfully, real recognize real and Na$im Williams got Scheme plus Sulaiman & Doc (who are also two dope cats from the city) for a banger entitled "61 Lilies". This hip-hop at its finest with two incredible verses over a bouncy instrumental provided by Na$im.
[Video] Scheme: "La Clika"
After weeks of hyping it up, Scheme's video for "La Clika" has finally dropped, and it was definitely worth the wait. The bilingual song, produced by Serious, is Scheme's first Spanish and English language song. Backed by a considerable amount of homies (the titular "clika" or clique), Scheme puts on for both Chicago and his Mexican heritage.
You can read the press release and watch the video below.
Scheme and Beast Factory Films present the official video for La Clika. This is Scheme's first official release in Spanish and English; as he proceeds to bridge the gap between both cultures that raised him.
The video for La Clika showcases Scheme with the support of his city of Chicago, as well as glimpses of the Mexican culture he is proud and honored to represent. La Clika is a movement; it doesn't matter where you are, or where you are from. Rep that.
Directed and Edited by Sense Hernandez and Tony Shane
Written by Scheme - Produced by Serious
La Clika - Available NOW on iTunes
Purchase Your Clika Shirt NOW Dimex1.com
http://youtu.be/Lkm9G4OoPlQ
[via Brown Pride]
[Video] Scheme: "Vista Del Mar
Scheme's "Vista Del Mar" is one of the personal tracks the local emcee has ever recorded and it's a gem that you should have in your Itunes. For the official visual, directed by Sense Hernandez, Scheme pays a visit to his Mom and Dad and spends the evening with them while nostalgically reminiscing on past memories. The tracks tells a great story on his grandma never seeing the ocean, and how he hasn't had the chance to take her, but brought it to her sonically, with hopes of one day making it a reality. Watch below and download here.
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