[RH First Look] NoNameGypsy
Despite what she might want, if you've been following the Chicago music scene as of late, you've certainly heard of NoNameGypsy. The 22-year-old hip-hop artist made a name for herself in April with her featured verse on Chance The Rapper's track "Lost" off his monumental Acid Rap release. The guest spot gained the longtime spoken word aficionado considerable attention both on the local and national scenes, garnering a steady stream of shows through the end of the year and earning co-signs from the likes of RapSody and a listing as one of the Chicago RedEye's "15 Artists to Watch in 2014". While she isn't sure whether hip-hop is her ultimate landing spot, the soft-spoken and thoughtful NoName is in an interesting situation currently, as she ruminates on everything 2013 brought and looks forward to what's ahead. Already beginning the new year with spots on several shows around Chicago, she has us all sitting on pins and needles waiting for her debut project, Telefone.
If nothing else, NoNameGypsy is a breath of fresh air. As real and authentic as they come, often taking the stage with her purse still slung across he shoulders, as she did at Reggie's Rock Club this summer for Chance's Lollapalooza After Show. I caught up with her as she was working on music recently and talked about suddenly being known by others, having fans and what's next for NoNameGypsy.
[Video] Malcolm London: "Never Too Late"
Malcolm London is one of those people you know for all the right reasons. At 20, the native Chicagoan has had as much of an impact on changing the norm of the streets of his city as any community leader or alderman. London has a voice and a message to match that he has taken across the country, even appearing on a TED talk speaking on the intricacies of the plight of young disenfranchised minorities in the communities he frequents. Today, he continues to spread that message of hope and healing for a city that is hurting for both by teaming up with renowned Irish graffiti artist Maser for this video for his spoken work piece, "Never Too Late", shot by up and coming video crew Heart of the City.
The video is at once art installation and background imaging, as Maser paints the words "never too late to love" on white over a black background, silhouetting the poignant wordsmith-ing put on by London throughtout. Much of the resurgence of hip-hop, on a certain side of Chicago, grows out of spoken word poetry classes at after-school programs like YouMedia and Young Chicago Authors. London, a Save Money affiliate and occasional rhymesayer is easily one of the most poetic souls in the city, stating in his monologue below: "Every morning I read headlines: 18 shot in a weekend, 300 dead in a summer, 50 schools shut down, public funding cut, trying to turn poems into eulogies I find in the newspaper. Everyday I teach students who's stories will footprint into new front page stories. . " Take some time out of your day to get some knowledge and insight on what this thing others call "Chiraq" actually is.
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[Video] SunBLVD: "Time Traveler's Wife"
It's been a minute since we've heard from SunBLVD, but the eclectic female Chicago MC with creative bars is back with a new video for her latest track, "Time Traveler's Wife". The song and the video details separate lonely journeys, one amidst a relationship gone dry as Sun wanders from the south side north to Union Station and beyond, seemingly interested in being anywhere. The video, shot by DAP Productions, is the first in a series of poetic art pieces by Sun as she builds toward her upcoming project, Catharsis. Take some time to enjoy this breath of something different and vibe out to a solidly plucked stand up bass in this latest release from SunBLVD.
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