[Mixtape] Highlife: "Highlife"
Illustration by: Hebru Brantley
Highlife has been bubbling in Chicago's local scene these past few weeks with cool single and video releases. Now, the Treated Crew member is back with his self-entitled debut mixtape . The project includes 17 new cuts cuts with features and production by the likes of Treated Crew, THEMpeople, SaveMoney, Vic Spencer, Naledge, BJ The Chicago Kid, Melo X and more! Peep below.
Mixed by: L Boogie for THEMpeople
[Album] C. Rich: "Certified Organic"
Back in July, we brought you the video for C. Rich's "Let It Go," the first promotional material ahead of his next project, Certified Organic. After years of planning, we're happy to bring you C. Rich's best album to date, Certified Organic. Teaming up with Derek "DC" Cannon, C. Rich's Certified Organic represents a shift away from the crowded Chicago hip hop scene with his R&B vocals. However, joining him are Chicago rappers Vic Spencer and Pavy as the two sole featured artists on the album.
I've known the crooner for over 12 years, and I can say with confidence that C. Rich has been working up to this moment as long as I've known him. I used to joke around and call his music "R&B sex music" as a testament to his smooth voice (with a slight reference to some of the sex songs off of 2010's Rich Beyond Measures), but Certified Organic features growth in both C. Rich's voice and lyrics.
An extra layer to C. Rich's music acumen is his ability to actually write music. "Blue Dream," my favorite off of the album, features a full band consisting of a horn section (trumpet and sax), drums, and an echoed guitar playing ska chords. It's in these stripped down, live-recorded instruments that the Certified Organic name truly comes to light. While the first half of the album features some admittedly well-produced tracks, with the newly-remixed version of "Let It Go" standing out, "Blue Dream" and "Come Back" are the highlights of the album for both the live instrumentation, but also the "departure" from the overproduced sound that has come to represent R&B.
If this is your first experience with C. Rich, I can guarantee it won't be your last. (Album art hand painted by Anthony Williams.)
Vic Spencer: "A Call From Belize"
Vic Spencer delivered earlier this morning the latest cut from his Red Button series, in which he releases a new song every Monday throughout the month of September. The first installment was a collaboration with young upstart Monster Mike and today's joint is entitled "A Call From Belize".
I had the chance to chop it up with Vic yesterday at Martin $ky's listening party and I must say I'm very excited for his forthcoming album The Rapping Bastard, which is due out mid-October. With some very selective features and production, this project will definitely is one of those record you don't want to miss on!
Vic Spencer: "Monster Truck" (ft. ProbCause)
A new offering, "Monster Truck" by Vic Spencer and ProbCause. Riding the production by Doc Da MindBenda and Wes P, the two Chicago do their respective work on the track. Prob comes through with another solid feature in the midst of a strong overall month. Check out the track below for stream and download.
[Video] Vic Spencer & Sulaiman: "Baffle Board"
Vic Spencer & Sulaiman is the most dangerous duo in Chicago right now. These two feed off each other's desire to rip off the heads of all competition in sight and it can definitely be argued that their best material has come from their collaborative projects. "Baffle Board" is one of their latest leaks and a personal favorite with Suli and Vic first killing it over the O.C.'s "Let It Slide" instrumental and then completely switching up the vibe by plugging up Toro y Moi's "So Many Details" and going at it again. The visual, directed by Jake Gaza & Jimmy Regular for Point • and • Shoot, puts the two emcees on a roof smoking dope and spitting the first half of the track. Does this mean we're getting a part two soon? Who knows, but this should hold us over until their next release.
http://youtu.be/JMOH0AULDWw
[Video] Doc Da Mindbenda: "Mic Vic" (feat. Vic Spencer & Mic Terror)
Vic Spencer & Mic Terror are known as individuals that never hold anything back and always speak what's on their mind, no matter what's the social's stance or who they might offend. Put them together on track and you get a two-headed monster that will devour anything that shows a hint of weakness, add a menacing Doc Da Mindbenda instrumental and it's a wrap for all wack rappers. When you hear both emcees spitting out "Call me Mic Vic, I don't like shit", you should know better than to question if that statement is factual.
The video goes as hard as the track with Treated Crew and SaveMoney coming together in what looks to be an abandoned lot and going reckless while Vic & Mic stand in the front and deliver their verses with a cool misdemeanor only those two can. Directed by Jake Gaza and Jimmy Regular for Point • and • Shoot.
The Grinhouse --a.k.a. the house Doc buit--will drop a new EP soon entitled Welcome To The Grindhouse, which will showcase the talent that studio holds, stay tuned for more updates in the near future!
http://youtu.be/bHkf8IF9aQQ
Sterling Hayes: "The Glory" (feat. Vic Spencer & Tha Guyver) (prod. by iLLeeT)
The homie, iLLeeT, recently celebrated his birthday with a trifecta of dope records he produced for a bunch of dope Chicago emcees. "The Glory" is the standout track from the batch and it features SaveMoney's Sterling Hayes, Vic Spencer & Tha Guyver spitting over a sample-heavy instrumental, which will be placed in the upcoming Holy Spirit EP. Also, enjoy Keenan Coke's "No Molly" & Lee Majorz' "The Hard Way" below.
[Mixtape] Sulaiman x Vic Spencer: "We're Still Disappointed"
Sulaiman and Vic Spencer's chemistry inside the booth has to be one of the most organic I have ever heard. These two share the same vision when it comes to rapping and both never hold back punches, that's why their material together is so dope. Suli and Vic state "We're Still Disappointed" with all of these so-called "rappers" after giving them a piece of their mind back in 2010, apparently the wack never learn. Thankfully, the two emcees are still going to talk their shit in the best way possible; rhyming over eccentric beats delivering and endless supply of 1-2 punches. Peep below.
[via Prefix]