Jamila Woods, Tasha & Kevin Coval Team Up With Vinyl For A Cause
Jamila Woods has teamed up with Louder Than A Bomb cofounder Kevin Coval and singer/songwriter Tasha to release a 7" record to benefit Young Chicago Authors via Vinyl For A Cause. When she's not making music Jamila Woods is the associate artistic director for YCA. Young Chicago Authors is arguably the organization that has influenced Chicago's music scene the most. For the past 28 years YCA has mentored and cultivated an impressive number of kids, including Chance The Rapper, Saba, No Name, Mick Jenkins, Jamila Woods and on and on. Nearly every one of todays most successful artists that have been instrumental in the cultural renaissance that has taken place in Chicago has a tie to YCA in some capacity.
Side A of the record is a new track from Jamila Woods called "Muddy" in reference to a Kevin Coval poem entitled "Muddy Waters Goes Electric". The beat is dominated by a sizzling guitar, with Jamila's cool voice creating a sense of harmony. The contrast is heightened by Jamila's lyrics repeating "We can shake the fire off". The B side features Kevin Coval and upcoming R&B singer Tasha in a duet between poem and song.
80% of the proceeds from the record will go directly to YCA. You can buy it here. Check out Jamila's track below.
https://youtu.be/xEzMPwAPVJ4
Hear An Uncovered Malcolm London + Kweku Collins Track on the LTAB 2018 Mixtape
"Always bout my bills, no Bill Cosby."
The only things certain are death and taxes. Just below that are other things we can begin to count on every year, the LTAB mixtape has become one of those things. For the last few years, Young Chicago Authors, has put together a free mixtape to coincide with their annual youth poetry slam, Louder Than A Bomb. This year's mixtape includes an almost overwhelming 26 tracks from familiar as well as unfamiliar names ranging from Femdot and Matt Muse to Aeon Moore and Loona Dae. Also included is an uncovered collaboration from Malcolm London and Kweku Collins.
I do remember Malcolm and Kweku recording this in the Closed Sessions C-Room, I believe it was very close to the time Kweku started coming around. I don't really remember much outside of that, and honestly totally forgot about this song. This is actually the first time I've heard it, and I fucking dig it.
Outside of the song's quality, it's just dope to see this record come to life via the LTAB mixtape. Good mixtapes include rarities and b-sides, and YCA is keeping that spirit alive. Peep the full mixtape below, you might just find a new favorite.
[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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