Melo Makes Music is what the man goes by and through rhymes is how he expresses his explicit content. Most recently he spills his mind over a trip hop beat produced by Martin $ky. The Chicago local Ravyn Lenae is featured on the track for a few verses, adding a graceful ambience to the the track. Speaking of Grace, Sylvie marks her sound with the stroke of a cello. Drain U is a dope collaboration of Chicago talent coming together to make a track to vibe to.
Since releasing her debut album HEAVN Jamila Woods has been working and collaborating on big projects with local artists. Featuring in few different releases from Malcolm London‘s Opia, Saba‘s Bucket List and oddCouple‘s LP. Impressive list to add to an already amazing music resume. She is back with a new single. Brown Girls Theme, with a beautiful melody she expresses herself gracefully.
You can always count on Jamilas voice to make you feel dreamy, relaxed and to project a message clear. A perfect voice to speak for what she is passionate about. Recently she featured in a documentary Saving Chicago on Billboard that features Rhymefest, Malcolm London, Common and other passionate Chicago artists and students. As a clip of her teaching and singing with her class plays Jamila voices her opinion on Chicago violence and Police Brutality while at the same time promoting the positive qualities of the black community. Reshaping Chicago through music.
Malcolm London is one of the many Chicago artists releasing big projects recently. Alongside Saba, theWHOevers, King Thelonious, oddCouple and Will Is Chillin, Chicago artists are finishing off this year with new music. Even better it features plenty talented up and coming producers and artists as well. Jamila Woods makes her presence known as well as Vic Mensa and Nico Segal formerly known as Donnie Trumpet and producers 5heriff and CEO Beatsoffers their talent as well. Right off the at this EP shows a lot of promise.
Not only does it sound good but it is packed with thoughtful lyrics and powerful commentary. Brings to light some social issues our nation still struggles with as a whole. But as an individual Malcolm leads by example through music. Perfect example in the track Take Your Time with Noah Chris. Filled with upbeat tracks and chill jams in between revolutionary and thought provoking lyrics invoked in Charlie, you can find a good message throughout the Opia EP. The title itself, described in the self titled track with Jamila, offers breathtaking contemplation as well.
Saba did it big late October with release of the 13 track Bucket List Project. Co Produced by Phoelix the Bucket List consist of many Chicago collaborators from Idol to upcoming. Phoelix gets a few verses,NoName also makes some noise along withJean Deaux, Ravyn Lanae and Smino. Monte Bookerhops on te MPCs for one track. The Project even gets the blessing from the Legend Twista. A dope playlist to chill to, most beats are mellow and vibrant and the many artists add soul and character to the project. The artists also shared their own short bucket lists between every track and it can be inspiring or just plain funny or agreeable. Take a listen.
oddCouple pulled off a beast of an album. End to end filled with rising Chicago artist. We have Kweku Collins featuring. Jamila Woods adds a piece of her soul to it. Mick Jenkins makes a show and of course gotta have Joey Purp, Mike Golden in on the fun amongst many others. Right off the bat you get hooked on Slept on. Its Golden that gets you with the chorus but its that sax that makes you stay. The soulful vibes continue throughout the album finishing off with a instrumental. A beautiful way to kill time if you ask me
Marko Stat$ and Aced Spade are quite the pair. An MC needs a good beat smith and whenever these two get together it is dynamic. Among tracks like Locomotive and Free (Moving Forward) from Aced LP Positive Vibes Only, the two prove it again with Nobody and Back To The Basics that their creativity is limitless. Stat$ with the old school free style hip hop flow, this rising artist from Uptown, Chicago is gonna show these supposed Hip Hop and Rap artists in the mainstream how its done real soon. With lyrics of passion and action.
Vic Mensa has gotten a lot of attention for this song. Going to great lengths to make sure the truth is known. He has made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and performed 16 Shots with riot police geared performers. The song and video itself includes a excerpt of a police recording. Vic Mensa is becoming a voice for the unheard against the establishment going as far as comparing the battle between Dakota Access Pipeline and Native Americans on their own land to Black Lives Matters movement. This is a human vs government interest matter and must stand with eachother to fight injustice. Join Vic Mensa at Standing Rock or lend support by visiting their website.
Young Label from Chicago, Nuworld is growing with talent from the city. One of the many artists of the label Kayo teams up with theMIND on a smooth beat by Donato. Released in late October a music video for Like That follows just a few weeks later. Simple idea for the video produced by Cole Bennett, similar to I Wonder music video, all that as needed for a quality video is a familiar environment and some enthusiasm. Spittin verses out in a park with nature for visuals and a few time lapse edits for a good mood setting. Putting the focus on the artist and his lyrics.
King Thelonious is back and better. Dealing with a couple of collabs since his Static EP release Thelonious one ups himself and brings you Late Night Programming. A 10 track LP with that old school hip hop instrumental vibe, and plenty of television commentary to fit the atmosphere. It even has excerpts from Dave Chappelle’s skits and Adult Swim ads. Brought to you by a love of television and music. Following his LP release Thelonious uploads a his single Mama Got A Hold On Me. Right off the bat it has head rockin power and keeps that energy the whole way through. Instant classic for Hip Hop instrumentals.
Will Is Chillin’ but he is preparing. Just about a about week away from dropping his album Moody the hype is building. Recently releasing an amped up track Bimbo, with DRO on production this only follows a few collabs. Spittin a few verses on Emoji Hand Sign from Scabbers recent EP as well as Glassics both from Chicago. Also got together with Treatment x Rapid Eye from New Age Music on a beat produced by Yellowjacket. Will has paved a pretty consistent trail of music leading up to now.
In comes Loosifer. A peak at his newest project. He raps about a mindless addiction to the White Devil, the cancer sticks, the cigarette. But in the end our sweet mistress Mary Jane takes the cake as always. The music video personifies the metaphor with a gorgeous brunette in white, puffin away at that Loosifer. How can you resist? New album Moody dropping December 1st. The video is Directed by J.Krown with Production by Josh Grant.
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