New Rhymefest Video - "Stolen"

Throughout Man in the Mirror, Rhymefest's unique Michael Jackson tribute album, the Chicago rapper keeps insisting that El Che, his ravenously anticipated sophomore album, is coming. Alas, there's still no word about an official release date for El Che, but activity surrounding the Chicago rapper has greatly increased (though it may have been at the result of some heinous circumstances).

First, Rhymefest officially dropped two new tracks, "In Between" and "Forces of Nature". Next is a video for track "Stolen", which you can see at the top of the post. It's a poignant blend of animation and live-action concerning the lost of innocence during genocide.

Rhymefest MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

This article has been cross-published on Chicago is Mildly Interesting

New Rhymefest - "Bring It Back" and "Real Nigga Quotes"

Download: Rhymefest - "Real Nigga Quotes"
Download: Rhymefest - "Bring it Back" (both via Fake Shore Drive

Two new tracks from Chicago-based rapper's Rhymefest's long-in-the-making El Che have come to light, in rather sordid fashion. Fake Shore has all the details, but here's a summary: dude stole Rhymefest iPod, and, because of his supposed lack of prolific output(where was he for this?), he's going to release a track every week until he gets some answers, or at least a single/video. Yikes. Read the manifesto-of-sorts here.

Despite the not-so-cool way these tracks were obtained, the tracks themselves are absolutely stellar. "Bring It Back" coasts on by on a breezy beat produced by DJ Jazzy Jeff. The song itself is a reflective look at a time when hip-hop was supposedly more substantial. The vibe of the track itself is not unlike Jazzy Jeff's "Summertime", or a vintage Tribe Called Quest jam. Oddly enough, the waxing nostalgic is not unlike fellow Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco's "Hip-Hop Saved My Life". The second track, however, is furious. "Real Nigga Quotes" is, simply put, a track that confirms that Public Enemy's legacy is still alive and well. Using famous quotes from throughout history (everyone from Malcolm X to Dave Chappelle), 'Fest spits some serious truth about today's political landscape, even casting Barack Obama in a harsh light. (Does this mean 'Fest still supports him?"). If these tracks are any indication of what El Che is like, then this record is the Nevermind to Blue Collar's Bleach. That's saying something.

Listen to the two songs at the top of the post. Thanks again to Fake Shore Drive.

Rhymefest MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

New Rhymefest - "Ain't Heard It From Me" (feat. Wale)

Download: Rhymefest - "Ain't Heard It From Me" (feat. Whale) (via Fake Shore Drive)

El Che is coming! "Ain't Heard It From Me", a track supposedly from the Chicago-based Rhymefest's upcoming second record. The track was debuted earlier today (in the wee hours of the morn') by Chicago hip-hop blog Fake Shore Drive. But first, some context.

Rhymefest made a huge, indelible impact on the underground rap circuit by becoming known for defeating a young, forgotten whippersnapper--I think, his name was Mars Bar, or Eminem, or something like that--in a battle. Since then, he palled up with Kayne West, who, as an unknown at the time, produced Fest's 2001 underground mix-tape Raw Dog. Once Kanye moved onto greener pastures, he brought along the nom de rap of Che Smith, who then collaborated with the rapper on West's blockbuster record

The College Dropout

. Attaining a blockbuster of his own, however, proved more difficult. Even though Blue Collar was one of 2006's best records, with Rhymefest displaying bravado and a wicked sense of humor as a rapper, thoughtfulness and socially-consciousness as a writer, and, most importantly of all, laying down some sick jams, the record was a commercial flop. (Soundscan, step up, and get you a slice). Undeterred, Fest went on to release a mixtape tribute, equal in quality to Blue Collar, late last year.

As for "Ain't Heard It From Me"? Well, let's just say the Fest did it again. The track is awesome, with 'Fest's flow ("I'm about to lay it down hard so hard/you'd think Rhymefest invented rappin'") and a Tribe Called Quest-style beat driving the momentum of the song, with a DJ scratch comprising the chorus. Rapper Wale guests on the track, produced by Scram Jones.

Listen to it at the top of the post. Thanks again to Fake Shore Drive.

Rhymefest Myspace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

New Rhymefest - "Make Love" and "Exodus" (Live)

(Rhymefest - "Make Love") via Nah Right and Always Hustle.


(Rhymefest - "Exodus") via Nah Right and Always Hustle.

Chicago rapper Rhymefest, who in 2006 put out one of the year's best albums, Blue Collar, recently debuted two new tracks at the Save Darfur Now concert at UCLA. Always Hustle got video of the performances, and Nah Right reposted it. As for the quality of the songs themselves, both which will likely surface on El Che, Fest's upcoming sophomore album, the second seems to be much, much better than the first, with Fest spitting some truth about the the fragility of life in "Exodus". Although, maybe "Make Love" is supposed to be satire and I'm misreading it. Still, you gotta like the fact that he references both Skype and Okayplayer in the same track.

Watch both videos at the top of the post.

Rhymefest MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Lupe Fiasco And Rhymefest Engage In On-Line Battle Of Wits

Rhymefest


Lupe Fiasco

Download: Lupe Fiasco - "Hurt Me Soul" (from Food And Liquor)
Download: Lupe Fiasco - "Paris, Tokyo" (from The Cool)
Download: Rhymefest - "Dynamite (Going Postal)" (from Blue Collar)
Download: Rhymefest - "Devil's Pie" from Blue Collar)

With the New Hampshire primaries set to make or break certain presidential candidacies today, it's no doubt that a miracle will occur if cooler heads prevail while debating the merits of one candidate versus another. The world of hip-hop is no exception. However, should more debate arise surrounding the candidates, those debaters could take a few notes from the constructive and informative on-line debate taking place between two Chicago-based rappers--Lupe Fiasco and Rhymefest.

What set off the back-and-forth were some comments made by Lupe in an article on hip-hop news site SOHH about his endorsement of Hillary Clinton, and why he prefers the New York senator over Illinois Senator Barack Obama. From the mouth of Lupe:

"Obama doesn't really impress me like that...It's not a shot at him but some of his agendas, the bombing of Iran and all that stuff.* He ain't gonna do nothing but perpetuate the nonsense that all the Presidents before have done, and what Bush is doing now. It's to the point now where the world is so twisted and so messed up that we need somebody to come in..."I think Hillary will set an example for women all around the world and hopefully effect some change, as opposed to another man pushing for agendas and pushing policies

You may have noticed an asterisk in the previous paragraph. The editors of SOHH rightfully corrected Lupe's erroneous statement about Obama's desire to bomb Iran. Rhymefest, in a post on his MySpace blog titled "Don’t Let Your Arrogance Fuel Your Ignorance", also corrected Lupe's statement by writing the following:

Barack Obama has stated he is not opposed to military action against Iran if they were persistent in their ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons; weapons being the operative word. However, he also states that as president, he plans to talk to Iran without preconditions about certain assurances in the context of them showing some good faith, as well. Barack Obama stated 'I think it is important for us to send a signal that we are not hell-bent on regime change, just for the sake of regime change, but expect changes in behavior. And there are both carrots and there are sticks available to them for those changes in behavior.' This clearly does not describe the agenda of a candidate who supports 'the bombing of Iran and all that stuff.'

After a poster on hip-hop message board Okay Player asked Lupe directly if he was going to respond to Rhymefest's post, Lupe wrote back saying that he would do so in private, but not in public--by giving 'Fest a call. Rhymefest then beat Lupe to the responding punch by writing to him directly on the Okayplayer message board, due to Lupe not having 'Fest's number:

Please fam...don't let some of these people on the boards get the situation twisted for you. I'm not dissing or coming at you on any level. In fact, I love the song "Go Go Gadget Flow" off of your new album, and I encourage everyone to purchase The Cool...As a brother, all I'm asking you to do is tell the people that you really don't know what Barack Obama's position is on Iran, or at least not when you did the SOHH interview. In my original post, I did not mention your name or the actual source of the interview. Just to let you know, my mission is not to down you, but to big up Barack Obama...Lupe, please tell the people Barack Obama does NOT support bombing Iran.

Lupe responds by saying that he doesn't have much faith in the democratic process and that he isn't bothered by what might have been misconstrued on the Okayplayer message board. Fiasco then went into further, ellipsis-heavy detail about what he feels is the "abomination of true democracy":

I've been around politics and politicians my whole life...I say this to let you know first off I'm educated in the process...so much so that I don't agree with it..more importantly I wasn't out to slander Obama..they (Clinton and Obama) both still tow the line and champion the ideals of their respective party...which is flawed in its nature...I don't hear Justice and Equality from any of these candidates that are on the forefront...not even Hillary...I'm not impressed...I'm not impressed like i was impressed by Malcolm or Martin or continue to be impressed by Chomsky or Cornel West...I dont hear true Social Equality...

in closing I think that if I said all that in response to SOHH it might have been clearer that Lupe Fiasco doesnt even support the system as a whole so what he thinks of the candidates who are running to head it up isn't even relevant...maybe I'm wrong...

Lupe then ends with wishing his fellow Muslim Rhymefest "blessings and godspeed in (Rhymefest's) struggles for truth. Rhymefest then responds by thanking God that such a constructive dialogue was able to take place in the first place, and that the reason he is able to relate to Obama's message "hope and its audacity" is because, unlike Fiasco, whose parents were Black Panther-supporting intellectuals, Rhymefest was born to "a crackhead alcoholic". Fest elaborates:

Being raised on the Southside of Chicago under the conditions that many of us are subject to, I haven't had the opportunity to become desensitized to the political and social ramifications of a Black president...I don't believe that Barack Obama is the 'same ol' same'. Did you know that in a recent poll 69% of whites think it's possible for a Black president, while only 47% of Blacks thought it was? This suggests to me that our cynicism and disbelief will surely be the death of us...It seems to me as if you're not sure if change can or cannot happen. Our recent successes, and Barack's recent success in Iowa, is proof that with faith all things are possible.

Lupe then responds by saying that he admires 'Fest for triumphing over adversity, but that the reason why he (he being Lupe) distrusts the system because of similar harsh circumstances in his upbringing. Lupe says that he "looks for beacons of hope as well and where I see it is not in the face of a politician in this day and age...Sadly and Happily I see it where it's always been...in the face of the people" Lupe concludes by saying that "I pray for change...and change will come...i dont know in what form...is it Obama? maybe...God gave us the ability to have faith."

And that's where the dialogue last ended. As big as a fan I am of both Rhymefest and Lupe Fiasco, the winner (not that this was a competition in any sense whatsoever) here clearly is Rhymefest. It seemed like Lupe spent too much time talking about how informed about the political process and not enough time actually demonstrating that knowledge, at least the way of statistics. There's certain more than enough anecdotal truth to what Lupe Fiasco is saying. But Rhymefest made his case in a concise, well-reasoned way. Furthermore, Rhymefest had the facts right to begin with regarding Barack Obama's position on Iran. Either way, they both make great music and you can listen to tracks from their records at the top of the post.

Buy Rhymefest's music here.
Buy Lupe Fiasco's music here

Rhymefest MySpace Page
Lupe Fiasco MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)

Chicago F'in Rocks: Chicago Rocks

No, I'm not being redundant. This past weekend (6/8 and 6/9) was the 5th annual Chicago Rocks Hip-Hop Festival, with the first night being held at the excellent Abbey Pub and the second night being held at the Metro. The show is a two-day all hip-hop extraveganza, and all of the artists involved are based in Chicago. This year included The Cool Kids, Flosstradamus and Crucial Conflict, amongst others, and years past have included the likes of Rhymefest and All Natural. Below you will find video clips of past performances from the festival. Enjoy!

(Jonathan Graef)



(Immortal Technique, Chicago Rocks 2005)



(Capitol D, from All Natural, Chicago Rocks 2005)



(The Primerdians, Chicago Rocks)



(Rhymefest, Chicago Rocks 2005)