The Five Count is going to be an on-going series focusing on Chicago based projects and films you should listen to/watch if you already haven’t. As for the music side of things, these 5 Count pieces are going to focus on albums that I believe have been overlooked and are some of the best releases so far this year. The first five artists whose projects have been showcased are listed below:
Navarro- Modern Mexican Art: Radio Sonido
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For those not in the know, Navarro (fka Scheme) is one of Chicago’s legendary spitters that in recent years has been doing way more behind the scenes. Through the Beats & Bars after-school program in the Little-Village/Lawndale area, he has been cultivating talent and assisting his students in releasing collaborative projects that have garnered local praise. Before the release of Navarro’s Modern Mexican Art: Radio Sonido, his last project was released in 2014 so there has been a lot of work he’s been keeping in the vault. With Modern Mexican Art: Radio Sonido, Navarro reclaims his position as one of Chicago’s premiere and most respected emcees. This specific project, is the first of what will be an ongoing series. The project revolves around the dual identity as a Mexican-American, growing up with culturally enriched traditions, and navigating the city of Chicago through the years as a man of color. More importantly, this project is a letter to his daughter, which at this age is young to understand the life his father has made for himself, but through his lyricism/poetry has crafted a legacy she can be proud of as he continues this series.
Featured Music Video:
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Musa Reems- Lately I Been Sol Searching 2
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Musa with this Lately I Been Sol Searching series has found his voice and claimed his place in the Chicago HipHop scene. After years of experimenting and changing his sound, things have finally clicked with the booming production of Curbside Jones. What makes Lately I Been Sol Searching 2 one of this year’s elite projects, has been Musa’s maturity behind the mic, his sense of identity as a black man from the west side of Chicago, and the storytelling he dives into as he explores trauma he and many others of his community have been exposed to and continue to overcome. More importantly, this project is quintessentially a Chicago homage, as he pays respect to the city he was born and raised in.
Featured Music Video:
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Solo Sam- ITIS
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Who is Solo Sam? Simply put, he’s one of the new kids on the block that is making a lot of noise through his lyrical savviness and through booming production. For Solo Sam, ITIS is his debut project as a rapper and producer, in which he produces the album in its entirety. While many are still in the dark in terms of knowing this Chicago upstart, the acclaim through this project has continued to grow. The project’s cohesiveness has made this one of the most enjoyable listens, and most refreshing sound for any Chicago projects released this year and this is just the beginning for Solo Sam who did this project his way and flexing his prowess through his defined production and immaculate bars.
Featured Music Video:
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Swade– Have A Nice Day
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Florida based Chicago implant- Swade is beginning his journey in the city of Chicago’s music scene. As a rapper and producer, he’s been redefining his sound for the past few years and has really come into his own in terms of understanding his sound, which is influenced by sounds from contemporary Southern rappers with a lyrical and conscious delivery. With this project we also get the introduction of Swade into out scene in Chicago, where is he developing into one of the upstarts to look out for. From a live show perspective, Swade is also becoming one of the best performers in the city and much of that is as a result of his honesty on the mic and the easy-going nature of his music. What makes Have A Nice Day one of the best projects to have come out of Chicago from the already mentioned southern roots, has been that it doesn’t feel out of place amongst the many acts in the city. This project adds a layer to the ever-evolving Chicago HipHop sound that with projects like Have A Nice Day creates inclusivity for the many artists that have adopted this city as their own to continue to thrive.
Featured Music Video:
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Sulaiman & Doc Da Mindbenda– Intention & Obstacle
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Chicago rapper/producer Sulaiman and frequent collaborator/producer Doc Da Mindbenda are one of the best one-two punch in the city when it comes to emcee and producer tandems. Together they’ve dropped a trifecta of gems with Hook, Line & Thinker, 6pc Fried Hard, and now Intention & Obstacle. What has made this project one of the best releases so far this year is the magic and classic gems that this duo have delivered, and that continues on this project. Sulaiman and Doc Da Mindbenda are the equivalents of a Chicago Gang Starr (Guru & DJ Premier. They’ve dropped cult-following worthy albums that showcase Suli’s lyrical rpwess and vivacious flows over Doc’s funky, gritty, classic boom bap production. This project is a family affair, that includes guest verses from both Chris Crack and Vic Spencer, and continuing this legacy of classics for the underground that Suli and Doc have manifested in this city’s HipHop scene.
