Mick Jenkins and GoldLink have teamed up for a gorgeous new tune today, Pressed For Time (Cross My Mind). The production was similarly collaborative, between Monte Booker of Soulection, and THEMPeople, who have also worked with Chance the Rapper, Noname and other Chicago artists.
Both are two of my favourite off-kilter rappers, with Jenkins’ 2016 album The Healing Component coming in as one of my personal favourites of the year.
Both Mick Jenkins and GoldLink visited Australia across the summer festival season – you can read our GoldLink review here, and check out our photos of Jenkins live in Sydney right here.
Jenkins is currently out on tour in the USA – if you’re over there, click here to grab tickets.
Another year around the sun, another Laneway Festival loaded with unforgettable moments we’ll be recycling until the next one rolls around. The 2017 edition saw another leading lineup take on 7 shows across 3 countries – quite a far cry from the festival’s humble beginnings 13 years ago. The Sydney leg of the tour started out with some choppy weather, which soon gave way to blue skies and sweltering heat. Rain or shine though, the weather wasn’t going to stop punters taking the day by storm.
First up on the main stage was Melbourne three-piece Camp Cope, setting the tone with some high-energy noise and 0% tolerance for rowdy hecklers. Next we moved over to Spinning Top for the always incredible/ completely hilarious Koi Child to take in our fill of that jazzy Hip Hop. This was shortly followed by the infectious NAO, who is all but the name to watch right now. The long awaited Whitney took to the stage afterwards, their gorgeous brand of country soul drawing an enormous crowd who were all too keen to experience the Chicagoans. All-time favourite Nicholas Allbrook wasted no time in jump-starting things – by jumping straight into the crowd that is. Legends Dune Rats on filler duties for an absent Young Thug came to the party and then some, with every single person chanting every lyric to every song that they belted out. Then, in stark contrast to the Dunies, the incredible Mick Jenkins took the the Future Classic stage and pelted us with some seamless lyrical finesse. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard followed back on the main stage – a consistent crowd pleaser and a sure mosh riot, they slay every time. Seattle native Car Seat Headrest followed up his sold out Sydney sideshow with a choice set at the Spinning Top stage, with Tash Sultana then rounding out a massive crowd as the sun sat over hill, lighting up the late afternoon. A.B. Original brought a resounding “fuck you” to their stand-out spot, and Glass Animals sowed some contagious fervour around with their star stage presence as the sun started to set. Mr. Carmack was next over at Future Classic, and things got weird when the crowd overran the barrier and started dancing in the photo pit and on top of speakers, even the stage – a testament to his music and infectious style. Grammy winner Tourist shortly followed with some face-melting tunes, and then it was a quick rush back to the main stage for the one and only Tame Impala, who sprayed the crowd with confetti and delivered a truly memorable live set. Wrapping up our Laneway experience was local psych-electronic guys Jagwar Ma, who brought a hypnotic end to an enormous day of amazing live music.
We managed to capture some of the vibes that went down. Peep the shots below.
Part II continues here, feat. Glass Animals, A.B. Original, Tame Impala & more!
Read our Laneway 2017 review!Camp Cope
Koi Child
NAO
Whitney
Nic Allbrook
Dunerats
Mick Jenkins
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Car Seat Headrest
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
The supremely talented Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins is currently in Australia to perform at Laneway festival, one of the only international hip-hop names, and one of the biggest drawcards for us here at H&E. Quickly developing a devoted fanbase and a critically acclaimed name for himself through a pair of groundbreaking EPs – The Water[s] and Wave[s], he released an incredible album last year, The Healing Component (THC). Known for his engaging, magnetic live performances, he took to one of Sydney’s most intimate and respected stages, The Basement, for his headline sideshow on Thursday February 2. Joining Mick on opening duties was the ever-amazing Sampa The Great, who has previously opened for artists including Kendrick Lamar and Thundercat.
Sampa The Great
Photos: Tom Wilkinson
One of the most engaging and exciting upcoming rappers of the past year, Mick Jenkins has just announced his first ever Australian headline tour dates, to coincide with his appearance at Laneway Festival 2017.
Jenkins’s powerful and socially aware lyrical prowess, vocal stylings and approach to unusual and challenging instrumentation has not only wooed fans and critics alike with his own releases, including The Water(s) and his 2016 debut album (T)he (H)ealing (C)omponent, but collaborations with the likes of Badbanotgood on their stellar record IV, Joey Bada$$, Kaytranada, Vic Mensa and Chance the Rapper.
One of the standout names on the Laneway Festival 2017 bill, we are thrilled that Jenkins will be performing his first ever solo shows in Australia next year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsIiwHHiT3o
Tickets go on sale this Friday, October 28 and midday local time. A Live Nation members pre-sale will also be available from Thursday, October 27 at 10am – tickets and more details can be found here.
Mick Jenkins Australian Tour Dates 2017
Friday January 27: The Toff in Town, Melbourne
Thursday February 2: The Basement, Sydney
Laneway Festival 2017 Dates
Saturday 21 January – SINGAPORE – THE MEADOW, GARDENS BY THE BAY
Thursday 26 January – BRISBANE – BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS, BOWEN HILLS (16+)
Saturday 28 January – MELBOURNE – FOOTSCRAY COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE (FCAC) AND THE RIVER’S EDGE
Monday 30 January – AUCKLAND – IT’S A SECRET, WATCH THIS SPACE!
Friday 3 February – ADELAIDE – HART’S MILL, PORT ADELAIDE (16+)
Saturday 4 February – SYDNEY – SYDNEY COLLEGE OF THE ARTS (SCA), ROZELLE
Sunday 5 February – FREMANTLE – ESPLANADE RESERVE AND WEST END
Image: SXSW
We post playlists and new music all day and all week long, but the music just keeps on coming, doesn’t it? In one of our newest weekly segments, here’s your Friday Rap Wrap, guaranteed nutritious and delicious for your listening pleasure.
Lil Wayne, Pray to the Lord (prod. Streetrunner)
Alright, this one isn’t exactly new, but it’s a new version of one of Lil Wayne’s classics. producer Streetrunner has been busy re-mixing and re-mastering some of the best tracks from his early 2000s mixtapes, and this might just be the best one yet. Pray To The Lord hits right in the feels – particularly in the wake of Tunechi’s recent health scares.
Streetrunner writes, “This was one of the main songs that made me want to mix and master these old Wayne leaked tracks I produced. This classic had millions of views/ listens online and it was the worst possible version anyone could ever hear of this song. Now I bring the fans the new crispy mixed and mastered version. Enjoy!”
Mick Jenkins, Sunkissed ft. theMIND (Prod. Da-P)
Mick Jenkins is far and away one of my favourite recent discoveries (yes, I’m aware I’m really late to this table.) We’ve been waiting patiently as the young rapper gears up for his debut album [T]he [H]ealing [C]omponent, and this week, he has given us a peck on the cheek with Sunkissed, featuring vocals from theMIND and production from Da-P.
This track is truly wonderful, which is unsurprising. Opening up to an ambient atmosphere, his low-hanging verse kicks into gear. His fluid flow and illustrative lyrics continue to amaze me, notably for his ability to come across as both menacing and tranquil at the same time. I can’t wait for his album. Oh, and ICYMI, be sure to check out Mick Jenkins’ phenomenal Badbadnotgood collab Hyssop of Love.
Blu & Nottz, Atlantis
Now this is what I call a stellar collaboration. Blu and Nottz recently announces that they were joining forces once for a new EP, Titans in the Flesh, having previously released Gods in the Spirit back in 2013. They have now unveiled its first single, Atlantis, and it is tremendously good. The calming bounce of Nottz’ sample-laden instrumental lays the perfect groundwork for Blu’s rhythmic verses.
The track’s story is relevant to the EP title, with Atlantis being a mythical, once-vibrant civilisation that now resides somewhere deep in the ocean. Blu’s lyrics detail his own haven, in a conscious, lyrically explorative manner, while remaining animated, even dreamy. The seven track album comes out later this month on July 15.
https://soundcloud.com/diamondmedia360/blu-nottz-atlantis
Fudge (Prefuse 73 x Michael Christmas), In My Shoes ft. Alex Mali
Another collaborative track, welcome to Fudge, a new duo consisting of producer Prefuse 73 and rapper Michael Christmas. Prefuse has previously worked with Ghostface Killah, Aesop Rock, El-P, MF DOOM and more, while Christmas’ last release, 2015’s What A Weird Day, featured guests including Rome Fortune and Mac Miller.
The track has a glistening electronic instrumental, and coupled with Mali’s honeyed hook, makes for a beautiful soundscape beneath Christmas’ verses. His flow has a real classic vibe to it, albeit speedier, and he shows off his abilities from the opening bars onwards. I’m interested to see where this collaboration goes – it’s an interesting fusion of future soul and hip-hop, and while the instrumental borders on being slightly too tropical for my tastes at first, it grows spacier and more futuristic as it progresses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxIL6g534mg
Toronto-based jazz maestros BadBadNotGood are well and truly back for 2016, having announced that their upcoming album IV is set for release on July 8. It’s their first solo album which is set to incorporate guest vocalists. It’s also the first to see an expanded group, with the original trio recently introducing fourth member Leland Whitty, on violin, sax, guitar and more. This marks an interesting shift forward from their previous three instrumental efforts, in terms of incorporating both new sounds and guest vocalists, no doubt influenced by their remixes, many collaborations in and around hip-hop, and of course last year’s full length collaboration with Ghostface Killah, Sour Soul.
Today sees the release of Hyssop of Love, the fourth taste of their new album – we’ve previously heard Speaking Gently, Confessions Pt II (ft. Colin Stetson) and Time Moves Slow (ft. Sam Herring of Future Islands). I’m particularly excited that the new single features Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins; I’ll admit that I slept on Jenkins for far too long, but after discovering him earlier this year I have subsequently become obsessed with his releases The Water[s] and Wave[s].
Hyssop of Love is certainly my favourite so far. The eerie, flute-laden instrumental layers evokes an understated groove, with atmospheric trills and softly intricate rhythms and percussion, each layer contributing to the delicate, woozy atmosphere. Jenkins’ deep flow and clever lyrics hazily slink from bar to bar up above, making for an incredible listen from top to bottom.
Each track so far has been wonderful and diverse, and it’s already clear that a really interesting musical landscape is being weaved together on what is sure to be a stellar release. Drummer Alex Sowinski spoke to Linda Marigliano when Triple J premiered the song, explaining that Jenkins “came to Toronto, in our home space to literally vibe with us and work on some songs and I believe this is the first thing we ever did with him. I remember when he came in, different people have a different presence and feel so we were like, ‘let’s get into it’ and this is what came about.”
He went on to talk about the album’s progression, saying that it “is a complete revelation for us in terms of production work, song writing and studio creation. We did all our songs with vocalists, producers or instrumentalists from our home state in Toronto… Being big, avid music fans and loving song writing and having chord progression and arrangements in our tracks, this was the time to seep more into those ideas and work on strings and horns and how you can produce someone’s vocals and make them sound cohesive over our ideas and chord progressions. This album is a reflective manner of where we are at- half a year ago when we recorded it. We are just happy to be recording and making music.”
Listen below via Spotify. The track can also be found on Apple Music.
Image: Supplied
Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins has kept the tracks coming since 2012, posting up as one of the city’s most promising young talents since his debut. His last release, Wave[s], dropped August 2015, and since then the Alabama born Jenkins has been working on his first full album, The Healing Component. But in the meantime, 2016 has already seen new tracks from Jenkins, the latest of which appeared this week.
Produced by electronic artist Kaytranada and THEMpeople, The Artful Dodger is perhaps the first taste of the forthcoming album. Jenkins and Kaytranada collaborated previously on tracks for Wave[s], and The Artful Dodger sees them working together once more.
The track is a whip smart piece of introspection from Jenkins, who’s lyrical dexterity has set him up as one of rap’s young stars. Titled for Dicken’s classical young hustler, The Artful Dodger comes across like a calling card, or introduction to Mick Jenkins. Comparing himself to basketball prodigy Carl Anthony Towns, or fellow rapper Nas (Jenkins was once quoted as saying “Noname Gypsy told me I’m our generation’s Nas. I humbly accept that comparison”), Jenkins is gearing up for his success. Up the against the hustle, he’s “Less “Goldie”, more Dolemite”, referencing super villain Harvey Dent (or “Two Face”) in the hook.
Backed by ambient, lofi instrumentation, Kaytranada’s touch is pretty apparent across resonating bass and a delicate little hook melody. It’s nice and sparse in its futuristic, classical feel, with Jenkins’ relentless flow over the top. Stream the full track below.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/256444234″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Image: The Daily Loud