‘In Gauged’ Is Bringing His Melodic and

Lyrical Style to the Masses

(CHICAGO, IL) October 17, 2018 – Rising rapper Doobie Dalil from Chicago’s South Side just released his debut album In Gauged.  This body of work has a smooth narrative covering the highs and lows of street life with crisp production, and Doobie’s trademark precise-but-melodic flow. Doobie Dalil has already been making a name for himself with dense lyricism and strong performances opening for the likes of Lil’ Durk and the one-and-only Drake, but with this first full-length project he’s staking his claim for the title of Chicago’s finest.

In Gauged starts off strong with “Bust Down,” a wavy cut produced by Kajun that showcases the articulate flow many have compared to another Chicago native, speed-rap legend Twista. The album continues with a light-hearted vibe on “Thats For Fun” (also produced by Kajun) until things get serious on the Velli-produced track “Mary Jay.” Doobie Dalil shares his vulnerability on “Mary Jay” as he reflects on those he’s lost to the streets: I can’t see ‘em comin down my eyes / So I gotta make this song cry / Make this song cry / Cuz I’m not gon cry / I’m not that type / I’m not gon shed no tears / All your ops gon die / These shots gon fly / I’m not gon shed no tears.

As the project progresses, producer J. Fields delivers on the gritty “Meego” featuring LA’s King Lil G and Eastwood, and “My Blood,” an up-tempo anthem Dalil wrote for the day-ones who’ve been around so long they may as well be blood.  To top it off, Doobie Dalil delivers a sexy, seductive track “All In That” featuring John Blu that takes the ladies for an intimate ride to which this track is skillfully produced by west coast multi-platinum producer Fingazz.  With In Gauged’s 16 solid songs highlighting Doobie Dalil’s creativity and flawless execution, there’s no doubt Chi-town is being elevated with this release. Keep up with Dalil here @doobiedalil and use the code below to embed In Gauged (Spotify).

Listen to In Gaugedfrom Doobie Dalil on Spotify Here

Listen to In Gaugedfrom Doobie Dalil on Apple Music Here

Listen to In Gaugedfrom Doobie Dalil on Amazon Here

Listen to In Gaugedfrom Doobie Dalil on Google Play Here

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Vic Mensa has never been one to bite his tongue in regards to the state of his home city of Chicago.

On Monday (Jun 19), during an interview on Complex’s “Everyday Struggle” with Joe Budden and DJ Akademiks, Mensa started off the interview light discussing hot topics. Vic also talked about his current project, The Manuscript, where Mensa reveals that he created the album with the idea of being able to put who he is into proper perspective.

“I call my album the capsule because it’s similar to a clothing capsule collection. It’s like a piece on there for every demographic and each piece serves its own purpose. It’s really like a precursor to my album dropping this summer and I felt like I wanted to put a couple things so you can really get my perspective as opposed to putting the entire weight of the album into one single or song because is the album is one story or narrative that can’t really be encapsulated in one record.”

But even while explaining his album, you can tell that Vic was a light short towards Akademiks, then things finally came to a head when DJ Akademiks brought up the state of Chicago Hip-Hop. While discussing the influential scene, Mensa stated that while he was excited that artists like himself and Chance the Rapper were artists to become successful doing the alternative; Drill music was still very influential in Hip-Hop as a whole. When Akademiks asked about his feelings towards artists profiting off of the popular subgenre without understanding it’s root in violence, Vic let him have it, attributing Akademiks as being one of the people he was asking about.

When Akademiks asked about his feelings towards artists profiting off of the popular subgenre without understanding it’s root in violence, Vic erupted, attributing Akademiks as being one of the main people glorifying the violence.

“I wanted to slap you in your face honestly,” Mensa said irritated. “I’m just seeing you here for the first time and this is a tame environment so I am going to keep it to my words, but it’s people like you who sensationalized and made a following off of clowning situations that we go through in real life. I think niggas didn’t have no right, you speciafically like you didn’t never have a right. Whatever gave you the right to have a perspective on our people dying on a daily basis.”

But Mensa didn’t stop there, he went on to claim that Akademiks violation of recognizing the seriousness of what is going on in Chicago was not only ignorant but disrespectful.

“There was nothing constructive about what you were doing. Nothing clown and to tell you the truth I really think you’re a bitch to be honest because there is a video that you put up about a person named Tre-57, making all these jokes calling him stupid, nigga this is not a video game; that’s a nigga that I grew up with that I have known since I was five-years-old. To see you clowning him on the internet with this corny ass little voice and make jokes about it, I was waiting to see you.”

Since the episode aired DJ Akademiks has addressed the issue stating, he was caught off guard by the incident and has nothing but love for Chicago artists.

“I have nothing but love for Chicago artists and feel like artists like Chief Keef are some of the most influential. I have never offered anything but honest critiques and that’s how I got my following. However, I am never above artists and I don’ t want people watching to get this f*cked up, I never above an artist. We may have a difference of opinion on what I say or have said about them, but they always have the option to come up here and voice it. He said what he had to say and I’m no thug, but I want it to be clear I have never clowned anyone who died or did Drill or the Chicago culture.”

Check out the video below.

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The post Vic Mensa Calls Out DJ Akademiks On ‘Everyday Struggle’: “You A B***h” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“So surprised that I’m unsigned, but my time will come,” Rockie Fresh raps on his second tape, The Otherside. But being an up-and-comer these days is more of a bittersweet position. The whole world might pay attention for five minutes, but what will keep their undivided attention once the channel inevitably switches? Whether due to his solid Midwestern fanbase or his knack for quality production and youthful yet reflective raps at only 21-years-old, Rick Ross saw something in the Chicago-bred MC that’ll keep the people listening. Now Rockie’s finally sitting in the position that he rapped about on his Kanye West-sampled track, “A.C. Green.” He’s finally on the other side.

Flanked = by his publicist and his road manager, Rockie steps into the lobby of the Hudson Hotel, a swanky, low-key stay somewhere in midtown Manhattan, and plops down on the comfy leather loveseat. Today seems like a long day for the recent MMG signee, filled with lots of questions and anticipation for his latest project, Electric Highway, but he’s both gracious and eager to get the ball rolling. Both Puffy and Rozay attempted to sign Rockie, but he decided to go with Ross, who’s had a great track record with new talent as of late. On YoutTube, we watched as Rozay cracked the seal on a Rolex flooded with diamonds and handed it to Fresh. Today, he’s rocking his new wrist-wear, along with a black leather biker jacket and some red Balenciaga kicks to brighten things up. His aura is calm. Comparable to his raps, he’s both smart and relaxed in demeanor.

While the rest of Chicago is swept up in its recent drill movement, Rockie’s music enters into a more positive aspect. “I think their success is great. It’s allowed them to do positive,” he says of peers like Chief Keef  and Lil Reese. Rockie grew up in church, living in  the city and eventually migrating to the suburbs, and while the violence isn’t something that he’s into, he makes it clear that Chicago’s problem isn’t attributed to the music. “It stems more from the projects being knocked down,” he explains of the city’s recent move to do away with it’s high-rise tenement buildings. Now there’s more violence because neighborhoods have been mingled.

He’d been selling out shows prior to the entrance of the popular trap offset, but he’s collaborated with the scenes purveyors like King Louie while still maintaining his persona throughout. After a few mixtapes, he’s slid into a lane of music that is one with the night. Rockie’s laid-back delivery is what makes suits his music to a late night ride. It’s both reflective and eclectic, borrowing inspiration from indie rock as well as hip-hop. It’s also gotten him comparisons to genre-blender Kanye West, and Rockie takes it all in stride. “I think it’s [because] we’re both from Chicago,”  he says. “If it’s not something aggressive, it’s compared to Kanye West.”

Although he didn’t quite get into hip-hop until his late teens — not that it shows — his favorite hip-hop albums range from Kanye’s College Dropout to Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt. “I hope that when I’m 26 I can look at life like that,” he muses, thinking of Jay’s first record. On the verge of a new release, Electric Highway, Fresh openly admits that he didn’t record while he was on tour. “I’m all about the quality,” he says, “so I had to wait till I got off tour to get the type of quality that I wanted.” The mixtape drops in 24 hours, but he feels good about it. The Lunice-produced banger, “Superman OG” just leaked that morning. As soon as the bass drops, Rockie hops on effortlessly spews swag: “One of the freshest niggas you’ve seen in a while.” It’s nonchalantly swagged out. He’s happy; he’s signed.

Days later at Rockie’s first headlining show at New York’s SOB’s, it’s freezing cold outside, somewhere below 10 degrees. Fans have been waiting outside for two hours circling the small venue. It seems as though Maybach Music is reliving Bad Boy Record’s stint in ‘95, only with Meek Mill posters everywhere and Gunplay mixtapes passed out by the street team. The first 25 people in line get exclusive purple Electric Highway cassette tapes and 3D glasses for the experience. Rockie’s trying to win this city over, ice cold or not. It feels like New York’s welcoming him in true Windy City style. Not only are Young Chop and Sasha Go Hard in the building, Lunice preps with an animated set as well as Sir Michael Rocks. The building is filled with college kids, mostly Rockie’s age, and it’s evident he’s made an impression. Later in the day, Rockie Instagrams pics with French Montana, Wale, Meek Mill, Rozay, and the rest of MMG, and even though his facial expression doesn’t show it,  he’s thrilled. Towards the end of his set, he announced, “It was always my dream to freestyle in New York.” And so, of course, he does.

The post Exclusive Interview: Rockie Fresh Advances to the Other Side appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.