Pell‘s Fresh Produce Tour, which started last week, is still going strong. Click here for dates.

The post New Music: Pell feat. Big Sant – “Inner Peace” (prod. JR Jarris) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

That Feel Good Tuesday is upon us again. This week’s track is “Chewsin’:ThreeSixtyFive” a collage of two concepts: confidence and paranoia. On the first half of the track, Pell casually declares that he’s the one doing the choosing; he then immediately contradicts himself on the anxious second half of the track by admitting his constant apprehension (365 days a year) toward possibly not being chosen (i.e. being successful). This is the dilemma of the developing artist, a constant and sometimes terrifying oscillation between certainty and its bleak opposite. These could have been two separate songs, but by joining them Pell acknowledges this duality.

“Chewsin’:ThreeSixtyFive” is the third release in Pell‘s #TFGTuesday campaign, which is releasing new music every Tuesday until next Tuesday, September 17, in promotion of his upcoming tour, which has the dates listed in this post. Listen below and check back in next Tuesday for the final installment.

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“I ain’t on a molly dog, but everything is peachy,” Pell raps toward the end of the song. This almost sounds like another disposable and self-righteous, “I don’t do molly” line, but it’s actually one of the strongest moments on “Prophecy.” Though Pell would love to have 1000 more fans and the money to afford a molly habit, he lacks both. Nevertheless, he strives for them (the money, not the molly) through his efforts and his belief in his talent. It’s a difficult path, but he walks it anyway, seeking to fulfill his prophecy through perpetual motion rather than inertia.

“Prophecy” is the second release in Pell‘s #TFGTuesday campaign, which is releasing new music every Tuesday until September 17 in promotion of his upcoming tour, which has the dates listed at the end of this post. Listen below and check back in next Tuesday. As we informed you last week, all the songs have been vetted and are certifiably dope.

If the beat sounds familiar, that’s because it’s from The Roots‘ “Hall and Oates” a song from their tribute album for the deceased J Dilla. Also, you are probably a rap nerd.

The post New Music: Pell – “Prophecy” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Also, note the musical similarities between Pell and early Kid Cudi.

The post Video Premier: Pell – “Ocean View 2.0” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The common narrative of summer is that it’s a time of continuous fun. Because of its title, Pell‘s Feel Good Summer would seem to follow that trajectory, but that’s not quite the case. Pell is attuned to both the fun of summer and the strange misery of summer. Between every vacation or celebration, there are periods of idleness and listlessness. Pell is interested in bringing that full summer experience together.

Of interest is how he stitches this complete summer together. Though he is a rapper from Mississippi, aesthetically Pell is not a descendant of David Banner or an affiliate of Big K.R.I.T. He is influenced by a different musical lineage, one that is more influenced by the sounds of the ocean than the sounds of the Mississippi River.

Accordingly, the standout track is “Ocean View,” a subdued and intimate song where Pell slowly melts into an effervescent piano riff. Songs like this really showcase what happens when rappers realize their voices are instruments. Listen to the rest of the EP below. It will make you feel good.

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Mississippi rapper Pell continues to provide us with interesting visuals. We’ve seen him be dark and mysterious and we’ve seen him be bravely intimate, but the video for “Ca$hin’ ” takes a more retro turn. Here, we don’t see Pell at all. Completely effacing his visual presence, Pell  emphasizes his sonic presence instead, guiding us through the video with just his words, which are textually reproduced alongside corresponding images. The retro vibe of the song and the video work perfectly to create a feel-good ambience.

Appropriately, Pell’s upcoming EP, which drops next week, is titled, Feel Good Summer. Mark your calendars and watch below.

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“Seasons” is just a taste of Pell’s upcoming project Feel Good Summer, which is dropping on June 6, so keep your eyes open. Pell Yeah.

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