Image credit: 7BillionCrowns

Today, we’re excited to premiere a new track from L.A. artist Matre titled Who The Crown Fits, which sees production from Factor Chandelier and acts as an appetizer for Matre’s forthcoming EP of the same name. Per press release, we learn that the creation of this project all started with a fateful trip past the northern U.S. border:

A decade ago, L.A. rapper Matre got off a plane in the middle of the Western Canadian prairies to start a tour in a city he had never heard of. He was quickly greeted by a surprisingly vibrant hip hop scene, and hosted by one of its most prominent figures, producer Factor Chandelier (Myka 9, Astronautalis, Awol One), native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The city became a favorite tour stop for the L.A. MC, and he and Factor became close collaborators, building a synergy and sound that now culminates in this unique, style-bending EP…

Also learned is the meaning behind the EP’s title, which centers around inviting every listener to “claim the ‘crown’ inherently belonging to each of us — to step full into our power as creators of our world.

Enjoy a stream of “Who The Crown Fits,” below, and show support by picking up the new single via Matre’s Bandcamp (you can also check out the song’s lyrics there). Who The Crown Fits (the EP) drops March 2nd via 7BillionCrowns.

MATRE – WHO THE CROWN FITS (TRACKLISTING):
1. Who The Crown Fits
2. Different Door (Feat. Lesley Kemochan)
3. Today’s New Love Song (Leavin’ You)
4. No Hands
5. Freedom Drill
6. Pray For Rain

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The post RESPECT. Premiere: Matre – “Who The Crown Fits” (Prod. Factor Chandelier) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

If you guys recall, Matre dropped his hit track “Call Water (Courage Remix)” back in May on RESPECT. Now the soulful lyricist is back with his highly-anticipated mixtape, Courage.

The 18-track mixtape features a variety of vibes and flows from Matre and the featured artists that include Earl 16, Lesley Kernochan, Dahlida, Myka 9, Paleface and more. The project has a 90s/early 00s vibe to it and has production from previously released tracks like Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth‘s “Go With The Flow,” J. Cole‘s “Can’t Get Enough,” and more. You can check out the tracklist and credits below:

Courage Track List & Credits

“Call Water (Courage Remix)” Feat. Mayda Del Valle

• Original Beat prod. by Joe Lonnberg, Peter Walden & Rick Ellis

“Pico Blvd (My Block Mix)” Feat. Lesley Kernochan

• Beat from “On My Block” – Scarface
• Additional production by Rick Ellis

“Neila Drop”

• Beat from “The Message” – Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five

“Midnight Sunrise (Get Enough Mix)” Feat. Myka 9

• Beat from “Can’t Get Enough” – J. Cole

“Listen”

• Original Beat prod by Joe Lonnberg & Rick Ellis

“Chee Malabar & Myka 9 Drop”

• Beat from “Tearz” – Wu Tang Clan

“Once Upon A Time (Courage Mix)” Feat. Earl 16

• Original Beat prod by Sonjay Beats
• Additional Instruments played by Mikael H

“Fritzo Drop”

• Beat from “Go With the Flow” – Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

“Power” Feat. Awol One

• Original Beat prod by Sonjay Beats

“Retsina (Courage Mix)” Feat. Dahlida

• Original Beat prod by Beezwax

“Misteriosa (Mariposa Mix)”

• Beat from “Mariposa” – Nickodemus & Osiris feat. Carol C

“Goin Live” Feat. Paleface

• Original Beat prod by Sonjay Beats & Abdissa Assefa

“Paleface Drop”

• Beat from “Jayou” – Jurassic 5

“Toxic Fashion”

• Beat from “Hey Mama” – Nicki Minaj & David Guetta

“Mars Today” Feat. Paleface & Ashimba

• Original Beat prod by Sonjay Beats / Co-produced by Abdissa Assefa

“Marechal & Jericho J Drop”

• Beat from “Los Dangerous” – Haiku D’Etat

“Voice in the Wilderness”

• Original Beat prod. by Joe Lonnberg & Rick Ellis

Bonus Track: “Midnight Sunrise (Spottie Mix)”

• Beat from “Spottie” – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Courage can be streamed above and downloaded/purchased here today! Make sure to take a listen to the mixtape and tell us what you think. And if you are feeling it, catch Matre performing it live. The show dates are below!

Show dates:

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The post RESPECT. Premiere: Matre ‘Courage’ Mixtape [LISTEN] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“Call Water (Courage Remix)” is probably one of the smoothest tracks I’ve heard in quite sometime. The song, is a collab from Matre and Maya Del Valle, the singer and Tony award-winning spoken word artist and features some very strong lyrics over the latin-groove production.

The song is a representation of what people do to repress and deny instead of using those same means to heal and grow. It is a very strong song that encourages all to be one with the forces of nature and accept courage from all including female leadership. Take a listen to “Call Water (Courage Remix)” above and tell us what you think of the song and what it stands for.

And if you really enjoyed the track, make sure to look out for Matre’s project, Courage, due out on June 7th. Below is the tracklist for Courage:

For more info on Matre and what he has going on musically, follow him on Twitter.

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The post RESPECT. Premiere: Matre feat. Mayda Del Valle – ‘Call Water (Courage Remix)’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Los Angeles rapper Matre just released his new video for “Listen”. If you’re wondering, “Listen” was written by Matre as a response to news about his city’s Unified School District police receiving military weapons from the Department of Defense, via a program called, “1033”. Together with the Embassy Live collective and in solidarity with local youth and organizers, the song is a demand to listen to youth, rather than police them. Watch the video below:

Momentum from the song and message inspired a group of filmmakers, artists and activists to join forces and make this video. Funded by the support of more then two hundred Kickstarter backers, the video’s shoot brought together a number of LA’s leading social justice & youth justice organizations, and community members from around the city, gathering together to help send this message.

Direct actions and continuous programming around these issues are being organized by a number of organizations and will be posted on the website.

The post New Video: Matre – “Listen (With Embassy Live) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.