Santa Fe, New Mexico art collective Meow Wolf made national headlines with its interactive, multimedia art exhibition in 2016. Albuquerque Hip Hop staple Wake Self has enlisted the help of the creative team behind “The House Of Eternal Return” for his new video, “No Price Tags” featuring vocalist, Alia Lucero.

Inspired by Busta Rhyme’s video for “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” “No Price Tags” follows Wake’s powerful visuals for “Malala” and his collaborative track, “Change the World,” featuring Blackalicious emcee, Gift of Gab.

With production supplied by SmokeM2D6 of oldominon and Grayskul fame, the track has been turned into a wildly artistic musical adventure thanks to director Phillip Torres of Concept Flux Media. Filmed at Meow Wolf and animated by Goldie Rankin, the visual finds Wake and crew covered in neon body paint courtesy of graffiti artist Kause. Check out the visuals, taken from Wake’s latest solo effort, Malala. Check out the visuals right here courtesy of RESPECT., and hit that play button below to get more familiar with Self, as he discusses Malala via Generation Justice’s podcast.

https://soundcloud.com/generation-justice/an-artistic-journey-through-wake-selfs-newest-album-malala

Wake Self Online:
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/WakeSelf
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wakeself
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WakeSelf

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Albuquerque, New Mexico Hip Hop staple Wake Self has returned with his follow-up to 2014’s Good Things Happen to Those Who Wake in the form of Malala, named after the youngest Noble Peace Prize recipient in history, Malala Yousafzai.

Wake has shared the video for the title track, which is bursting at the seams with sharp social commentary on the way women are continually disrespected in not only the Hip Hop community, but also in billboard ads, commercials, magazines, and every day life. His specific call to action is to end misogyny in rap.

With generous contributions from Miles Bonny, Belgium artist Blu Samu, partner-in-crime Def-i, vocalist Alia Lucero, and Blackalicious’ Gift of Gab, Malala is exactly what Hip Hop needs right now.

“Making this album has already changed my life,” he said in an interview. “I am deeply connected to every word, syllable, rhyme pattern, feeling, concept, and idea that came through me on this project. I try to make music that can heal, inspire, bring love, awareness, happiness, and clarity. I want people to feel alive, and clear—to not only envision a new world, but to also start materializing it with our actions, and continue cleansing ourselves from the wounds of our past social patterns.”

The post Wake Self Shares Powerful Video For “Malala” As Call To Action To End Misogyny In Rap appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Albuquerque, New Mexico emcee Wake Self combines observant social commentary, complex rhyme patterns and uplifting rhythms for his most recent album, Malala, which was released Wednesday, August 24. 

From the orchestral feel of the impactful title track to “Change the World” featuring Blackalicious’ Gift of Gab, the 15-track album bursts with original content unparalleled by most modern day emcees.

“There are concepts inside of every song,” Wake explained in a recent interview. “Each song has its own mood, atmosphere and anatomy. The way I feel about life and my experiences, beliefs, perception, and emotion is everything. As humans we are not the boxes and generalizations or short description we are forced to fit in. Everything we are is constantly expanding and deepening. Malala is an illustrated soundtrack to my journey and faith for a brighter future.”

With lush contributions from Miles Bonny, Belgium artist Blu Samu, partner-in-crime Def-i, and of course, Gift of Gab, Malala comes at a time when complacency has littered Hip Hop’s landscape. 

“Making this album has already changed my life,” he says. “I am deeply connected to every word, syllable, rhyme patter, feeling, concept, and idea that came through me on this project. I try to make music that can heal, inspire, bring love, awareness, happiness, and clarity. I want people to feel alive, and clear—to not only envision a new world, but to also start materializing it with our actions, and continue cleansing ourselves from the wounds of our past social patterns.” Check it out on Bandcamp. 

The post Wake Self Releases New Album, ‘Malala’ Ft. Gift of Gab and Production From Oldominion’s SmokeM2D6 appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

New Mexico Hip-Hop staple Wake Self has teamed up with the illustrious Gift of Gab from the Oakland duo, Blackalicious. Together, they execute one of his most important songs yet, “Change the World.”

Produced by SmokeM2D6 of Oldominion, “Change the World” was a dream collaboration for the budding emcee. While on tour with Gab in 2014, the two talked about doing a track together. One particular night after a show in Durango, Colo., a fan asked, “When is a Wake Self and Gift of Gab song coming out?” The timing was finally right.

“This was actually the first beat I sent Gab from Smoke and he immediately said he wanted to use it,” Wake explains. “He actually did his verse first and I heard it and bounced of the content he had put together. It’s always a blessing when you can rock a track with artists who’ve inspired you over the years.”  

The track takes aim at several culture trends in society that Wake believes are damaging for our souls, including social media, vapid entertainment, celebrity worship, and other things that distract us from truly living our lives.  

In addition to the unveiling of “Change the World,” Wake has also announced his sophomore album, Malala, which is due out August 24, 2016, Wake’s mother’s birthday.

“My main focus with music is to share my ideas with the world, to bring awareness, help heal and inspire people with music, and make my mom proud,” he says. 

Wake has been working on Malala for the past two years and it’s an album he’s proud to share with the world.

“I love this album,” he says. “The journey up to this point has been amazing. I really feel like making this album has already changed my life. I healed and found myself again.” 

Wake Self Online:

www.wakeself.com

www.soundcloud.com/wakeself

@wakeself

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Albuquerque, New Mexico emcee, Wake Self, wowed the hip-hop community with his latest video for the track, “I Still Love Her,” his beautifully constructed ode to hip-hop culture. Released in January 2016, it showed hip-hop fans the love and appreciation Wake Self has for his predecessors. 

Although his name is not as well known as the Drakes, Ice Cubes or Kendrick Lamars of the world, he’s slowly (but surely) changing that. With his atypical rhymes revolving around community betterment, spirituality and staying healthy, Wake Self’s bars stand out among a sea of generic lyrics that are way too common these days.

Currently on tour with legendary Brooklyn emcee, Masta Ace, Wake Self had a few moments in between shows to talk about his upcoming album Malala, touring with a legend and why New Mexico would be the ideal place for KRS-One‘s vision for a “Hip Hop City.”

Check out what Wake Self had to say about touring with Masta Ace, Phife Dawg and more.

RESPECT.: What inspired you to become an emcee?

I feel like I have something to say other rappers and emcees aren’t saying. And I love the art of rhyme; it’s how I reflect who I am. All the greats before me who ever spit a verse that hit me in the heart and my best friend, Def-i, too.

RESPECT.: What is one of the most important messages you want to get across to the world through your music?

There are so many. Every day I become aware of new struggles happening on this planet that need awareness brought to them. In short, I want to raise the overall awareness of humanity, so we can pay attention to what is really important; to inspire creative solutions to jumpstart the removal of limitations blocking our collective evolution; making suggestions for the average human to be more eco-friendly and health conscious; to show our pain, embarrassment, faults, imperfections, and differences need to be embraced, and we need to be patient and supportive of our personal growth and individual journeys. 

RESPECT.: You’re currently on tour with legendary emcee, Masta Ace. How did you make this happen?

Shout out to Ace. A mutual friend connected us and we started chopping it up. He’s a really cool genuine person. I’m thankful for the opportunity.

RESPECT.: Your last video “I Still Love Her” got a lot of positive attention. Were you happy with how it was received? 

I am grateful for the love and thanks to everyone who shares the music. Support from the listeners is everything. That’s a no brainer.

RESPECT.: You have a new album coming out, Malala. First why name it after her and second what’s different about this one?

She’s an incredible human and we need more of those. I believe we all need archetypes in the form of examples outside of ourselves to help motivate us to facilitate change in our own realities. It’s a connection musically to a movement of consciousness and social awareness she embodies. To be honest, it’s better in all aspects than anything I’ve released so far. I’m more experienced now. I’m happy with it. The feel and the concepts are more of what I’ve always wanted my music to get across.

RESPECT.: What do you want to accomplish this year?

Just to become me, more and more.  I want to become the person who I truly know I’m capable of being, pushing past every limit that holds me back. As I find myself and understand my own individuality, and how to unlock, I truly believe everything will fall or maybe rise into place.

RESPECT.: KRS one once said he would start a “Hip Hop city” in New Mexico. What about growing up in the Zia state has influenced your music?

It made me different that the rest of the world. We have a different flavor out here. We just wanna show the world what we got. As far as Hip Hop goes, we have a deep love for it. We practice the elements and respect the craft and culture in a very honest, real way.

RESPECT.: What did you think of the news of Phife’s passing?

No words. I know the heart of Hip Hop broke into pieces and we all will be forever waiting to see that A Tribe Called Quest reunion tour.  

Check out more about Wake Self on Twitter & on his site.

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J Dilla’s premature passing at the age of 32 left a massive hole in the hip-hop community, but it was a blip on the radar compared to the void felt by his mother. Affectionately referred to as “Ma Dukes,” Dilla’s mother has been instrumental in keeping his memory alive. Along with countless hip hop artists who continually show respect to the fallen producer, she has carried a torch for her late son in a way that is nothing short of miraculous. Albuquerque, New Mexico-based emcee Wake Self found it fitting to pay tribute to her on his new track, “Still Love Her.” Managing to get Ma Dukes to deliver the intro, she encourages listeners of the Wake Self track to “educate yourself/be about it.”

“When I met her, I felt like a super fan, but she’s such a sweet lady. She makes you feel like you’re part of her family,” Wake says. “Also, thanks to Enoch and DJ Earth 1ne for introducing us. I had an idea for the song and everything just fell into place. It was an honor to start the song off with her.”

Wake’s homage to hip hop doesn’t stop there. The creatively shot video takes several classic hip hop album covers and puts Wake at the center of every recreation. From Nas’ Illmatic to Dr. Dre’s The Chronic to De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising to Big Daddy Kane’s Long Live the Kane, Wake paints a portrait only a true hip hop fan could conjure up. He cleverly pieces together names of the artists and albums that made him fall in love with the culture in every verse.

“This video symbolizes all the years I’ve loved hip hop and the deep amount of appreciation I have for the culture,” he says. “This is me telling the older generation, ‘Hey we get it.’ I’m young, but I understand why hip hop is so beautiful and raw at the same time.”

“Still Love Her” encourages the breakdancers, writers, DJs, emcees, beatboxers, supporters, bloggers, filmmakers, fans and showgoers of the world to keep going. Wake’s vision of unity and unconditional support of hip hop culture is noticeably absent in today’s musical climate. If anything, the track is a call-to-action. 

“We need to help push the culture forward and we definitely have to start by acknowledging the history and learning from the past,” he says. “We’re an incredible culture that connects the whole world and I think it’s time to change the landscape of music again.”

The post New Music: Wake Self – “Still Love Her” Feat. Ma Dukes appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.