Photo by Bob Giardini | bobg-media.com
We’re always in the same venues; every time I’ve had a show for past year and a half, somebody else has always brought him on as a guest spot. So we got to talking, and he’s dropping jewels on me, telling me things about the industry. It’s very big brother / little brother.
The track has a nice bounce and a soulful refrain; stream it and download it below.
When he played the Roots Picnic this summer, Chill Moody caught the eyes and ears of the folks at Billboard Magazine, who highlighted his set in their rundown of the festival. For Chill, this was an unexpected honor- the magazine tracks the music business, and so far, he’s never actually sold his music. It was also one highlight in a string of highlights for the Philly rapper: he released the tremendous Freshman Take Cover mixtape this summer, he threw a concert in Love Park in September, he became the first rapper to perform at City Hall in October, performing alongside poet Sonia Sanchez. Tomorrow night, he brings the year to a close on a high note, headlining The TLA on South Street. We caught up with Chill via phone last week to recap his breakout year, get a preview of the TLA show – and the new album, RFM, that comes with it – and to hear what’s in store for 2013.
The Key: What does it mean to you to be playing the TLA?
Chill Moody: It’s everything. It’s a great way to end this year. It’s a been a great year for my career. We had word we’d get this show around June when it first got in talks, and I found out for sure in October. But I figured I should keep rolling throughout the year, and use it to put on a big show at end of year. It’s good to be looked at as the main attraction in your own city, and people who’ve been following me and my career know this is huge for me. They’re proud of me.
TK: Seems like it’s going to be a big lineup – Mic Stew, Jade Alston – I heard The Astronauts are involved. Did you hand pick the artists who are with you?
CM: Yeah, it was a mixture of people who I’m fans of their music and also fans of them as performers. They’re people where their music transcends to their live performance. It’s not like people coming to this show will come just to see me. If you get there on time, you’ll get a good show front to back, and be excited that whole time up until I get on stage. Continue reading
Philly rap icon Freeway – he of #TeamEarly fame – is celebrating the release of his latest LP, Diamond in the Ruff, tonight at The Blockley. The album drops on Tuesday, and features collabos with Musiq Soulchild, Nikki Jean and Wale. The 21+ show begins at 9 p.m., more information is available here. Below, dig on the ominous “Numbers,” Free’s collaboration with fellow Philly rapper Neef Buck.
Philly rapper Freeway is dropping his latest full-length, Diamond in the Ruff, later this month on Babygrande Records, and he’s been teasing us. First with music – there was “We Up” and “Jungle,” as well as the Freedom of Speech mixtape. Then there was the question of when exactly he’d celebrate the album’s release in his hometown. His label originally announced that it was this past Monday night, the 12th, at The Blockley – but it never appeared on the venue’s calendar, and all signs on Tuesday morning pointed to “it did not happen.” Turns out it just took some time to get everyone’s schedule aligned. The venue told us yesterday that the show has been rescheduled for Monday, November 26 – a more timely date, with Diamond in the Ruff coming out the next day – and tickets will be $20 at the door. And hey, there’s new music in the mix too! Below you can check out “Numbers,” another track from the new album, and get ready to party.
Photo by Eric Ashleigh | showtographe.com
Interview: Talking wood nymphs and a show at Ortlieb’s with Brooklyn’s Savoir Adore. [link]
Hear a new song from Nothing, sign up to be in their Key Studio Sessions audience. [link]
Interview: Craig Hendrix of Philly’s Auctioneer on songwriting and Shaking Through. [link]
Lehigh Valley jazz-psych duo XVSK stop by to record a Key Studio Session. [link]
Photos of a spellbinding night at Union Transfer with Beach House. [link]
Breaking down the numbers of WXPN’s 885 Songs that Rock countdown. [link]
Watch a jangling new music video from Low Cut Connie, filmed at the North Star Bar. [link]
Get a taste of the new record from Freeway with his Freedom of Speech mixtape. [link]
Listen to The Dead Milkmen recorded live on WXPN…25 years ago. [link]
Download a free mixtape from Black Dub’s Trixie Whitley. [link]
Watch Rap City, the WHYY documentary on Philly’s hip-hop scene circa 1988. [link]
Couldn’t make it to Austin City Limits? Neil Young and Crazy Horse‘s entire set is streaming. [link]
Also in Austin, Philly sons The War on Drugs played a killer “Arms Like Boulders.” [link]
Jack White dances and beatboxes in his music video for “I’m Shakin’.” [link]
You’ve got to hand it to Freeway – the man knows how to build buzz. After announcing a tour and dropping a video, then following it up with a new track, today it’s an entire new mixtape from Mr. Team Early. Download Freedom of Speech from Datpiff below, get psyched for Diamond in the Ruff‘s November 27 release on Babygrande Records; his hometown release party is reportedly November 12 at The Blockley, but there’s still no ticket onsale information at the venue’s website. We’ll keep you posted with more info on that as we find it.
Philly rapper Freeway gave us another taste of his forthcoming LP Diamond in the Ruff with “Jungle,” a bouncy number you can stream below. The album due out on Babygrande Records on November 27, with a hometown show set for Monday, November 12 at The Blockley in University City.
