#2008ighties

On this one, Calez goes in on the ills affecting the world around us today while set amongst the images of African-American thinkers and activists of times present and past as he delivers his clear message underlining the motivations and thoughts of groups like Black Lives Matter, who he gives a nod to at the beginning. The visual, for it's depth and meaning also continues a sort of whimsical, cartoon-based world that Calez has asserted for himself throughout the run up to and after the most recent collection. This video appropriately continues an important message forward during a week we sorely need it.  

He matches his melodic verses by showing off some of his production skills. Not only did he take care of the sounds but Calez himself directed and edited the film with some help from Nate Otto on the drawings. Calez is definitely someone to continuously keep an eye out for. He has recently put out work with some familiar names like Alex Wiley, Mick Jenkins, and Donnie Trumpet on his recent single, "Still Good", which you can check out on our pages as well. Be on the lookout for his upcoming album, Baby, which is set to drop later in the month and the video above to see for yourself how he puts on for his city.

A week removed from releasing his track, "Still Good" with Alex Wiley, Mick Jenkins & Donnie Trumpet on Beats 1 Radio, the south side native circles back with listeners to deliver an understated visual rendering for "Baby", the first release in his most recent campaign. More French-noir film than Chicago rap video at first glance, the gentle video places the focus on the careful wordings of Calez, who narrates the piece in an almost spoken-word fashion. We've talked often here about the origins of the most recent waves emanating from a place of poetry and here Calez seems to embrace that mentality, appearing to take his art more seriously as he approaches the release of his next full-length. Brief, but thoughtful, Calez gives listeners something to tie over until the next single with this one. Check it out above.

EMIL – SUNDAY (MUSIC VIDEO) 2008ighties emcee EMIL (formerly known as Fonz-E Mak) captures the essence of the Windy City in his new vid "Sunday".

Calez - Peaceful Prod. by Calez & R.A. Foster