Mick Jenkins
Mick Jenkins Shines the Spotlight on the Elephant in the Room
Mick Jenkins’ third studio album, Elephant in the Room, confronts the issues that haunt his relationships with others, wedging between him and the world. Across the album, the Chicago MC’s deft flows and cool delivery explore the unspoken barriers in his personal and professional life. At some points, Jenkins himself appears as the titular elephant — an underappreciated giant in a too-small box, trying to learn from the silent confusion of everyone else in the room. Jenkins’ rise to prominence came with the release of his 2014 mixtape The Water(S)—an immersive conceptual piece that proved his wordsmithing alongside artists like Noname, Saba, and Chance the Rapper as Chicago underwent a bloom of soulful, innovative rappers. Jenkins took two more projects to explore the lyrically dense lands...
36 Musicians Predict the 2021-22 NBA Season
If it feels like the previous NBA season just ended, well, it sort of did. The Milwaukee Bucks triumphed over the Phoenix Suns, capturing the franchise’s second title in mid-July, and here we are in mid-October with the league ready to tipoff again. Once again, we polled music’s biggest NBA fans to give their takes on how the upcoming season is going to unfold. Unlike last season (more like 2019), we asked for some general thoughts, musing and predictions. As you’ll see in a moment, there are a lot of Lakers and Sixers fans (and they seem pretty optimistic about their team’s chances this season). Here’s what our musician panel had to say about the 2021-22 NBA season. Mark LaneganLos Angeles Clippers They finally made it to the Western Conference finals, which I never thought would hap...
SPIN Daybreaker: 17 Songs That Will Boost Your Mood
It’s the first lovely Friday of spring and what better way to celebrate the coming of better weather and fun times than driving down the coast or starting an isolated dance party on the beach? Lucky for you, Daybreaker has curated some of the grooviest songs you can crank the stereo up to whilst on your weekend escapade. This week’s playlist brings some infectious bops rotating through the pop, dance, soul, psych-pop, and R&B spaces. It’s a complete mix that’ll satisfy every musical craving. Per usual, standouts this week include three incredible rising artists that are making a lasting impression within the industry. First up is seven-piece band, VC Pines who bring a lively alternative-soul sound accompanied with Jack Mercer’s deeply lush vocals on “Smoke Without Fire.” Next is gritty...
East Cleveland’s Kipp Stone Connects With Chicago’s Mick Jenkins For “Sprague Street,” Announces New Project
Source: Lonell “LJ” Swoope / @wonton_swoope Kipp Stone burst on the scene in 2017 with his debut prokect Dirty Face Angel, a solid introduction to his blend of gritty lyrics placed atop soulful production that showed amazing promise. As the East Cleveland producer and rapper prepares for his latest mixtape releasing next month, Kipp connected with Chicago’s Mick Jenkins for the single “Sprague Street” and the pair’s powerful performances mesh well over polished boom bamp production. The “Sprague Street” single serves as a precursor for HOMMÈ, Kipp’s fist full-length project for the year. It serves as a followup to Kipp’s aforementioned Dirty Face Angel project, a 12-track affair that sounds just as potent today as it did three years ago and cementing his place as one of his hometown’s shar...
Disclosure Dazzles on Star-Studded Third LP “ENERGY,” Featuring Kehlani, Common, Aminé and More
Ten years after the release of their first single, “Offline Dexterity,” UK-act Disclosure are releasing their most accomplished work to date. Following the success of 2016’s Caracal, the duo took a year off to soak in life and allow the music to come to them. The result is today’s release of the 11-track album ENERGY, via Capitol Records. Disclosure have garnered nearly five billion streams and five million album sales to date, but on this third album, they prove their art is well beyond chart comparison and destined for longevity. Disclosure originates from Reigate, Surrey, England, but since their debut 2013 album Settle and its follow up, Caracal, were respectively nominated for Best Dance/Electronica Album at the Grammy Awards, they’ve spent mu...
