Vibe.com, May 12th, 2006
INTRO
Real MC’s are born, not made. Just ask Rhymefest. This Chi-town native has been burning up the airwaves with his single, “Brand New" - off of his debut album, Blue Collar - which is produced by and features his compatriot, the incomparable Kanye West. “When I went to Kanye, I was like I don’t want none of that stuff you be giving other people," explains Rhymefest. "I want something fresh, I want something new. He was like, 'you want something new? Listen to this: Brand New, Brand New!' I said 'I want that right there!'”
Formative Years of a Rap Star
Growing up on the Southside of Chicago, Rhymefest, who describes his style as "funny but true", has always wanted to kick the truth to the young, Black youth. “When I first realized I wanted to rap was when I was in school. I remember I was in like fourth or fifth grade and we had to do a composition of our choice. Instead of reading the composition, I got up and performed it in front of the class. They went crazy. The teacher went nuts. I’m thinking, wow, I can move people with this.”
A Chi-town State of Mind
Some of the hottest lyricists of today are from the Chi: Kanye West, Common, Twista, Lupe Fiasco, and Bumpy J, a fact Rhymefest waste no time in reminding us of. “One thing you can say about all Chicago Rappers is that they can rap, and none of us sound alike. Twista don’t sound like Kanye, Common, Rhymefest, Bump J., or Lupe Fiasco. But the thing about it is, the majority of us are from the Southside of Chicago. We are influenced by the lyrics of the East Coast, the swagger and style of the West Coast, but the drawl of the South. Chicago is Mid-West but it’s got its own soulful flavor.”
The Blue Collar Album
Blue Collar (Allido/J Records), Rhymefest’s first-born masterpiece, is set to hit stores July 2006. It features production by Kanye West, Just Blaze, No I.D., Cool and Dre, and Allido label head, Mark Ronson. The album marks a return to the golden age of hip hop when it was fun and semi-politically driven at the same time. “I love the whole album. My two favorite songs on the album are 'Bullet' and 'I’m ‘Bout A Dollar.' 'Bullet' is about the shorty that joined the military in ignorance, went to war and realized that he didn’t want to be there. The theme of 'I’m ‘Bout A Dollar' is just because you’re working, just because you’re grinding, and you ain’t selling drugs, don’t mean that you ain’t trying to shine.”
Outro
Just because you can rap, doesn’t mean you can rhyme. A real MC is equally made up of lyrical dexterity, swagger, and of course, their love of hip hop. Rhymefest is the quintessential definition of a true MC and the Blue Collar album is testament to just that.
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