Shala's Sun-Times Feature

Shala gets a big look from the Chicago Sun-Times this week - and that's some serious face time.  In the feature, Shala discusses his time with Qualo, how he started in Hip Hop, and the approach he's taking to labels and industry politricks in this day and age.

Peep:

"One thing I love about [the Movement] is we're completely gangsta," said Shala. "We know that we put ourselves on so you're not going to come to us with a willy-nilly deal. I turned down two deals already. Cool Kids constantly turn down deals. The record deal stuff is dead."

Check out the whole piece HERE.

Shala Esquire - Immortal Movement Radio Mix

With all the noise the new Chicago movement is making these days - not only locally, but globally - it’s about time someone put together a collection to capture the sound of the city.

Qualo’s Shala Esquire has compiled an incredible mix of Chi City’s newest heavy hitters for your listening pleasure.

Don’t sleep. Download a free copy here.

Tracklist:

1. Pump up the Volume- Cool Kids

2. Swerve and Lean- Hollywood Holt feat. GLC and Shala/Random Hollywood Holt interview

3. Rock!- Hollywood Holt

4. Telephone- Kid Sister

5. Pockets- Qualo CNN interview with Shala (of Qualo)

6. Bang That- Hollywood Holt/Mic Terror live in Montreal

7. Hioooo- Mic Terror

8. Beat in My Trunk- Mic Terror feat. Shala and Hollywood Holt

9. Black Mags- Cool Kids

10.donotfollow (snippet)- Shala feat. Yaw

11. Crash Dummies- He Say She Say

12. Who U Wit (Mano rmx)- Steed Lord X Million Dollar Mano

13. Akebono-Low. B feat. Major Taylor's Jai Alai Savant

14. Chocolate Tie-Qualo feat. Ace Watkins

15. Hoopty Music- Mic Terror

16. the Star- Qualo feat. Jameisha Trice

17. Pro Nails (rmx)- Kid Sister feat. Kanye West

18. The Great Chicago Winter- Shala

19. Nappy Headed Hoes- Mike Love

(Shout to Shala and Mo Billionaire from The Movement)

Shala Esquire x Zebo - "The Great Chicago Winter" (Remix)

Shala Esquire hit me with the Zebo club remix of his latest track - "The Great Chicago Winter"

I have also included the original version for those who don't mess with the club stuff. This is really bubbling in the GO right now.

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Shala - "The Great Chicago Winter" (Zebo Remix)

Shala - "The Great Chicago Winter" (Original)

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Thoughts?

WBC's '25 Rappers From The Chi You Should Know...' List

I touched briefly on this list a few weeks ago when Writers Block Club released a teaser clip for their now-released third issue.  So if you missed it, let me fill you in:  Writers Block Club, a Chicago e-magazine, just released a list entitled '25 Rappers From the Chi You Should Know Already...', which some might take as the Top 25 most buzzing emcees in the City of Wind, who have yet to blow on a national scale.

I wasn't sure who was going to make the list, or if I would agree on who DID make the list, but now that it's released, I'd figured I'd post it for sh*ts and giggles and to see what everyone thinks.

You can download the full issue for FREE here, which features a bunch of Chicago rap lists, including websites, clothing lines and record labels.  They even review The Fake Shore Drive Mixtape.  Anyhoo, check out the list below and hit the jump for the 'Honorable Mentions'

Writers Block Club - Issue #3 [download]

Their 25:

Brandun Deshay
Shayla G
GemStones
Drunken Monkeee
Mikkey Halsted
Shala
Soundmaster T
L.E.P.
Project Mayhem
Young Blaze
Ang 13
H20 Soul
The Pope
Mic Terror
Crystal LaJuene
Reno Chinati
Phil G
Malakh El
Neak
Rockie
MarVo
Que BILLAH
Pugs Atomz
The Native Soul
Sam I Am



Honorable Mention
Mr. Greenweedz
Sly Polaroid
Big Sean
Rita J
Nick N Beans
Bishop G
LD Hablo
Skooda Chose
Bo Deal
Read more...

Mic Terror - The Terrordome Vol. 2

Mo Billionaire hit me with the link for the free download of Mic Terror’s new mixtape, The Terrordome Vol. 2, mixed exclusively by Million $ Mano. Mic is one of Chicago’s brightest new artists, so if you’re not familiar with his work, I recommend you download this immediately for some of that “New Chicago” sound that you’ve been waiting for.

Download for FREE here, or at Mic Terror’s myspace page.

Tracklist and press release below:

(CHICAGO January 1, 2008) Hailing from the Southside of Chicago with two feet (covered in exclusive sneaks) in the street wear scene, Mic Terror of The Phedz/The Movement continues to terrorize the world with the release of his latest music project: The Terror Dome Vol. 2. The project features production by Chicago natives: Tony Baines, Chuck Inglish (of Cool Kids) and Million Dollar Mano, who also mixed The Terror Dome Vol. 2. Artists featured include: Lee Majorz and Hollywood Holt of The Phedz and Shala of the Universal Recording group QUALO.

Mic Terror, who was recently featured in URB Magazine's 150th Anniversary issue and was chosen as one of URB's Next 1000 artists, currently has works in progress with various national artists including Bay Area rap legend Too $hort and Virgina-based hip hop duo The Clipse.

His latest single “Hiiiooooo” and the bonus underground dance track “Juke Dem Hoes” (which both can be found floating online) are included on the mixtape project as well. Also, his videos “Cold as Hell” and "Porno Movies" (this is a must see) have been a viral success thanks to YouTube.

1. Intro
2. Hioooo
3. Mixtape Shit
4. White Girls f/ Mano
5. Fat Sacks Skit
6. Hoopty Music
7. Classic
8. Mic T Live
9. Head in the Coupe
10. Fat Sacks Skit 2
11. Porno Movies
12. Beat In My Trunk
13. Beat In My Trunk feat. Shala & Hollywood Holt
14. Wife No Ho
15. Get Buck
16. Fat Sacks Skit 3
17. Kick it over Here
18. Gold Around My Neck Sample
19. Gold Around My Neck
20. Menace Intermission
21. Jack Move
22. F*** Them Other N*****
23. Steve Outro
24. Juke Dem Hoes

Video: Mo Billionaire Intervew with Rolling Out

RollingOutTV checks in with Mo Billionaire, the mover of the Movement, and the manager of many Chicago artists, including Mic Terror, Million $ Mano, Hollywood Holt, Shala and others. Here Mo B discusses the future of Hip Hop and demostrates his business savvy.

Video: Hollywood Holt & Kid Cudi's Tour Promo

HOLLYWOOD MOON TOUR from Nem Perez on Vimeo.

via The Movement

Bonus: The Movement's Shala DJ'ing at 106 & Park

Cool Kids PLS Magazine Cover & Interview

Chicago-based Progressive Life & Style Magazine recently relaunched their online edition of the mag and kicked things off with a cover story on Chi-Town rated-rookies, the Cool Kids.

I have included a screencap of the interview below, but make sure to check out PLSMag.com for the full report. I was a bit confused as to how to maneuver the site at first – make sure you click the bottom right-hand corner of the screen to turn the page (Like a real magazine, duh!). But I’m sure most of you ‘bags could’ve figured that one out (not me).

Big thanks to Shala

Video: Documentary on Young Chicago Artists

CHICAGO TALENT - "Uncompromised" from Anthony Esquivel on Vimeo.

Featuring appearances from Shala, Mic Terror, Million $ Mano, Drea, GL Joe and many more...

via Sean

Video: The Movement's CMJ Showcase in NYC

Hollywood Holt - "Hollywood"

Million $ Mano, Hollywood Holt, Mic Terror and Shala otherwise known as The Movement collective, hit NYC last week for CMJ and had their own showcase on Friday night. Hi-$peed with Fader Magazine was in the house and relayed this to me:

From MiC Terror's Juke Them Hoes leaving my fellow Fader team members in awww who have never experienced Juke till that night, to Hollywood's high energy performance that almost started a damn mosh pit. Can't forget Shalas soulful swagg. The Movement and Chocolate Industries got nothing but love from the NY's Lower East Side and Brooklyn communities. I was proud to throw my C's up high that night as usual but the crowd reaction was the natural high besides the Jack Daniels and Miller's that filled me and Mic Terror's system.

More vids after the jump...


Mic Terror (with Mano) - "Hoopty Music"


Shala - "Naija Boy"



Read more...