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Chill Ali – FREE YA MIND

Rising Buffalo-based emcee, Chill Ali, earns his moniker with his latest, long-gestating project, FREE YA MIND. This nine-track offering, which Chill served as both rapper and producer, is two years in the making. The thought and dedication that went into the process is obvious, but as a result Chill has created a superbly cerebral and zen indie-rap album that shows promise of the spitter’s budding signature sound. As a producer, Chill’s productions are spotlight stealing and mess with your senses and perceptions in the best way possible. Hypnotizing beats reverb, melt and ungulate with the syrupy influence of the Houston and cloud surfing hip-hop scenes. The closing title track in particular will massage your brain and get your head nodding in euphoric satisfaction. As a wordsmith, Chill floats over his dreamy beats with a cool and assured flow. His subject matter varies from Buffalo street raps, personal anecdotes and third-eye[...]

Tonight: Herd Fest Day Four

Woooo Herd Fest Day Four! I am writing this with one hand dangling off my twin mattress. So far, we’ve had twelve showcases since Thursday, featuring some of the very best acts locally and beyond. Tonight is no different. This evening Mohawk Place plays host to some of the areas most talented emcees. Leading off the night is Rochester-based hip hop collective, Chemical Ape. Next is conscious rapper Dean Chatham, who will be including a live drummer in his set. After that we have Buffalo’s Chill Ali, set to perform smackdab in the middle. Rounding out the night are sets from wordsmith emcees Prime Example and lit-rap act 200 Kids Outside. Fun starts around 8pm with a $5 cover. <iframe width=”640″ height=”360″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/a76d7vfwgFk” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Chill Ali Drops “Paypa Thin” Video

Chill Ali remains a model of consistency within the Buffalo rap scene. Within the Rich Slave umbrella, Ali has been a beacon of consistently chill releases for the last couple of years. Much like in his previous work, “Paypa Thin” has the dichotomy of smooth music but striking lyricism. Extremely personal lines, like Ali’s relationship with his mother and their struggles in finding safe places to stay, can get lost with your natural inclination to bob your head to his music. “Paypa Thin” in particular has a great beat to get lost in, with vocals samples from the same world as Ty $’s latest work with Kanye appearing within the production. Always chill, but multifaceted at the same time, Ali has come through again with a nice track. Peep below.

Chill Ali Drops New Track “Free Energy”

Buffalo rapper Chill Ali is an artist who has the ability to keep his flow “chill” at all times. His latest track “Free Energy” is a testament to that, as Ali takes on real life hardships while still committed to the style that we’ve come to love. While speaking of friends and family who are users (“you give em what they’re asking for, but now they’re coming back for more.”) and watching other rappers stretch the truth (“a bunch of actors, how you play that tough?”) Ali’s flow is composed as ever. It’s one of his realest songs to date, and an exciting hint at future material from one of the city’s coolest. Keep an eye out for a Chill Ali project in the near future, and check out the track below.

Chill Ali Drops Video for “Misguided”

Buffalo rapper Chill Ali is an artist whose sound is a perfect representation of his name. His songs are expected to feature smooth flows and an overall calm and relaxing vibe. On “Misguided,” Ali’s effortless presence on the mic makes the song a nice head-bobber, but the heavier lyrics take this track to the next level. “Misguided” is Ali’s description for the youth that are forced to grow up without good parental figures, or parents at all. Their lives without guidance can lead to mischievous or even criminal behavior that could’ve all been avoided had they had someone in their life to point them in the right direction. When they’re left to fend for themselves, morality unfortunately can be thrown out the window. It’s a great message, and one that should always be remembered when you hear about young people acting up in the news. Ali is a good enough rapper[...]

Chill Ali’s Dope Debut before the Debut

There are so many different styles in hip-hop, but there’s always refreshing about songs that take a personal, narrative approach. Buffalo hip-hop artist Chill Ali flexes his empirical muscles on T H R O W A W A Y S, a mixtape of tracks that didn’t make the cut for his upcoming album #FREEYAMIND. One of the standout tracks, “Shit on You,” is Ali’s description of his special relationship his boo. Over a chill instrumental, Ali talks of how superior she is to the other ladies. It’s honest and genuine. He even goes as far as saying he wishes for her every night at 11:11, which is not only a cool bar, but also pretty damn meaningful because there’s so many things to wish for. “Fake 1z” is a gripping story about chasing success and avoiding betrayal. No spoilers, but it’s an impressive feat in songwriting and a track that I can’t[...]