Quelle Chris & Chris Keys ft. Merrill Garbus, Cavalier & Homeboy Sandman: Sacred Safe

More new music from Quelle Chris and Chris Keys as they continue the promo run for their forthcoming Innocent Country 2 album. On the almost prescient Sacred Safe, Quelle is joined by Cavalier, Homeboy Sandman and Tune-Yards instigator, Merrill Garbus, for an exploration on the theme of finding peace while your mind is waging war. The track premiered over on Hypebeast yesterday, along with a Q&A with Quelle.

Quelle Chris & Chris Keys ft. Joseph Chilliams & Cavalier: Living Happy (Video)

Quelle Chris and Chris Keys stay providing the upbeat soundtrack we need right now, with the next single from Innocent Country 2. You might have already heard Living Happy when I posted some details about the album not long ago, but now there is an equally cheerful little animated clip to accompany it. Also accompanying are fellow MCs, Cavalier and Joseph Chilliams, with the latter deserving some sort of prize for rhyming ‘Maury Show’ with ‘glory holes’. Innocent Country 2 is out on 24 April on Mello Music Group.

Quelle Chris & Chris Keys: Living Happy + LP News

Some good news to break up the seemingly endless stream of fear pouring out of every media outlet right now, as Quelle Chris and Chris Keys announce the forthcoming release of a new album. Acting as a successor to their previous collaboration back in 2015, Innocent Country 2, has all the tell-tale signs of yet another win for Quelle and his label home, Mello Music Group. The lead single from the album was released a few weeks back and came as a welcome surprise, as Quelle swapped rapping for singing resulting in a joyous 3.5 minutes of escapism. The latest single, Living Happy, is available to listen to below, with the two Chrisses(?) being joined by Cavalier and Joseph Hilliums. The rest of the album boasts features from billy woods, Homeboy Sandman, Pink Siifu, Earl Sweatshirt and lots more. It’s scheduled for release on 24 April and pre-orders are available now.

Duncecap ft. Quelle Chris: What Have I Done To Myself

A fresh video from Duncecap as he delivers another single from his Backwoodz debut. What Have I Done To Myself is an angsty, self-deprecating dissection of life’s regrets, perfectly accompanied by a guest verse from Dunce’s friend and regular collaborator, Quelle Chris. The track is produced by ELUCID. Miserable Then is available to stream now.

Spectacular Diagnostics: Raw Unknown (Stream)

A big release here from the prolific Chicago producer with the excellent name, Spectacular Diagnostics, as he unveils his Raw Unknown album. SD has managed to amass a hefty list of features for the album, including guest spots from Quelle Chris, billy woods, Vic Spencer, Koncept Jack$on, Rome Streetz and Sadhu Gold, plus a nice little handstyle from Kid Acne on the artwork. You can stream Raw Unknown for yourself in full below.

Quelle Chris & Chris Keys: Sudden Death

A nice surprise release from Mello Music Group, as Chris and Chris (Quelle and Keys, respectively), combine their talents once more on Sudden Death. The video finds Quelle surrounded by bodies, as he delivers a repeated reminder to give yourself time to focus and recalibrate “cause life ain’t perfect”. The track was co-produced by the duo, with Chris Keys providing the instrumentation.

Your Old Droog ft. Mach-Hommy & MF DOOM: BDE + LP Stream

Your Old Droog has already been responsible for two of the year’s top releases, thanks to the two albums he dropped in relatively quick succession earlier in the year. Now he’s decided to go for the triple, as he releases another surprise album, Jewelry. The album features production from the likes of Quelle Chris, Edan and Tha God Fahim, plus some exceptionally nice features from Mach-Hommy, MF DOOM, Fahim and Matisyahu, culminating in some of the best Droog material we’ve heard this year. The latest video from the album is available to watch above and you can stream Jewelry in full below.

Your Old Droog ft. Matisyahu: Jew Tang

A surprise drop from Your Old Droog, who has already blessed us with two superb albums this year, as he releases a new video for Jew Tang. The track also features multi-genre vocalist, Matisyahu, as well as some nice production from Quelle Chris.

Duncecap: Miserable Then (Stream)

Backwoodz Studioz finish off the decade with another great project, as Duncecap unveils his latest EP, Miserable Then. It’s the New York artist’s first release on the label and features full production from fellow Backwoodz resident, ELUCID. There is also a feature from Duncecap’s friend and previous collaborator, Quelle Chris. This is the first time ELUCID has been at the helm of another artist’s release and the two gel well together, with Duncecap’s writing taking on a more honest and self-reflective tone than on earlier works. You can listen to Miserable Then below, with downloads and merch available over on Bandcamp. There is also a video for Waste of Money, made by Rob Yaskovic and Mike Petrow.

Chris Orrick & The Lasso: I Read That I Was Dead (Stream)

Having already been blessed with one album from Chris Orrick this year, I feel particularly lucky to be able to share another stunning release from the Detroit MC. Departing from the sound of Out To Sea, this time round the Mello Music Group artist has teamed up with label-mate, The Lasso, to create an altogether different album but one which is still very much a Chris Orrick project. I Read That I Was Dead was sparked by Orrick reading about the death of a cryptozoologist who shared his name, which then began a journey into new creative territories. The majority of the album is occupied by the two stars, but there is another MMG related appearance from Quelle Chris, on the previously released single, Specimens. The album can be heard in full below and downloads are available via Bandcamp.