Sept. 11--Chicago is overflowing with gifted MC's, from skillful veterans such as Lupe Fiasco and Psalm One to a wave of rising stars that includes Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa. In a scene where any lack of originality will immediately assign any newcomer to has-been status overnight, Mick Jenkins stands out as an original who can both command a stage and push the art form forward as a recording artist.
A few months ago at Lollapalooza in Grant Park, he galvanized an early-arriving audience with a set that mixed energetic presentation with thoughtful, layered rhymes. Words and lyrics "can make a difference," he said as his set wound down, a challenge not only to the audience to demand more of artists but also to his peers.
Jenkins -- born 24 years ago in Huntsville, Ala. -- moved to Chicago's South Side as a child with his family, then returned to Alabama to attend college. It was there that his love of poetry fired his interest in hip-hop. Upon his return to Chicago in 2012, the aspiring rapper released his first mix tape, and the next year collaborated with Chance and Mensa on the single "Crossroads." Last year, the single "Martyrs," a profound commentary on the rising turmoil in the city's poorest neighborhoods, and "The Water(s)" mix tape brought him national acclaim.
A few weeks ago, Jenkins released another mix tape, "Wave(s)," in which his authoritative, baritone vocals show increased versatility amid a blend of experimental soundscapes, textured neo-soul and what is shaping up as his most infectious track yet, the funky "Your Love." On "40 Below," Jenkins enters new territory as he explores the downside of romance with a snippet of no-nonsense Halle Berry movie dialogue as a springboard. In many ways, it's a departure from the sound and sensibility presented on "The Water(s)," an indication that Jenkins has more levels to explore as an artist.
With his credentials as a lyricist already well-established and his reach as a songwriter expanding into a space that bridges the underground and mainstream, it's little wonder that anticipation for Jenkins' first official album, "The Healing Component," is building.
greg@gregkot.com
