originally posted on ElevatorHipHop.com:
“Elevator catches up with producer Maker for an interview at his studio in Chicago’s west side. Maker tells us about making beats, collaborations with Qwel, Chicago hip-hop, records, new projects, Stones Throw, Now-Again, and more. Check it!”
For their 3rd full-length album titled Owl (Galapagos4, 2010), Qwel & Maker’s creative partnership has gone from ‘occcasional collaboration’ to a full-fledged endeavor and the results are loud, clear, and undeniable.
Once described by Rolling Stone as having “stark, biographical songs that occupy the same bleak terrain as Francis Bacon paintings or The Dark Knight,” the Chicago-based duo has matured substantially since the release of their 2009 sophomore LP and continually raise the bar with their brand of raw, unadulterated, underground Hip-Hop.
“The Owl watches and grows wiser,” explains Maker. “As we became more aware of our environment, we gained new perspectives. This album is our way of reconnecting with everything that surrounds us.”
The duo is most at home on tracks like “El Camino” where Qwel’s lyrics scrape vibrant, and often harsh, realities across Maker’s soundscape of hard hitting drums and deft arrangements. “Name looking strange in the limelight / Chamber what you trying to change / Sitting here soaking in hindsight / It’s the road / Its the life I chose” concludes Qwel on “El Camino.” Newly commited to the ‘life they chose’ and resolved to defeat stagnation in an industry in transition, Qwel & Maker have only just begun…
Un-official video for Maker’s track “Silver Mountains” edited by Gustav Mandible. Originally appeared on Rob Wonder’s Scion Radio 17 Host EP No Static At All, but you can also find it with a few verses from Qwel on the new Qwel & Maker album titled Owl (Galapagos4).
A 12″ single from brand new Stonesthrow imprint Innovative Leisure Records featuring 4 exclusive remixes/edits for acclaimed emcee Freddie Gibbs out of Gary, Indiana. Renowned producers from across the country were hand-picked for this project including LA’s Capski, Bay Area’s Trackademicks, San Antonio’s Mexicans With Guns, and Chicago’s Maker. As a whole, this 12inch presents an eclectic set of tracks which create a futuristic, fresh, & new canvas for the emcee’s witty and sharp street lyricism.
Check out Maker’s edit of Gibbs’ track “Slammin’” below courtesy ot DJ RTC & Rubyhornet.com… And purchase the full vinyl or mp3 12inch here.
Freddie Gibbs: Slammin (Maker Remix) by RubyHornet
Don’t forget, Gibbs will be hosting this week’s Digital Freshness with DJ RTC and DJ VIPJ of The Cool Kids. Digital Freshness happens 7.15.10 at Chicago’s Beauty Bar. Entry is $10 at the door and $5 with an advance RSVP to RubyHornet@gmail.com
As part of Scion’s new Radio 17 Host EP series, Atlanta DJ Rob Wonder created “No Static At All,” a companion compilation for his streaming radio station of the same name. Like Wonder’s radio show, the EP is a rumbling mix of music styles and young talent from around the planet such as Bok Bok, Kastle, Kingdom and Klever.
Ground Lift Media artist Maker chimes in with two productions, “Juke Me” & “Silver Mountain“. The former appears on the long-awaited sophomore LP by Chicago’s own Psalm One, and the latter appears here as an instrumental but will also feature verses from Qwel on Qwel & Maker’s upcoming album titled Owl (Galapagos4).
As Wonder says, “This collection of sounds was put together to move minds, hearts and feet.” Coinciding with this musical release, there is also a booklet (available both in print and digitally) about “No Static At All” featuring tweaked creature illustrations by Atlanta art legend R. Land. (Tracklist below)
If you want to keep up with Rob’s adventures follow @robwonder on Twitter and check out his radio show with new episodes every first Thursday of the month at robwonderradio.com. The June episode features Kastle delivering an A-1 exclusive mix. Don’t miss it! Only got a week left before the new show debuts.
Psalm One – “Juke Me” (prod. by Maker)
Maker – “Silver Mountain”
“No Static At All” Tracklist:
Rob Wonder & Mayhem – Rejoice
Psalm One – Juke Me
Maker – Silver Mountain
B. Rich feat Armanni Reigh and Sporty-O – U Made Me
Bok Bok – Ripe Banana 2
Kingdom – Pathfinder
Kastle feat Virus Syndicate – Need U
Klever – Bliss
Check out Rob Wonder online here: www.robwonder.com
Chicago-area beatsmith Maker marks his Now-Again Records debut with Maker Vs. Now Again an entry in the same “music-library” series that saw the release of limited edition (and often not-for-sale) albums like Oh No Vs. Now-Again and Koushik Vs. Now-Again. A boom-bap era hip hop exercise in dusty drum breaks and two bar loops, this accessible series of tracks is clearly made for easy synchronization. This CD is only available for sale in Japan and comes packaged in a “mini-LP” thick cardboard “tip-on” sleeve.
Only 1000 copies of this CD were manufactured. A limited quantity are available now at Stones Throw’s webstore. Below we’re giving away a free mp3.
Download: “Come Home With Me.”
Buy: Maker vs. Now-Again.
Maker made his name in the late-’90s Chicago underground hip-hop scene by finding hard, natural drum breaks and splicing them together into funky, laid-back tracks, the type that would later serve as the backdrop for rhymes by MC Qwel and Grayskul. Recently, the world of music licensing has been paying closer attention to his productions having landed placements on the second season of “This American Life,” the horror movie, “Trick ‘r Treat,“ and most recently MTV’s new reality series, “The Buried Life.” Check out his feature with MTV Buzzworthy, and read about his recent project titled Maker vs. Now-Again on Stonesthrow’s Now-Again imprint.
Qwel & Maker Interview with The Examiner (courtesy of Sherron Shabazz)
Qwel & Maker Interview w/ The Examiner (courtesy of Sherron Shabazz)
In the fall of 2009 Qwel and Maker released the follow up to their 2004 CD The Harvest, So Be It. So Be It is raw Hip-Hop at its best. Qwel spits introspective lyrics without lacking flow while Maker provides the sound. Both men have various side projects that are dope but together they fit like hand-in-glove.
I spoke with Qwel and Maker about So Be It, their various side projects, and their February 13th show in Chicago with Mos Def and MF Doom.
VIEW ORIGINAL INTERVIEW HERE (via examiner.com)
SS: Qwel, explain to the readers of Examiner.com what the Four Season Series is.
Qwel: At the time of the Four Seasons conception I wanted to do something challenging for myself. I also wanted to try out projects with one producer throughout. I figured that way the albums would be more coherent, not only sound-scape wise, but would transition topics from track to track. In some ways I feel I achieved this, but in some ways I fell short by my own standard. I also chose to take up the occasion to describe current events through the biblical descriptions of the four horsemen accordingly. I wanted to record the change in my life at a critical time in human history as well. Life changes like the seasons.
The Jordan Years feat. Wes Restless bring you an exclusive remake of the Snoop Dogg classic, “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None)”. The track is from the classic 1993 album DoggyStyle, produced by Dr. Dre. The Jordan Years are offering this free release to promote their “Dre Day” show at Darkroom on Feb 19th, 2010 hosted by Rhymesayers’ Psalm One.
Guest emcee, Ill Legit hops on board to play the role of Kurupt, with Wes pulling double duty as Nate and Snoop. The regular cast of TJY provides the hot instrumental track, mixed by Wes and Mike A..
DRE DAY EVENT INFO:
The Jordan Years will be playing a special “Dre Day” show February 19, 2010 at Darkroom in Chicago, hosted by the eminent female emcee Psalm One. TJY will be performing music from Dr. Dre’s epic album‘The Chronic’ as well as Dre-produced joints by Snoop Dogg and his other West Coast, gangsta rap homies.
More info can be found here.
Feat.: Psalm One, The Jordan Years, The Comeups, TREW, Big Once, Kool Hersh. Live Art & Photobooth.
Friday February 19th, 2010
Darkroom 2210 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
21+, $5 pre-sale / $7 door (www.darkroombar.com)
_______________________________________________
The Marketing & Event Production firm Ground Lift Media and the Minnesota-based design collective Burlesque of North America have joined forces to present the 2010 installment of DRE DAY: A Celebration of the Life and Music of Dr. Dre. February is quickly approaching, and this will be our eighth year celebrating Andre Young and his creative contributions to the world of Hip-Hop.
It’s time to strap on your Compton hats and locs and celebrate the music and legacy of one of the greatest Hip-Hop artists of all time, the icon responsible for introducing the world to acts as diverse as N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, The D.O.C., Eminem, J.J. Fad, 50 Cent, Arabian Prince, and so many more. It’s Dre Day 2010 and everybody’s celebratin’!
The super-villain of Hip-Hop MF DOOM will come to wreak havoc in Chicago with his latest partner in crime… MOS DEF! The proper authorities have been notified…consider yourself warned! Sources also say MIKE RELM has joined the crew on this night of music and mayhem.
Cold Grums, React, Silver Wrapper and Congress Theatre present…
Friday January 29th 2010
DOOM feat. MOS DEF!
..and for Chicago date only with MIKE RELM!
Chicago’s own QWEL & MAKER, BBU, THE COMEUPS, RUDE 1, TREW, DEMCHUK and RTC have signed on for support, even as they continue to deny any knowledge of DOOM’s whereabouts. With LAZER GRAFFITI by KID STATIC!
What is lazer graffiti?? check it out http://graffitiresearchlab.com/?page_id=76#video
Hosted by MARTIN MALAFAKTOR (http://Custom-Vibes.com) and MS. CHICAGO!
—————————-Details, details…——————————————-
Congress Theater – 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
Doors 7pm 17+ Show | 21 to drink
www.congresschicago.com
GA presales and VIP tickets ON SALE NOW at:
http://www.clubtix.net/ql.php?a=M&e=372255904b1fd76f98ae2
**VIP gets express entry into event, Free bottled water and access to the Sky Lounge**
Hard tickets (General Admission) will be available at the following locations:
Site & Sound (Congress Theater Box Office)
-2125 N Milwaukee Ave Chicago IL (773)-227-7595
Grammaphone Records
-2843 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL – (773) 472-3683
meet the crew…
www.coldgrums.com
www.reactpresents.com
www.silverwrapper.com
and check out our fine, fine sponsors…
Media & Nightlife-
www.chicagoreader.com
www.urchicago.com
www.rubyhornet.com
www.fakeshoredrive.com
www.groundliftmedia.com
www.fusicology.com
Fresh Gear-
www.stalfred.com
www.jugrnaut.com
www.novemlife.com
Qwel & Maker were recently featured in Rolling Stone’s ‘Hype Monitor’ alongside Crookers and Miike Snow for their new album So Be It (Galapagos4). ———————————
“Chicago rapper turns out stark, biographical songs that occupy the same bleak terrain as Francis Bacon paintings…”
As the release date for 1773’s Return of the New approaches, the fellas decided to give their fans a taste of the new stuff on the Returning the New Stuff mixtape. You’ll find a heaping handful of exclusives, non-album cuts, b-sides, rarities, and remixes thrown in for good measure. All this was deftly mixed by DJ Itchie Fingers (Itch13) and hosted by Othello of the Lightheaded crew. Peep the DL link below complete with cover art, mp3 id tags, bpms, and the ever important EPK!
DOWNLOAD: 1773 – Returning the New Stuff (mixed by Itchie Fingers, hosted by Othello)
We’re back again with another installment of UBERJAM! For v.19 we’ll be rocking at Wicker Park’s hottest new bar/lounge/club, Crocodile. Featuring DJs TREW, Intel, Maker, and Pickel. Also brought to you by THE NEW Njs4ever.com – check it out!
Holy Hell. That was a massive party! Freezing cold temperatures and snow blowing around wildly in the ‘brisk’ Chicago Winter wind wasn’t nearly enough to stop ya’ll from getting down with us! Big thanks to everyone who made it out. If you slept, or live elsewhere in the world, check out the Flickr Photoset below (courtesy of Peter Parker Lewis). See you next month at our new digs (Crocodile, 1540 N Milwaukee Ave) more info to follow after the holidays…
