Album: Psalm One – P.O.L.Y. (Psalm One Loves You)
The Chicago Emcee and First Lady of Rhymesayers Ent.’s Third Studio Album Explores Love, Lust, and Relationships, Debuted by Complex
09.24.2015
Critical Praise:
“A seasoned writer with a soulful and vulnerable style, her songwriting is multi-faceted and ultra-cultural.” – ASCAP
A witty, talented lyricist who’s not afraid to reveal personal information as well as brag about her own skills, which are certainly numerable.” – All Music
“Living proof that a female rapper can be just as badass as a male one, that ‘female’ can be dropped altogether as a qualifier so that she can just be a rapper.” – Pop Matter
“How many more intellectual rap nerds and gangster rap poseurs does she have to leave doubled over in pain before people take notice of her dopeness?”– RapReviews.com
The Album:
The first lady of Rhymesayers Ent., Chicago emcee Psalm One has shared her third studio album, P.O.L.Y. (Psalm One Loves You), today via Complex. The album title alludes to the philosophy of polyamory, with Psalm One delivering playful, seductive wordplay complemented by developed production and live instrumentation. “I’m growing as a woman, as a person, and as an artist,” Psalm One told Complex when asked about her inspiration and the album’s subject matter. “As of the past year or so, I’ve been exploring polyamory. That is the practice of maintaining multiple loving relationships. It is a super challenging lifestyle, to say the least. Ups and downs, tears and joy. I have always been a serial monogamist, so my life has been turned upside down. As a result, my music has gotten more lush, and I’ve been able to open up my platform and peer group to more incredible musicians. I’m very community oriented now. Not so much into ‘scenes.’ I’m into sharing my crazy life with amazing people who deserve it.”
Fellow RAPPERCHICKS artist Angelenah joins Psalm One on the album’s opening track, “Secrets (No Waiting),” and also “Plenty of Wins,” which is a haunting, edgy number encapsulating Psalm’s shrewd, unbothered, and self-confident approach. “Kissy Face” is a more lighthearted take on relationships, while “Who Are You” is an introspective cut that finds Psalm letting her guard all the way down to express her true self. Earlier this month, Rookie Mag-debuted Psalm One’s My Gold Mask-assisted track “Maybe Never,” which followed the Okayplayer-premiered “Impatient (Just U & Us).” Earlier this year, Psalm One teamed up with fellow Chi-Town rapper ProbCause for their collaborative ZRO FOX EP, which received praise from Complex and Consequence of Sound.
Psalm One is currently headlining her DIY Tour with support from Angelenah, Fluffy, and the Palmer Squares throughout September and October, hitting various festivals and venues in the Midwest and Northeast.
Listen to P.O.L.Y. (Psalm One Loves You): https://soundcloud.com/psalmone/sets/p-o-l-y-psalm-one-loves-you
Check out the Complex premiere: http://www.complex.com/music/2015/09/psalm-one-new-album-premiere-poly-psalm-one-loves-you
Tour Dates:
9-26 – Urbana, IL – Pygmalion Festival
9-27 – Sioux Falls, SD – Billy Frog’s
9-29 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room Lounge
10-1 – Iowa City, IA – The Mill
10-10 – Louisville, KY – Outskirts Festival
10-18 – Allston, MA – Wonder Bar
10-21 – Portland, MA – Asylum
10-25 – Manchester, NH – Shaskeen Pub
Please contact Michelle or Rory for more info.
Background:
Hologram Kizzie (aka Psalm One) is the first woman artist signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment, a powerhouse of a label known for breeding legends. She’s savvy, self-assured and with almost a decade of rapping and touring under her belt she easily captivates her audience with thoughtful, provocative lyrics and exudes confidence. She has toured North America and Europe; watching her perform is both invigorating and inspiring. Having a degree in Chemistry from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Psalm knows the importance of education, so between tours and music production, she partners with Intonation Music Workshop to offer Rhymeschool, a hip-hop based after school program with an emphasis on literacy and team building. Rhymeschool is offered in cities across the United States, Haiti, and France and was a featured story on PBS.
Psalm One reintroduced herself to the world under a pseudonym: Hologram Kizzie with a new sound in her album Hug Life. She recently performed at Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah‘s birthday party via special request, and played an impressive four showcases at SXSW 2015. She’s shared stages with Vic Mensa, Kendrick Lamar & Travi$ Scott and her resume only continues to grow. Kizzie proves that artistry, growth and longevity are possible, even in this volatile rap landscape. Her most recent musical effort is ZRO FOX, released Winter 2015. ZRO FOX is a collaborative album with ProbCause, her label partner at Bonafyde Media, an artist-run Chicago-based record label. As a member of the all-female supergroup The Rapper Chicks, Psalm One is pushing boundaries and opening the door for new talent. Psalm One’s third studio album, P.O.L.Y. (Psalm One Loves You), is now available.
Links:
facebook | twitter | instagram| soundcloud | youtube
P.O.L.Y. (Psalm One Loves You): https://soundcloud.com/psalmone/sets/p-o-l-y-psalm-one-loves-you
“Maybe Never”: https://soundcloud.com/psalmone/maybe-never-feat-my-gold-mask/
“Impatient” (Just U & Us): https://soundcloud.com/psalmone/psalm-one-impatient-just-u-and-us
“Need Love Too”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUEGcClLzsQ