MP3: Well$ & Lucho – “A Sad Dance Song” (Prod. by Lucho)

The North Carolina Emcee Reflects on Past Relationships Over a Tropical Yet Dark Beat

9.26.2016

Critical praise for Well$:

“The album finds the 19-year-old straddling the line between trunk-rattling southern bounce and the witty 16s of any Freshman spitter.” – The Fader

“A charismatic live performer…the hometown hero is ready to shine whenever the national look is imminent. – Pitchfork

“Well$ uses inspiration from his own heritage as well as popular American culture to develop a sound that is distinctly his own, drawing on southern influences as well as his own African culture.” – Complex

“Charlotte, N.C., may not be the first city to come to mind when thinking of hip hop hotbeds, but thanks to a rising echelon of talent, that’s about to change. Leading that charge is 19-year-old Leroy Shingu, who goes by the name of Well$.” – Huffington Post

“Catching the frenetic electronic beat effortlessly, Well$ proved that he has talent that deserves to go well beyond a local stage.” – Noisey

The Song:

A versatile emcee with an aggressive bark and a wisdom belying his youth, Well$ is ready to burst out of the North Carolina scene and onto the national radar. Premiered today by 2DopeBoyz, Well$ and New Orleans producer/singer Lucho team up for “A Sad Dance Song,” an infectious track with a tropical beat and a self-explanatory title. Though many artists would use Lucho’s beat as bedrock for a party track, Well$ explores the beat’s emotional undertones, taking the opportunity to reflect on a failed relationship and examine exactly went wrong. With memorable hooks by both Well$ and Lucho, “A Sad Dance Song” is Well$ continuing to step out of his comfort zone and experiment as he follows up “Young Man,” his collaboration with the acclaimed indie electronic duo Sylvan Esso. “Young Man“ one of many flavors featured on Well$ album, The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous, releasing later this year.

The follow-up to last year’s MTSYD: Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher, TWILMMMN is a story of the 21-year-old emcee’s maturation, as he grapples with navigating street life while battling the expectations of his Congolese immigrant family. In February, Well$ released “Heaven’s Door,” debuted by Billboard, which featured vocals from Alec Lomami and production by über-producer Metro Boomin. In March, Mass Appeal debuted a one-take video for TWILMMMN cut “130,” produced by Immaculate Taste rapper/producer Angelo Mota, and Pigeons & Planes premiered a more expansive version of the video. 2DOPEBOYZ premiered the Immaculate Taste artist’s “’98 Juvie,”an homage to 90s-era Juvenile featuring fellow Charlotte emcee Deniro Ferrar, in July. Last month, Well$ teamed up with the acclaimed indie electronic duo Sylvan Esso for “Young Man,” a collaboration praised by The FADER as “a pleasant clash,” adding “the melodic instrumental compliments Sylvan Esso’s sonic vibrations and WELL$ grungy flow.” Earlier this year, Well$ gave one of the best performances at Durham, NC’s Moogfest, which Noisey called one of the “Seven Sets at Moogfest That Expanded Our Consciousness Into New Realms.” With a powerhouse live show and an exquisite ear for beats, Well$’ The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous is the next step in his evolution into a formidable artist.

Listen to “A Sad Dance Song” ft. Lucho: https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/a-sad-dance-song-1

Check Out the 2Dopeboyz Premiere: http://2dopeboyz.com/2016/09/26/wells-lucho-a-sad-dance-song/

Well$ Background:

Like most kids in his native town of Charlotte, North Carolina, Leroy Shingu had a head filled with hip-hop dreams growing up, even trying his hand at freestyling when he was all of nine years old. But a trying background starkly different from the blissful suburban reality of his peers would compel the rapper better known as Well$ to turn that childhood fantasy into a promising career as a rapper. Quietly released in 2012, $ay La V, Well$’ debut EP rose steadily on the Bandcamp charts to peak at number 5 and eventually become the most downloaded album in the Charlotte area. This remarkable ascent as well as the video for the song “State of Ecstasy The Interlude Part 1″ hauled Well$ out of virtual anonymity, and shoved him onto high profile stage performances with artists such as G Eazy, Chris Webby, Johnny Polygon, and one of his idols, Pac Div. His most recent project, MTSYD: Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher was well-received by fans and critics alike. Well$ is gearing up for a busy 2016, starting with his The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous EP.

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Links:

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“A Sad Dance Song” ft. Lucho: https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/a-sad-dance-song-1

“Young Man” ft. Sylvan Esso: https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/well-young-man-ft-sylvan-esso

“’98 Juvie”: https://youtu.be/6GoWYu6P164

“130” (official version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YneUXoS3NZk

“130” (one-take version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXpk1BwnFew

“Heaven’s Door” ft. Alec Lomami (Prod. by Metro Boomin): https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/well-heavens-door-ft-alec-lomami-prod-by-metroboomin

Weekend Money – “Break Spinal” ft. Kool AD: https://soundcloud.com/weekendmoney/weekend-money-break-spinal-feat-well-kool-ad/s-HijDG

“TwoBrothers”: https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/well-twobrothers

“Fight”: https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/fight-prod-pgmw

“Stella 95”: https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/well-stella-95-feat-lucho-prod-pgmw-thefacesblur

“’98 Juvie”: https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/well-98-juvie-prod-sipho-the-gift

“Black Swan”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CFn5fFeCpw / https://soundcloud.com/wells-music/black-swan

“An Awfully Rude Reintroduction”: https://soundcloud.com/10deep/an-awfully-rude-reintroduction-prod-tutankhamen-brothers-the-blck-herts-club

“Youth In Revolt Pt. 2” ft. King Mez: https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/youth-in-revolt-pt-2-feat-king-mez/

CyHi the Prynce – “Mandela” (Official remix feat. Well$): https://soundcloud.com/1cyhitheprynce/mandela-remixfeaturing-reason-well

“Savoir-Faire”: http://youtu.be/bVVggr8eheY

Download link for MTSYD: Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher: http://www.audiomack.com/album/well/mtsyd-the-revenge-of-the-african-booty-scratcher

Bio, pics, and more here: http://www.audibletreats.com/wells/