MP3: Caleborate – “Made Me” (Prod. by Kuya Beats & Trollex)

Caleborate Lays Out His Motivations On This Fader Premiered Appetizer for 1993, Releasing August 29th

08.19.2016

Critical Praise for Caleborate

“One to watch in 2016.” – Pigeons & Planes

“Caleb has proven himself to a MC in the purest form, eschewing the flashy brag raps for a centered focus on precise wordplay and introspective storytelling paired with some of the best production that the Bay can offer.” – EARMILK

“One of the Bay Area’s most promising upcoming artists” – Good Music All Day

The Song:

Though Northern California emcee Caleborate is only 23, he displays the poise and wisdom of a rap veteran on “Made Me,” premiered yesterday by The FADER. Riding a laidback flow over spritely minor key piano chords, pitch-shifted synth bass, and muted snare drums courtesy of Kuya Beats and Trollex, Caleborate reflects on growing up in poverty and stunts on rappers more interested in their social media pages than giving their families a better life. Rather than wallow in his troubles, Caleborate uses his hardships as motivation: “I ain’t satisfied with what I got/cause never havin’ nothin’ made me wanna ball.” “Made Me” is an ideal table-setter for 1993, Caleborate’s second studio album, releasing August 29th.

“I made this record because it needed to be heard,” explains Caleborate to The FADER. “A lot of the things I said in this record are meant to spark a thought in someone’s mind. I remember the night I wrote it, I was coming from the studio and thinking I was out of inspiration, I hopped on the Bart train and inadvertently started people-watching. I had an interesting thought when looking at one dude. I just started thinking about the place we’re in as people, as black males… All that… It just got me writing instantly. And out came this song.”

Earlier this month, Caleborate shared the VIBE-premiered 1993 single “Options,” a soulful summer jam with halting, chopped up production from Cal-A and guest spots from Pell and Sylvan LaCue, which was recently added to Spotify’s Most Necessary playlist. More recently, Caleborate shared the “cinematic” video for “‘08 Carter Flow,” premiered by REVOLT, which includes home movie-style clips of Caleborate and his friends.. Following up his acclaimed 2015 release Hella Good, which received praise from Pigeons & Planes, The Source, and SF Weekly, which named it the Best Hip-Hop Album of the Bay Area for 2015, 1993 combines nostalgia for the 23-year-old rapper’s childhood with reflections on modern life, exploring Caleborate’s unique generational point-of-view through varied production and complex lyrical themes. Featuring production from P-Lo, Mikos Da Gawd, HBK’s Kuya Beats, Cal-A, and Julia Lewis, 1993 represents a step forward for Caleborate and is an excellent entry point for new fans.

Listen to “Made Me”: https://soundcloud.com/caleborate/made-me/s-toGop

Check out the Fader Premiere: http://www.thefader.com/2016/08/23/caleborate-made-me-single-1993

Pre-order 1993 on ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/1993/id1142404724?ls=1&app=itunes

Please contact Michelle or Dharmic for more info.

Caleborate Background:

A Berkeley bred student of hip-hop and all around eclectic artist, Caleborate has been renowned as one of the games most promising emcee’s. With lyrics that represent the unique struggles of the average 20-something, and stanza’s about the day to day grind as a collegiate youth, he covers topics far and wide and is anything but shallow. After being awarded the “Best Hip Hop Album of The Bay Area” in 2015 by SF Weekly, Caleborate is poised to sit cross-legged atop the hip-hop genre someday.