MP3: Devin Miles ft. Hardo – “Chess, Not Checkers”

With His Debut Album, Pixburgh, Releasing This Tuesday, the Rising Artist Shares a Second Single via HotNewHipHop

10.13.2014

Critical praise for Devin Miles:

“Devin Miles is doing well for a 21-year old college dropout.” – The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Devin does a great job of juxtaposing his past and present situations, giving the listener a vivid picture of where he came from, and why his current success deserves to be celebrated.” – XXL

“With the persistence, poise, and growth Devin Miles has displayed over the past two years, one has to know that his encounters with success are inevitable.” – Jenesis Magazine

“Devin Miles’s chances in this game are improving with each new release… We’re definitely anticipating the next move.” – HotNewHipHop

“I think this kid might get better every time I hear him spit. Devin’s making this stuff look easy” – YouHeardThatNew

“Mediocre beats and rhymes have you feeling under the weather? Devin Miles has the cure for what ails you.” – DJ Booth

“There’s a serious swagger to this young MC, one that isn’t hinged on shiny things or acting too tough.” – Okayplayer

The Song:

With his debut album, Pixburgh, releasing tomorrow, rapper Devin Miles drops the project’s second single, “Chess, Not Checkers,” featuring fellow Pittsburgh MC Hardo. “A methodically-paced, thinking man’s track, ‘Chess, Not Checkers’ is about one-upping your rivals and staying ahead of the competition,” states HotNewHipHop in their premiere of the song, adding,“both rappers turn in bars that prove to us they’re the Grandmasters of this shit.” The Andrew Lloyd & Karbon produced track features a smooth synthesized melody, weaved nicely through stiff-hitting drums.

Devin Miles has been making major waves over the past 6 weeks, with XXL debuting his single “Came Up,” saying “Devin does a great job of juxtaposing his past and present situations, giving the listener a vivid picture of where he came from, and why his current success deserves to be celebrated.” The Okayplayer premiered loosie “No Different” has more of a jazzy swing to it, as OKP claims “there’s a serious swagger to this young MC, one that isn’t hinged on shiny things or acting too tough.” Both tracks showcase the Pittsburgh natives versatility and hunger, striking curiosity and anticipation for his album’s release.

In the HipHopDX album announcement/interview, Devin mentions, “my story in Pixburgh is going to be from the observer and note-taker’s perspective. I’ve never been a crazy partier, I just learned an appreciation for how people were in this city and what kind of things they got into and was able to report on it, i.e. rap about it.” The young Steel City rapper’s album, Pixburgh, releases tomorrow and is available for preorder on iTunes.

Check out the HotNewHipHop premiere: http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/devin-miles-chess-not-checkers-feat-hardo-prod-by-andrew-lloyd-and-karbon-new-song.1958144.html

Listen to “Chess, Not Checkers”: https://soundcloud.com/itsdevinmiles/chess-not-checkers-ft-hardo-prod-andrew-lloyd-karbon

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/171643397″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Pixburgh tracklist:

01. Vamoose
02. Came Up
03. Do That
04. Sucker Free
05. Chess Not Checkers
06. PIXBURGH
07. Wishing Well
08. Mirror, rorriM
09. Don’t Be Scared
10. What They Gon’ Say

Please contact Michelle or Rory if interested in talking with Devin Miles.

Devin Miles’ Background:

Standing strong at 500,000 YouTube views coupled with a million Soundcloud plays, Devin Miles is the latest self-made voice from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania challenging he status quo of hip-hop. However, contrary to local voices like Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller—the latter of whom has been a longtime close friend—Miles aims to show his personal Pixburgh, a complex view of city-life. “I’m trying to show people the depth of Pitt,” says the early-twenties rapper and producer, disagreeing with pop culture’s portrayal of partying, Steelers, and stacked sandwiches. His title, an homage to the regional dialect, represents a star who came from and thrives in a unique place and time. Fused with Devin’s most honest and courageous lyrics to date, the Fall 2014 release is candid snapshots of the artist and the man, immersed in his city.