Critical praise:
“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$.” – Huffington Post
The Video:
Asserting his authoritative bark over an eclectic array of beats, NC’s Well$ is one of the most inventive emcees south of the Mason-Dixon line. A quick burst of intense self-reflection, “Demo 1” is the latest lyrical exercise from the young rapper, as he experiments with vocal manipulation and sizzles with 2 minutes worth of straight bars. To accompany the new track, Well$ creates a claustrophobic visual, complete with neon lights and smoke machines, cutting a striking figure in an empty warehouse that he fills with his charisma. Premiered by VIBE, “Demo 1” is another installment of a busy 2017 for Well$, following the release of his latest project All Kings Get Their Heads Chopped Off, premiered in early June by NOISEY.
Featuring highlights such as relationship drama “Rosé” and the whirling “Day Ones,” both premiered by Pigeons & Planes, All Kings Get Their Heads Chopped Off is a a strong collection of textured, electronic-influenced tracks. With production from Well$’ Immaculate Taste labelmates Lucho, VACAY, and Alec Lomami, as well as appearances from NicX and Wally Left, All Kings Get Their Heads Chopped Off followed-up The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous, which was similarly loaded with North Carolina talent. A cohesive and tight knit effort, All Kings Get Their Heads Chopped Off is Well$’ formidable bid to raise the profile for North Carolina’s diverse and thriving rap scene. Explained Well$ to Noisey, “I feel like North Carolina rap artists, we have to show unity––that we’re cultivating a culture and not just individual aesthetics. It has to be a part of something greater. Until you can finally say you know what a North Carolina scene kid is, we won’t have a sound. Down here, you never know what you’re going to get. Hopefully, I can be a forefather of that, and help the next generation of artists who are specifically from North Carolina.” All Kings Get Their Heads Chopped Off is out now and available to stream on Spotify.
Watch “Demo 1”: https://youtu.be/
Check out the VIBE premiere: https://www.vibe.
Listen to All Kings Get Their Heads Chopped Off: https://open.spotify.com/
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic for more info.
The 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 2014 project, MTSYD: Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher was well-received by fans and critics alike and he followed it up with the equally accomplished The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous in 2016. Well$ latest seven-track project, All Kings Get Their Heads Chopped Off, is currently available to stream on Spotify.
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“Demo 1”: https://youtu.be/
“SFMN”: https://youtu.be/
All Kings Get Their Heads Chopped Off: https://open.spotify.com/
“Day Ones”: https://open.spotify.
“Rosé”: https://soundcloud.
Baloji – “Unité & LibreRemix” ft. Well$ & Alec Lomami & Saul Williams: https://soundcloud.
Watch “XXX”: https://youtu.be/
“Us vs. The World” (Remix): https://soundcloud.
The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous: https://itun.es/us/
“A Sad Dance Song” ft. Lucho: https://soundcloud.com/
“Young Man” ft. Sylvan Esso: https://soundcloud.com/
“’98 Juvie” ft. Deniro Farrar: https://www.youtube.
“130” (Official Version): https://www.youtube.
“130” (one-take version): https://www.youtube.
“Heaven’s Door” ft. Alec Lomami (Prod. by Metro Boomin): https://soundcloud.
MTSYD: Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher: http://www.
Bio, pics, and more here: http://www.