MP3: Well$ ft. Sylvan Esso – “Young Man”
The Acclaimed Indie Electronic Duo and the Charlotte Emcee Join Forces for an Ethereal Anthem
8.15.2016
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:
At first they may seem like strange bedfellows, but Charlotte rapper Well$ and Durham indie electropop duo Sylvan Esso are distinctively North Carolinian. Well$ represents NC Hip-Hop’s combination of the North’s intricate lyricism and the South’s brash boastfulness, while Sylvan Esso creates a blend of Amelia Meath‘s signature vocals with Nick Sanborn‘s electronic production. On “Young Man,” premiered Friday by The FADER, they prove to be two great tastes that taste great together; the aggressive braggadocio of Well$ during the song’s first half finds its perfect foil in the gentle concern voiced by singer Amelia Meath. Featuring wavy synths, hi-hat rolls, and pitched-up vocal samples courtesy of producer Jimmy Kelso, “Young Man” is a seamless blend of genres and a unique artifact of the burgeoning North Carolina music scene. “Young Man” is the latest single from Well$’ forthcoming mixtape The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous. The follow-up to 2014’s acclaimed MTSYD: The Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher, TWILMMMN comes out later this year.
“Young Man” is the latest artistic statement from Well$, who looks to establish himself on the national stage with his new mixtape. In July, 2DOPEBOYZ premiered the Immaculate Taste artist’s “’98 Juvie,”an homage to 90s-era Juvenile featuring fellow Charlotte emcee Deniro Ferrar. 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. Last month, the rapper performed at Durham, NC’s Moogfest, garnering praise from Noisey, who listed Well$ as one of the Seven Sets at Moogfest That Expanded Our Consciousness Into New Realms.
An artist with his own distinct style, Well$ never fails to explore a diverse range of subject matter, from breast-beating braggadocio to moody introspection. “My music is like me, sometimes it’s serious, sometimes it’s playful, sometimes it’s happy, sometimes it’s sad, sometimes it’s meaningful and sometimes it’s meaningless,” he says. Well$ has been making waves for quite some time, with his 2014 MTSYD: The Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher mixtape garnering critical acclaim. “His firm, clear voice is a great instrument, and he knows how to make it work inside of different-sounding productions,” Pitchfork raved. “The mixtape is rich-sounding and crisply produced… [Well$ has] got some dope lines, too.” The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous, releasing later this year, will further establish Well$ in the national conversation.
Listen to “Young Man”: https://soundcloud.com/immaculate-taste/well-young-man-ft-sylvan-esso-prod-by-jimmy-kelso-nick-sanborn
Check out the FADER premiere: http://www.thefader.com/2016/08/12/wells-sylvan-esso-young-man-premiere
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.
Links:
bandcamp | twitter | facebook | youtube | soundcloud | spotify
“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/