HotNewHipHop's On The Come Up series profiles rising stars in the rap game that show strong promise and the will to succeed. Most of the time, they're new to the site but deserve some shine. We will profile artists ranging from those in the deep underground to artists just about to bubble up into the mainstream that you may have missed. You'll be able to check out some of their best work, and we'll break down what makes them great by category. Throughout the article, you'll find links to hear more from the artist, and make sure you go follow our official Soundcloud for more new music.
This week we head to Chicago to take a closer look at Alex Wiley, one of the most interesting young artists in the Windy City's widely diverse hip-hop landscape. You may have heard him on a couple songs with Chi-town cohorts Chance The Rapper or Mick Jenkins, but he's got a style all his own and he's making serious "Vibrations" within the game.
If you're not familiar with the 21-year-old emcee, or you're a fan who just wants to know a little more of the back story, slide through the next few pages and get the scoop. Our own Damon Campbell interviewed Wiley in Chicago this Summer and you can peep that below as well.
nice to meet you
Nice To Meet You
Alex Wiley grew up in the Hyde Park area of Chicago, and besides picking up the violin for a year, was never one of these kids who knew he'd be a musician from the time he was little. Really, it never even crossed his mind, that is, until it did. Struggling in school with a bad case of ADHD, the generally bright kid felt lost. After a fight on school grounds landed him a hefty suspension and lengthy stay at home, he just decided not to go back. He spent a lot of time at home, and gradually fell into a depression, not really knowing what was next on his path in life.
It wasn't until he started hanging out with fellow rapper Kembe X that he started messing around with rhymes. At first, he was just putting some joke bars together and sharing them with friends on Facebook, which is also why he never created a rapper alter ego or stage name. He and Kembe X would write together, Wiley having to go into the bathroom and listen to the beat on his phone because his writing style required him to restart the instrumental over more frequently than Kembe. They kept writing and formed a group called Swag Village that was more of a joke to them than anything else. You may also recognize one of their other good friends from a lot of their early music.
As Alex became more entrenched in the Chicago music scene, he caught the attention of indie label Closed Sessions, who quickly snatched him up. Then came Club Wiley and Village Party, but more on those projects a little bit later.
from club wiley to the village party
From Club Wiley To The Village Party
2013 saw Alex Wiley drop his debut solo project Club Wiley. While the tape garnered him national attention and some legitimate buzz within hip-hop, he looks back on it as a little bit unfocused and all over the place. It's definitely worth a listen and packs some serious gems, especially if you're a fan of Chance The Rapper, Action Bronson, Freddie Gibbs or Vic Mensa as they all had one or more features on there. He also got some big time beat placements from the likes of Thelonious Martin, Hippie Sabotage and Chuck Inglish.
After touring pretty much non-stop in support of Club Wiley, he went home and got to work on recording his next project. This past Summer, we got the fruits of that labor in Village Party, a much more focused and cohesive effort that showed people what the hype was all about. Wiley took all of that potential he had and masterminded one of the truly great projects of 2014 so far. It felt so Chicago, yet not Chicago at all, a little like Wiley himself. That's why this project feels so right for him at the moment, it's very out there and experimental but he feels right at home in it. He cut the number of tracks way down, and except for a select few features from hometown favorites like Kembe X and Mick Jenkins, it was just him.
closed sessions
Closed Sessions
Alex is signed to Closed Sessions, an indie label based out of Chicago that does a lot of dope things. While they operate as a label, helping their signed artists create the music they want and put it out they way they want, they also get involved in much more. They're pioneers in the Chicago hip-hop scene that's really taken the country by storm the last few years. Besides Alex Wiley, they've also released music with other Chi-town acts like Young Chop, Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, Rockie Fresh and National acts like Curren$y and Bun B. Because they're so well respected within the industry, they get big names to collaborate with their Chicago artists when they come to town and put out some really organically-curated fire.
up next
Up Next
The future is definitely bright for Alex Wiley. Him and his whole group of friends are some of the most talked about in the game if you're talking about who's next to blow. He's constantly touring, always gaining new fans in every city. If you believe the outro to his latest project Village Party, there will be a sequel to the successful set. We for one can't wait to hear if that comes to fruition. Until then, keep you ears peeled on his SoundCloud or his label's, as those are the places he usually drops music. Follow him on Twitter for updates as well.
Almost ready to open the flood gates, new yaboyery soon
