The Heat Index is These Days’ hip hop column showcasing a new hot record we can’t stop playing.

Tri Nohbi might be a new name to most, but the voice will be familiar for those following the forecast playlist. Formerly known as OvaEast Meech, the Chicago artist often found himself in our weekly updates and formally reintroduced himself at the top of the year with the house-infused record, “TALK.” 

In the new single, we find a creatively invigorated Tri rapping with his chest out about the release felt from overcoming life’s hurdles and his overzealous drive to surpass his ambitions, making it clear that his “boss up” moment is a matter of when rather than if. Whether you need a refresher or are part of the uninitiated, Tri reminds us all that he’s still the same East Side native that stays “up the way from Jackson Park” and gave us all those slept-on hits in the past. 

The name change and “TALK” signify a new era for the artist. Still, his singular ability to use his own voice as a rhythmic element to elevate the production into a certified earworm hit remains.