#2
Moon Shoes
Ravyn Lenae
My personal favorite Chicago project of 2015, Ravyn Lenae's debut Moon Shoes is undeniably good. It's one of those projects that every person (old and young) enjoys once they listen, it's just a matter of whether or not he/she is familiar.
Recorded at only 16 years old, Moon Shoes is Lenae's autobiographical audio book. From lunchroom problems to daydreaming lovers to rainfall troubles, all of it is part of a new and vibrant world. Executive produced by Monte Booker (while he was only 19), who produced six of the eight tracks, the instrumentation behind Moon Shoes is pristine. Complex and dense yet simple and easy to move to, all of the tracks fulfill a new sound previously nonexistent in the Windy City.
While I may not be able to pinpoint this style of music (future soul? dream blues?), Lenae and Booker (and partner-in-crime Smino) have a method that's working. Even Appleby stops by for a rare guest verse.