Malcolm London's reach and impact on the city of Chicago go way past music, and the activist, poet and artist has put his money where his mouth is every step of the way. Chicago's trials and tribulations resulting from the criminal failings by city government and law enforcement required citizens to stand up, something Malcolm London unequivocally did, facing threats, jail time and lord knows what else throughout. But when it comes to spreading his message, music offers a way for Malcolm to break through the ceiling of accessibility, making it possible to get word out to even those who didn't think they wanted to hear  (such is its power).

OPIA is the brilliant title of his debut project, describing the feeling of dissonance and discomfort when looked directly in the eyes by another.  You'll find matching artwork, inspired by images of protest from last November, and tracks that conceptually fit the title. Malcolm London isn't staring into your eyes - he's challenging you to stare into his. What is his life like? How does he find normalcy in the chaos? Can he ever go back to it? Malcolm London has always made his listeners ask questions they didn't know they had, and OPIA is no different. Empathy and understanding are everything. With a heavy hitting list of features on the project (Vic Mensa, Jamila Woods, Donnie Trumpet and more) and eclectic production that gives London a wide range of terrain to travel, OPIA is a project that offers nuance, variety and some beautiful song-writing. Malcolm London's way with words are worth hearing, whether or not they're over a beat, but OPIA demonstrates London's true potential as a musician.