Malcolm London • "Charlie"

Back in February we featured Chicago's own Malcolm London as our monthly cover story. At the time, the 22-year-old activist and creative was at a crossroads in his expression, looking to package the activist work he was doing through a new medium. That medium was rap music, the lyricism of which was purposefully culled from his illustrious background as a spoken word poet and has established himself in the six months since with a series of single and live performances that have proven he's not just talk. The latest track to arrive from the multifaceted young Chicagoan was his single, "Charlie" which today received a visual accompaniment from SnowRowe.

Locking himself away with longtime confidant EB in studio sessions and basement collaborative explorations throughout the Spring and Summer, Maclolm has systematically gone about creating an aesthetic for himself that speaks to the larger understanding of where music and political discourse stand in this city in 2016. Possessing a powerful voice with a considerably weighted message of peace and prosperity, London proves the true power of hip-hop somewhat forgotten during its foray down south. Malcolm is currently putting the finishing touches on his debut full-length which we've had the chance to get into a few time already. Release date and title are being held mum for now, but do yourself a favor and get into this latest one from the city's pre-eminent voice at the intersection of rap and social movements.