1st & 15th Releases Chill’s Spotlight Vol. 8
Charles “Chilly” Patton, Lupe Fiasco‘s longtime business partner and co-founder of the 1st & 15th label, uses his Chill’s Spotlight series of EPs to shine a light on under-heard talent. Today, Chill and 1st & 15th release Chill’s Spotlight, Vol. 8, focusing on the label’s rising R&B talent.
The EP features “Me and Mine” and “Can’t Be Your Man,” songs by Troy Tyler, who collaborated with Lupe on several songs on his recent Samurai DX. Each featuring production by Soundtrakk, Troy Tyler’s contributions demonstrate why he’s become an in-demand collaborator for stars of all genres (you can hear his handiwork on [http://]Summer Walker’s upcoming album). Chill’s Spotlight, Vol. 8 closes with two songs from B. Howard, including the ultra-smooth “Beautiful Nightmare,” released as a single earlier this month.
Chill’s Spotlight Vol. 8 arrives with a new music video for “No Comparing,” the shimmering standout by Frayne Vibez. Hailing from Chicago, Frayne Vibez has been buzzing in his hometown with his genre-blurring, soulful sound. Gliding over the four-on-the-floor beat and the sumptuously propulsive bassline, Frayne delivers an ode to his singular sweetheart, dipping into falsetto as he sings her praises: “Everything you do, is one-of-one/Cause there’s no comparing you.” Perfectly suited to top-down cruises down Lake Shore Drive, “No Comparing” establishes Frayne Vibez as one of Chicago’s most exciting R&B voices. In the video, Frayne follows his girlfriend around Chicago as she performs various service jobs around the city to help pay for her education.
Earlier this year, 1st & 15th released The Life of Pedro, a new album by Miami artist Billy Blue, and made noise with the release of Samurai DX, the deluxe edition of Lupe Fiasco’s critically acclaimed 2024 album Samurai. The new expansion features two songs from the Samurai sessions, the self-produced recent single “SOS” and the Soundtrakk-helmed “High Note,” plus remixes of original album highlights “Samurai,” “Palaces,” and “Bigfoot.” Featuring vocals by Troy Tyler, the new remixes add a fresh perspective to Lupe’s rhymes, changing up the style without sacrificing the soul. The record’s second half, and the vinyl version’s Side B, includes instrumental versions of the DX‘s five vocal tracks.
This year, Lupe Fiasco has kept busy with performances with the legendary Cypress Hill and underground heroes Atmosphere on their “Dank Daze of Summer Tour,” a headlining spot at Johannesburg’s 19th Annual Back To The City Festival, and in May, he performed a special show at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he is a visiting professor teaching “Rap Theory and Practice,” in May. His MIT concert formed part of “GHOTIING MIT: Public Art,” an innovative project by the List Visual Arts Center that turns campus installations into live sonic experiences. On-site at nine distinct artworks, Lupe recorded new songs, capturing ambient field sounds and composing lyrics that respond in real time to each piece. Earlier this year, he further cemented his academic credentials by joining the faculty of the prestigious Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University.