WHAT MINDSTATE ARE YOU IN?
Words By: Nia B

In the midst of a hip-hop evolution an Abstract Mindstate exists. Hailing from the underrated, underestimated city of Chicago this male-female duo Abstract Mindstate brings forth a style of consciousness and tales of everyday life. “In hip-hop there has yet to be a successful male-female duo. And there hasn’t been a group out of Chicago from the South and West Side that ride the middle”, says member OlSkool Ice-Gre. In Chicago hip-hop there’s a fine line that represents two different sides. If you go West you’ll hear a more hardcore street-driven sound, while if you go South you’ll hear a more soulful effort, making Chicago a cornucopia of music. For these two to come together (OlSkool from the South and Wit Lotus from the West) and make harmony, it sparks curiosity to hear what they’ve meshed together.

OlSkool Ice-Gre and Wit Lotis have prepared an album called Still Paying set to drop in 2005 that holds a sense of Chicago pride, along with a feel good vibe that lets the CD travel without constant flipping. Opened by wordsmith Malik Yusef and graced with the production skills of Chicago producers Kanye West, Xtreme, Absolut, Harvy Allbangers, and Rashid Hadee the love and awareness of home is evident. There are also beats by 88 Keys, Devo, McAfee, and Young Dogg that help seal the lining. “Still Paying is thought provoking hip-hop where you have to read between the lines. It pulls from all directions and offers a sound mostly overlooked in hip-hop”, says Wit Lotus. In rhymes about reminiscing of on how Old School hip-hop used to be and its current state, the lack of recognition mainstream hip-hop and urban radio give to a positive perception, and the in’s and out’s of being from Chicago Still Paying has collaborations with Common, Kanye West, Consquence, John Legend, Special Ed, David Banner, Bigg Nastee, Trizonna McClendon, and Ashaki Dienaba. Strong punch lines and catchy hooks are the strong arm that help keep your head nodding while listening to this joint, so don’t sleep in 2005.

Working with their own label/company 4 The Soul-Reciprocity Inc., this twosome are graduates from Jackson State University where they met Mississippi King David Banner. OlSkool has a degree in Mass Communications while Wit Lotus majored in Education. “Right now I’m hoping that we come out and are nation wide and become part of this reconstruction movement. Hip-hop is being repaired, its beautiful right now, it’s healing itself. We really want to throw our brand into this healing situation because it’ll be a topic 5 years from now on how this period took it back. We do this for the love because we could have stopped a long time ago and got regular jobs”, says OlSkool.

In an attempt to voice what real hip-hop sounds like Abstract Mindstate says one good album a year from another artist keeps them motivated. In a city where hip-hop artists have been dormant for years, Abstract Mindstate has emerged to bring forth an eclectic sound guaranteed to have hip-hop heads thirsty for more.