Abstract Mindstate - Chicago's Hardest Working Vol. 1

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After a series of white label (12inch) releases, an independent ep release, a national release (through a bad record deal) and a highly anticipated unreleased album, Abstract Mindstate still stands as Chicago’s hardest working rhyme duo. Internationally known and heralded by the music industries most recognized and respected publications (hardcopy & online) the male/female emcee team of E.P Da Hellcat aka The White Lotis and Olskool Ice-Gre aka Tha Gud Dr. created a legacy as Chicago’s purveyors of golden era Hip Hop. Also referred to as the Wonder Twins this Westside/Southside collabo held the city down effortlessly, commanding attention from both coasts as well as the south. Abstract Mindstate feels it’s their duty as artist to create thought-provoking music. The group believes the commercial success of Hip Hop has given the extremely untalented and uncreative room to latch on to the art and use it for their own personal gain with no regard for the culture. Abstract Mindstate is about artistic integrity and respect for the culture which is why the group is still considered one of the best live performance Hip Hop acts to emerge from Chicago’s music scene. Their 3 part mixtape series aptly titled; Chicago’s Hardest Working Mixtape Vol.1, 2 & 3 is a testament to the time and energy the duo has put into making sure Chicago’s contribution to Hip Hop is properly represented. The group is humbled by the love and respect the city has given them over the years but it’s really good when the music industry as a whole appreciates and respects the level of quality Hip Hop they have created.

01. Leave
02. No Song Without a Meaning feat. Profound
03. Like This Yall feat. Rashid Hadee
04. What's Ya Hustle
05. N.A.I.M.A (No Art Is Man Alone)
06. Go Clap
07. Gravy - Trizonna McClendon feat. EP Da Hellcat aka The Wit Lotis
08. Showed Ya
09. Soulful 4 U feat. Dre Cagney
10. Shock Treatment
11. What Happened To Me feat. Suffer & Struggle (of Usuall Suspectz)
12. Derelicts of Dialect
13. Don't Know What You Got feat. John Legend
14. My Life
15. How We Do
16. Rock This City
17. Extra Special - Trizonna McClendon feat. Olskool Ice-Gre
18. Listen (The Melody)
19. 3 & Out feat. Rashid Hadee & Dre Cagney
20. High School
21. Believe feat. Profound
22. Insanity
23. God's Creature - Saige Walker feat. Abstract Mindstate

Tracks 3,5,9,12 & 18 produced by Rashid Hadee
Track 22 produced by Kanye West
Track 16 produced by Xtreme
Tracks 14 & 19 produced by Absolut
Track 20 produced by Panik (of Molemen)
Tracks 2 & 21 produced by Profound
Track 11 produced by Jeff Jones

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Olskool Ice-Gre - The Gregarious Mixtape

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Just when you thought rap music would never regain its integrity, and the essence of the art form was permanently replaced by all that glitters, unrealistic street tales (that manifest into jail time) and fatalities, here lies a beacon of hope. Olskool Ice-Gre, best known as the male half of the Chicago Hip Hop duo Abstract Mindstate, is the light at the end of a dark tunnel that has been labeled Hip Hop. A true emcee since the glory days of his group, this Southside Chi native never abandoned the roots of what made Rap music the most viable genre. Raised in the Englewood community, a section of the city that has earned status as the highest crime rated area in Chicago has yet to influence a line of content in Olskool’s poetry. He chooses to rhyme about hope, relationships, faith and life from a regular guy perspective. His penchant for wordplay, metaphors and double entendre’s transform everyday dialogue into a thought provoking conversation piece. It’s all about the art to Ice-Gre which is why Olskool is the prefix to his name. " I added Olskool to my name years ago. It’s my way of showing respect to the forefathers as well as embracing the term Old School which is the period in Hip Hop that inspires me most.". These days you can find Olskool Ice-Gre spending equal time in Los Angeles and Chicago working on various music related projects. If you’re a person who enjoys honest, truthful, intelligent lyrics over hard hitting soulful beats then Olskool Ice-Gre Tha Gud Dr. can make a house call.

01. The Introduction
02. A Great Bargain (More)
03. Identical To None
04. One Long Wednesday
05. Special Dark (My Baby)
06. Thankful
07. Tuesday Afternoon
08. Alex In Wonderland
09. Betelgeuse (Shining Star)
10. Revelation 2:18
11. Back To The Future
12. Happiness vs. Wealth
13. My New Baby
14. A Wonderful World
15. Mental Regurgitation
16. This Is It feat. Soltre' James
17. A Rap Tale
18. God's Soldier
19. A Rose Named Rose
20. Decisions

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FILI-
Don't sleep on this!!!! Dude is nice on the mic with his female rhyme partner from Abstract Mindstate. This first solo album/mixtape is bangin' from start to finish and all produced by man of the moment, Rashid Hadee!!!

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Abstract Mindstate Presents: Chicago's Hardest Working Mixtape Vol. 3 (The Celebration)

www.myspace.com/4abstractmindstate

Abstract Mindstate presents…Chicago’s Hardest Working Mixtape Vol.3: The Celebration! Released on 4 The Soul-Reciprocity Inc., this release was produced entirely by Chicago up and coming producer/emcee Rashid Hadee who was featured in the Oct ’07 issue of XXL Magazine. V3 will undoubtedly go down in Chicago’s Hip Hop history books. Packed with an all-star cast of emcee’s who all have earned pioneer status in The Go, this mixtape could only be dubbed “The Celebration”. If the sub-title conjures thoughts of Dave Chappelle’s Rick James skit, you’re right on point. Those who have a sharp ear for production will appreciate Rashid Hadee's chopped, sliced and diced production style that takes you back to the golden era. The concept of V3 was the brain child of Olskool Ice-Gre (the male half), who accepted his role years ago as the go to person when it came to hooks and/or song ideas. He knew no one could bring his vision to life with better precision than Rashid Hadee.

The guest list on this soon to be classic, reads like a “who’s who” of the Chicago Hip Hop/ music scene. The artists who came to party include 3 heads from the All Natural Inc. music family; The Primeridian, Iomos Marad and Tone B. Nimble, 2002 WGCI Home Jam Artists Hall of Fame (Abstract Mindstate won in 2000), underground legend Stedy Serv, CTA Radio’s own Pugs Atomz & Thaione Davis (WHPK 88.5FM), true B-Girl femcee Ang 13, internationally known wordsmith Malik Yusef, pioneer emcee O Type Star, 3 time Apollo winner and veteran vocalist Cristina (Sanchez), Rhymesayers Entertainment signee and veteran femcee Psalm One, the aforementioned Rashid Hadee (Neblina Records) and last but not least 4 The Soul-Reciprocity’s own; Dre Cagney and Trizonna McClendon. V3 is Abstract Mindstate’s way of showing love and respect to the veteran artists who have made an impact on the Chicago Hip Hop music scene regardless if they’re on the nationwide radar or not. Abstract Mindstate considers this their “pioneer party”.

01. Intro
02. Prelude To The Hits
03. Alpha With No Omega
04. Beautiful feat. The Primeridian
05. A Name You Can Call Us
06. What You Do For A Dollar
07. Cool Intentions (An AfterWork Set) feat. Cristina & Hall of Fame
08. You Know What It Is feat. Stedy Serv
09. Land of Make Believe feat. Trizonna McClendon
10. You Go Through My Head
11. High feat. Ang 13
12. When We Rock feat. Iomos Marad
13. No Fallin feat. O Type Star
14. Dance Wit Me!
15. En Fuego feat. Thaione Davis
16. The Dream Maker (Management 101) feat. Malik Yusef
17. A Happy Song
18. Do You feat. Pugs Atomz
19. Thought For Food feat. Rashid Hadee
20. Don't Give Up On Love feat. Psalm One
21. Broke Than A Mug feat. Tone B. Nimble of All Natural
22. Past Days feat. Dre Cagney

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*a-FILI-ated*
Dope dope album/mixtape from the twins of Abstract Mindstate. This final release from the two MC's is entirely produced by up-coming super producer and man of the moment, Rashid Hadee! It also features hip hop heavyweights from the Chi-Town scene including Psalm One, Tone B. Nimble, Iomos Marad & more. If you like your hip hop soulful with serious boom bap drums then don't sleep on this, cop that ish now!!! ps... Vol. 2 is right underneath this post, go cop dat shit to!!

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Abstract Mindstate Presents: Chicago's Hardest Working Mixtape Vol. 2 (Project Soul)

www.myspace.com/4abstractmindstate

It’s a major accomplishment to earn a title as serious as Chicago’s hardest working rhyme duo but no group is more deserving than the Windy City’s own Abstract Mindstate. E.P Da Hellcat aka The White Lotus and Olskool Ice-Gre aka Tha Gud Dr. have put in more work than the construction crews in downtown Chicago. Five 12 inch records, 1 seven song ep, 1 national released but poorly handled album (We Paid Let Us In), an unreleased album (Still Paying) and 2 mixtapes later the self proclaimed Wonder Twins of the Windy refuse to throw in the towel. The second installment of their mixtape series is aptly titled: Chicago’s Hardest Working Vol. 2 (Project Soul). This time around the male/female duo opted for a more focused effort using producer Rashid Hadee's soulful production style as the inspiration to deliver lyrics deep from within. The group says they came from the soul, which is what makes the subtitle of Vol.2 so significant. Abstract Mindstate found a way to address heavy and sometimes serious issues without coming off so serious and heavy. Unlike its playful predecessor, the male/female duo use this mixtape to get a lot of their chest. Any Hip Hop purist will love this mixtape but if you're simply a fan of good music you'll also find enjoyment in the grooves and melodies that accompany the very meaningful lyrics constructed by Chicago's hardest Working Rhyme Duo.

01. Intro
02. I (Me, Myself)
03. Sacrifice feat. Trizonna McClendon
04. Creepin
05. A Good Man Is Gone
06. Missin You (An Ode To Hip Hop's Return)
07. What If feat. Mick Luter
08. What???
09. Flyin High
10. Its Time feat. Ashaki Djenaba
11. Waitin On The Weekend feat. Dre Cagney
12. Self Elevation
13. Nostalgia feat. Common
14. Chaos & Confusion
15. Yall Dont Really Want It
16. Scenes feat. GLC
17. Just Spittin feat. Cap D (All Natural)
18. Mic Check
19. These Raps feat. Special Ed
20. My Thoughts feat. Qualo
21. Dedication feat. JV
22. Outro

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*a-FILI-ated*
Too many bangin tracks to pick a favorite, I strongly recommend that you check this album. Rashid's beats are straight bananas, if you like 9th Wonder or any of that soulful ish then this will not disappoint. This might be a mixtape but it plays just like a full length album, all new production, new lyrics, no freestyles or old material so do yourself a favor, cop this now and thank me for continually hookin you up with exclusive after exclusive.

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