Musa Reems

Musa Reems has been a commonly featured artist on our platform over the past few years and today he is finding himself back on our website with his brand new release titled “Dear Winter”. This record caught my attention right away just based off of the title, one of my favorite songs of all time is Jay-Z’s hit “Dear Summer”, and I had a feeling that Musa did his own version based from the title & sure enough I was right. When you sample a classic like this one you really have to bring your all, you can’t take it lightly when you are taking it there, and after my first listen through I was pleased at what Musa was able to do with this beat. The Chicago emcee didn’t disappoint on this one but don’t take my word for it though, judge for yourself below! - Lyrical Lemonade

Musa Reems is an artist that has been generating a good amount of buzz within the Ruby Hornet office this last year. His lyrical tenacity and work ethic combine to make him an indomitable force, and his artistic growth through his last 2 releases has been something to watch. So when we got the opportunity to debut his newest release Gamma Quietus on our site we had to take it. This project is a boom-bap ode to Chicago laced with nocturnal beats and an uneasiness that keeps you on your toes when you listen to it. It kicks off with “Gamma,” and “They Not” tracks where Musa portrays his experiences in the hip hop scene through tongue twisting speeds, over incredible production by immy and JXHNSCXTT, respectively. Moving down the track list the features and production has some real heavy hitters. Closed Sessions artist BoatHouse rocks the speakers on “Connect Four”, and Marcus NoGood adds his voice to “Clockwork”. So with no more delay, here it is, Gamma Quietus. - Ruby Hornet

“Rappers walk around talkin’ bout they the best, when the only time they ever come first is during sex…”

In an era where beats often overshadow bars, local emcee Musa Reems is an uncompromising lyricist. On Tuesday, the artist dropped two new tracks, “Godspeed” and “TYPE SH!T.” On the former, Musa delivers his mission statement and makes the case for his own lyrical dominance. With the latter, he takes all the doubters, “bold liars,” and “biters” in the industry to task.

Born and raised on the West side, Musa's been on the Chicago scene since 2015. Many listeners probably remember him as one third of the hip hop collective, Children of I.L.L.I.N.O.I.S. In 2016, Musa launched his solo career with the release of Another Dos(e), a collection of two tracks that displayed Musa's socially conscious style, relentless delivery, and insistence on lyrical veracity - traits that shine through all of his work. Since Another Dos(e), he’s been consistent in quality and clear in his direction - upward, always. Musa takes no breaks. From 2016 to 2018, he dropped Lately I’ve Been Sol Searching EP, Vol. I & II, created a rap/neo-soul duo with vocalist Amaré Symone, and dropped Gamma Quietus, a thirteen track EP that remains his longest project to date.

Perfectly at home on a classic bass-heavy hip hop track or a playful neo-soul joint, Musa’s flow is nothing if not versatile. Admittedly, a casually perusal of music blogs reveals that the word “versatility” is thrown around quite a bit. But, with Musa Reems, it’s more than just filler for the word count. He seems genuinely dedicated to exploring every facet of his artistry, willfully eschewing the safe box that so many artists construct for themselves.

With “Godspeed” and “TYPE SH!T,” Musa is starting 2019 on a strong note. We look forward to what comes next. - These Days News

Hailing from the west side of Chicago, Musa Reems is making his DopeHouse debut with his latest project, Lately I’ve Been Sol Searching 2.

Kicking off with an updated version of Jay-Z’s “22 2’s” (rattling off “44 4’s” on the two-minute intro), the ChiTown emcee proceeds to detail the trials and tribulations of growing up in Chicago while trying to find the value in self worth. Over soulful production from S.K.I.L. and Curbside Jones, Musa showcases his lyrical prowess throughout the project’s six tracks, including a fresh take on Big L’s “Ebonics,” highlighting the city’s way with words on “Lingo.”

Check it out below, and if you dig what you hear, keep scrolling for the first edition in the series. - 2DOPEBOYZ

Musa Reems is back, with Curbside Jones with another collaboration. Instead of a five track EP, the pair have teamed up for Reems new single 44 4’s (No relation to Jay-Z) with production from Curbside.

On the single Reems rhymes his way through the two minutes and ten seconds. The lyrical raps he showcased with his EP are still alive and well. He speeds through the song talking about where he’s been as a rapper, some of his trials and tribulations making it in music, and who he’s doing it for. He does indeed rhyme a total of 44 instances of saying the word “for” in the song as well.

The production from Curbside is grimy and rough around the edges with a pulse of its own providing Reems withe blueprint for quick witted rhymes that tells us a lot for the Chicago based rapper. - Dead End Hip Hop

Musa Reems, AEMMP Records’ new signee, brought us his very dope Lately I’ve Been Sol Searching EP earlier this week. Today, he goes in-depth on the process behind that project in a Q&A he did with us.

How has working with AEMPP been different for you?

It’s been very exciting so far. Me looking from the outside and seeing artists that were involved with AEMMP was definitely a cold thing to me. Seeing Thelo[nious Martin], Joey Purp, and Ajani Jones last year was definitely a cool thing to see. Working with RTC is also a dream come true. He does a lot of great things for the city, not only with AEMMP but Closed Sessions and Ruby Hornet. And to see the people in each department just thoroughly go through things, identify what we want, then make that happen is definitely a thing I look forward to every day in our meetings.

What do you expect to be able to do working with the AEMPP class that wasn’t possible before?

Understanding the business side of music more, especially with someone who has so much experience there like RTC. The things that have to go into music, the things you have to pursue within emails and phone calls. I definitely also want to release way more music that I have before with AEMPP. I want to release a lot of music.

Had you been working on this project before signing or did the AEMMP team come to you and suggest a project go into production?

A little bit of both. I was open minded about what to do but I also had an idea of what I wanted. I had been working with Curbside Jones, who produced Play For Keeps, for awhile now. I knew him for 2-3 years over Twitter, and our relationship really took off this summer going into fall and everything came together. Just perfect timing.

And has it evolved at all since working with AEMMP?

It’s just given me more room and more time to be in the studio and go harder with what I wanna do. I’ve asked myself “what makes more sense?” especially with someone like RTC in the classroom constantly helping with portion control. Lyrically I feel like I still get to be who I wanna be and they definitely give me room to execute.

You spent a lot of time around the poetry/open mic scene. Do you think it’s still the place for a young artist to hone themselves?

I would definitely recommend people go there. Specifically YCA (Young Chicago Authors). I started going there after landing on a couple of there mixtapes. I still go to their Wreckshop, which is taught by Add-2. If you wanna learn about something from people who are in the industry and have talent the Chicago open mic scene is there. And in terms of just finding fellow upcoming artist that are good at what they’re doing it’s a good place to be for culture. Black culture especially.

You came from an era watching the rise of Savemoney and PIVOT. What was that like as an aspiring artist?

It was mad inspiring. I remember going to listening parties at Jugrnaut and Leaders and just seeing everybody in there then seeing them get national attention. I got put on to Chance right at 10 Day came out. Then Acid Rap just shot out the gate. And seeing Vic drop Innanetape, the Leather Courdorys come up, and now even seeing Saba and Joseph Chilliams get big, it’s crazy seeing these guys you know grew up in the same city make these monumental steps not only to the national scene, but the international scene.

You’re very squarely a spitter. Do you plan to experiment with that more?

I wanna do both. I wanna mix it up some. I think some people do think my music is only spitting and I wanna play around with realms of production a bit.

Do you think there is still a place in rap for a straight spitter or do you think you have to do more at this point?

I think it depends on what level you’re trying to be at. But there’s lots of room. People like that kind of leave the door open. There’s people that can rhyme their ass off. Is that what lots of people are still looking for? Maybe not but I definitely think it’s still appreciated.

Who are some artists that have helped you in the city?

Add-2 for sure. He’s definitely been a great mentor. I remember I put out a project with [my old group] Children of I.L.L.I.O.S. and he tweeted about it. It kinda shocked me at the time. He was signed to Jamla at the time and seeing him being a fan like that pushed me and made me realize that I can do this. So shoutout to Add.

Another person is Amare Symone [the other half of Injured Party]. She helps in terms of figuring out what I wanna do and where I wanna go. Expect more stuff from us together, by the way.

RTC, who’s been looking at me since I released Another Dose. He’s a another person in the scene I look up to, who’s been a big help.

What’s going to be the biggest difference between your new work and what we’ve heard before?

My new work is definitely more conceptual. My last project was conceptual too, but as I write more and more I get more life experience and an understanding of what I wanna do. And I just get more ideas. Sometimes when I write things it goes in a direction I didn’t expect. I think people are gonna say I’m stepping up lyrical. The next record has a lot more than punchlines.

What can we expect to see from you as an artist in the next few months?

In the next few months you’ll definitely see a new Musa. I feel like these next few records are a completely different sound. I’m definitely building off a foundation that I already had. I feel like I’m really building on stage presence too.

Top 5 Albums?

MF Down – Mm.. Food
Notorious BIG – Ready to Die
Big L – Lifestyles of the Poor and Dangerous
Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt
Madvillain – Madvillainy - Fake Shore Drive

Malik Muhammad, also known as Musa Reems, is a senior business and entrepreneurship major and rapper from Austin. In 2017, he signed to Columbia’s AEMMP Hip-Hop Record Label practicum course. Now, Reems is preparing to unveil his second project on the AEMMP label and released a new promotional single Feb. 7. His next project, Lately I’ve been Sol Searching 2, will be released in March.

Reems detailed his inspiration for the new project, spoke about life after signing to AEMMP, his passion for rhyming and more in an interview with The Chronicle.

THE CHRONICLE: What was the inspiration behind your latest project

MUSA REEMS: I was working on this project called “Where The Sun Never Rises” already, so to tie in Lately I’ve Been Sol Searching, I spelled “soul” instead of S-O-U-L, S-O-L, which is sun in Latin, just to tie everything together to make it a three-part series. It’s on the theme of how Chicago is clouded in negativity and [shows] how it can be much more than that. When I wrote the first [song on] Lately I’ve Been Sol Searching, my aunty had just passed so I was trying to find my focus and get to a certain point in my life where I know who I am. With that being said, I laid down that first [track] and then that second one was diving even deeper into that [idea of] what Chicago is to me.

How has working with AEMMP Hip-Hop affected your career?

It’s been dope. It’s been great to work with the students. I’ve got a lot of new friends like my manager, Justin Thomas. Working with a lot of people like Dominique Jones who was my events coordinator last semester—this semester she’s in marketing—and then working with RTC, Alex Fruchter, [lecturer in the Business and Entrepreneurship Department and professor of the AEMMP Hip-Hop practicum] learning from him. The best thing I ever learned in life is that you don’t know everything, but you have to invest in yourself. I was always focused on investing in myself and having someone with the [other] roles is always dope to be around and get some insight from.

What inspired your love for rhymes?

I want to rhyme as much as I want to breathe to be honest. Rhyming is life. I remember when I was in high school, I was always pretty quiet. I was the shy kid, but when I got to high school, I got culture shock. Chicago is very segregated, so when I was growing up, it was predominantly black and Hispanic kids. So when I got to high school, it was more of a mixture and I ended up going to Pitchfork in 2012. In eighth grade, I was also introduced to MF Doom so I would freestyle over Special Herbs.

When I got to high school, I kept that passion, and when I went to Pitchfork, I saw A$AP Rocky perform and that gave me the confidence to do it myself. I started working on beats first because I wanted my own production to have to rap over, so me and my homies would make beats on FL Studio.

What would be the soundtrack to growing up on the West Side?

I grew up with Do Or Die, Twista, Lupe [Fiasco], [and] I’m definitely a big fan of Common. “Be” is a perfect album to me. I love that album, of all the albums I listen to, with [Kanye West’s] production on that plus [Common’s] rhymes puts me into a different state of mind. Chicago is so rich—it’s an amazing music scene. - Columbia Chronicle

Up and coming emcee Musa Reems stay stunting verbally speaking on his newest single "Let Em' Know". Over a lo-fi, downtempo backdrop, Musa ferociously attacks rappers he considers as inferior with lines like "...Rappers will be in shape if they ran like their mouth did/ Yo, we know they ain't about shit/ Yall say yall independent, but yall probably never hustle/ F yall lames, I'm stunting like a body double...". The Chi-town emcee pulls no punches on the venom-filled track where he only pauses to let the beat breath and nothing else.

The S.K.I.L. produced single serves as Musa’s first track of 2018 and gives listeners a small taste of what we should expect from the lyricist in the new year.


Read more at https://earmilk.com/2018/02/01/musa-reems-enlightens-the-opposition-on-let-em-know/#SD9Ry1l5sr0wkg82.99 - EARMILK