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ASAP Illz Led Collaborative Mixtape ‘Words Can’t Explain’ Introduces A Bold New Experimental NYC Sound
There is a bold new sound brewing in New York City’s Lower East Side.
ASAP Illz, founding member of the legendary ASAP Mob, is taking his tastemaking talents to the music game with a new vision and a new class of hungry, boundary-pushing underground artists ready to breathe a breath of fresh air into the current state of hip hop with their bold new style.
‘Words Can’t Explain’ is an experimental, 2-sided, 20-track mixtape executive produced by ASAP Illz and Ziggy Don with over 20 contributors (listed below) – all hungry new artists, producers, and creatives bonded together by their unique approach and distinct style.
‘Words Can’t Explain’ sprang up organically out of a newly formed community of like-minded, fringe-character creatives you can find hanging out in the streets of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, specifically around Orchard Street. The loosely associated group is made up of a variety of talented new creatives, artists, producers, photographers, creative directors, etc. mostly from Brooklyn and Harlem. With their unofficial headquarters on Orchard Street, they are bonded together by their affinity for fresh ideas, exclusive fashion, and gritty, boundary-pushing hip hop – a reflection of their shared psychedelic vision for what hip hop in 2021 can look and sound like.
Artists flexing their creativity and experimental vocals on the project include: Fleego, Dee Aura, HoodFly Mike, Semi S7evin, 30Mg Letto, Siah Flizzy, Tee War, VIP Skylark, Jew Gleece, So Icy Jordan. With trippy, boundary-breaking production from ZTonthebeat, Shittin Cari, Epondabeat, Souf Mode, Vinny Indigo, Muddigold, Aizzieee, JV Onnabeat, Broski Ali, 1rision, Pvyso, 100yrd, and Sickosouljah. And the visuals we’ll be seeing released over the next weeks and months produced by N.Productions, Visionary Visuals, and Jah n Friends Photograph.
Throughout the tape, the group explores different combinations of dark melodies, druggy, asymmetrical production, and gritty street bars – creating an entirely new brand of punk-rock type hip hop that is distinct, raw, and unlike anything you’ve ever heard… but still unmistakably New York.
Last month Illz announced on IG the release of a new collaborative mixtape project, ‘Words Can’t Explain’ – along with its trippy, official cover art. This month, on August 19th, the project’s 20+ contributors all took to IG to announce the official tracklist and release date, making a big splash with their coordinated reveal.
Illz describes the vision for ‘Words Can’t Explain’ and what the future holds for the bold new style being developed by this special group of creators:
“ I see a big market for the type of music we’re making and I see a lot of talented young artists stepping out. Me, I want to use my platform to help put a new generation of artists in position, and bring people together from different boroughs to create a new sound for the city. Everyone on this tape is there because they have talent and we all see the same vision. Everything came together super organic and we’re really proud of how it came out.”
– ASAP Illz
Going forward, there are no plans set in stone for the boundary-pushing cool kids of Orchard Street – but you better believe that ‘Words Can’t Explain’ and each of its talented individual contributors are about to shake up the New York City sound. There’s only so much that can be said about a project called ‘Words Can’t Explain’, which really must be experienced first hand, so buckle up and be prepared for a one-of-a-kind collaborative effort and sonic experience from a new generation of NY artists.
‘Words Can’t Explain’ will be available on all streaming platforms this Thursday, August 26th, 2021 – with visuals and more announcements to come.
