Malcolm London

Malcolm London's Chicago home base greatly informs his work as an activist, educator, poet, and gruff-voiced rapper. The artist's first rhymes were penned at the age of 12, but he didn't use writing as a serious outlet until a few years later. Among his first recordings were appearances on early-2010s releases from the SaveMoney crew, including Caleb James' Ground Up, Nico Segal's Illasoul: Shades of Blue, and Dally Auston's The Wood. Around this time, Cornel West referred to London as "the <a href="spotify:artist:0kEfub5RzlZOB2zGomqVSU">Gil Scott-Heron</a> of his generation." Since early 2015, London has co-organized and co-hosted monthly public sessions called OpenMike, conceived with <a href="spotify:artist:1anyVhU62p31KFi8MEzkbf">Chance the Rapper</a> and named in tribute to Brother Mike, a mentor in the city's hip-hop scene who died in late 2014. In October 2016, London issued Opia, an album featuring appearances from notable locals such as <a href="spotify:artist:4UodukR17NIQfNu5uaqm9B">Jamila Woods</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:27w1NoOLMX7tJMYqcetPyG">Vic Mensa</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7qbQOln6DZHcPm6l94PXU5">Donnie Trumpet</a>, as well as <a href="spotify:artist:4jLcgJjDGmW0HmvbSf6lEI">How to Dress Well</a>. The self-released set was executive produced by fellow SaveMoney member EB. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi