A couple of weeks ago I posted a date (January 11, 2010), and I’m sure some of you were wondering what it meant. Well in my best Rihanna voice The Wait is Ova because hip-hop artist SIMP is dropping his mixtape, The Challenger on January 11, 2010. The Challenger will include covers from some of the hottest artists and producers like Jay-Z’s “Run this Town,” Drake’s “Successful” and Lil Wayne’s “A Milli.”

Here is some information about SIMP:

SIMP signed with Atlanta-based independent label, Beat Studies, in 2007 and became a partner in early 2009. During this time, his debut album “It’s that SIMPle!” was released in September of 2008 and has garnered well-deserved attention.

This alumni of Hampton University cites his D.C. area upbringing for the influence that led to his pursuit of making music – an area best known in hip-hop for its energetic “Go-Go” percussion. “I began spinning records for local parties when I was 14 years old,” he said. “So I had to listen to everything and I developed a broad taste in music”. His favorite emcees include Nas and Lupe Fiasco, but the influence of the rap pioneers that starred in the soundtrack of his youth shine through in his recordings and live performances.

He doesn’t categorize himself as having one identity as a hip-hop artist, but fellow artists describe SIMP’s style as thoughtful and introspective. That may be true, but what drives him primarily is trying to articulate to kids that there’s life beyond the bling and garish image known in today’s consumer driven radio hip-hop play.

He’s not knocking what’s out there, but truly feels as though you can say what you want to in an intelligent manner without degrading yourself and others to make money. Well, maybe he is knocking it just a bit.

SIMP wants to take back hip-hop, bringing it back to the simple words and music that he loved growing up, the autographical versions of songs that you could listen and relate to.

“Before you’re the champion…you’ve gotta be the challenger”

Make sure you keep an eye on SIMP and support my homie when he releases his mixtape. Check out his promo video and one of my favorite youtube videos of him after the jump.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 12:28 pm and is filed under Entertainment, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.