Charles Hamilton is a changed man.
Last night at Digiwaxx in Harlem, the emcee hosted a listening party and Q&A session for his new project. While he didn’t reveal much about the project (he previewed a few songs, including the new single “Gauchos,” but he tightlipped when it came to a title or label situation), what he did talk about was his personal growth.
Hamilton has been through a lot in the two years since he was named one of XXL’s Freshmen for 2009. From getting punched in the face by his ex-girlfriend to turning the entire city of Detroit against him via his sometimes bizarre behavior, Hamilton went from critical darling to the most hated-on man in hip-hop in just a few months. This would take a toll on anyone, but instead of totally losing it Hamilton has returned with what he calls a “self-respecting silence.”
In the time since he’s been dropped from Interscope, Hamilton has found out a few things about himself: he’s “prone to self-destruction” and he doesn’t need to say everything that comes to his mind in an attempt to keep it real. He’s no longer pre-occupied with being “real,” and at this point he’s ready to let his music speak for itself.
The five tracks Hamilton previewed were pretty diverse, ranging from the southern-flavored trunk rattler “Paperboy” featuring B.O.B to the chill, reflective “Choices: Wave For Alex.” One thing was apparent from the new material – Hamilton is going for a more polished, commercial sound. When asked about this new sound, Hamilton admitted that it was calculated. He wanted to move away from his signature lo-fi, “dirty leather wallet” sound towards something deserving of radio play. This move towards commerciality hasn’t affected Hamilton’s lyricism, though. On all of the tracks, he comes just as hard as he did on his early mixtapes. He even treated the audience to a off-the-dome freestyle over Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya,” proving that all of the drama hasn’t hampered his talent. Here’s a rundown of the 5 tracks we heard.
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“Gauchos”
The official first single, “Gauchos” is a Harlem-swag anthem produced by Jim Jonsin (the man behind Lil’ Wayne’s “Lollipop,” T.I.’s “Whatever You Like,” and more). Hamilton shows off his “115th & 8th flow” and reps Harlem to the fullest. If you like what you hear make sure to buy it on Itunes.
“Marketing”
This tongue-in-cheek track started off as an attempt to make the most commercial song possible. This one hasn’t leaked yet, but be on the lookout for it!
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