Today we're excited to share the latest from Milwaukee hip-hop vet Maal Himself. His new track "Mourning Papers" manages to stare the woes of the world in the face while still cracking a smile. Touching on the Black Lives Matter movement, the song is at turns good-humored and deeply pensive. "My wife asked my five year plan, and I said I hope me and my baby still alive/Then we both cried/I swear to God I'm so tired," Maal raps.
Stream and read about it below.
Artist's statement
This track happened as a genuine emotional moment where Maal spoke with our children about racism and violence. Literally as he begins to cry, Emmitt James sends a Suraj Busari instrumental that just spoke to the moment with the message “Big bro, this is your intro!! And I better be on it!” and “Mourning Papers” was born so to speak.
The album was recorded/mixed/mastered/ by Renz Young who also produce 50% of the soundscape that is this album. “I Wish You Could See What I See” is a play on anamorphic art, which requires you to use a certain view or perspective to bring out the totality of the piece. Milwaukee native and artist Rontaye Butler really captures the mood of the album to drive the concept home. Features include notable veteran wordsmiths Skyzoo and Mickey Factz, partner in rhyme Renz Young, And frequent collaborator Camb. Production is provided by Renz Young, Suraj Busari, Mike Regal, Dylan Graham, and Kenneth English, and compliment with live instrumentation by Streetlight Society.