Abstract Mindstate, Young RJ, & Simthandile Mtolo’s New Track Is Based On A “True Story”

Abstract Mindstate teams up with Slum Village’s Young RJ for their new album plus share their lead single, “True Story”, featuring Simthandile Mtolo

The Chicago Hip-Hop duo prep their long-awaited follow-up to 2021’s Kanye West-produced ‘Dreams Still Inspire’ album

The story of the Chicago Hip-Hop duo known as Abstract Mindstate is one of extraordinary resilience.

Their debut album, ‘We Paid, Let Us In!’, reached cult status in the early 2000s, but the male/female pair comprised of Olskool Ice-Gre and Ebony Poetress (a.k.a. E.P. Da Hellcat) didn’t get their first big break until 20 years later, long after they had already called it quits as recording artists.

This big break came in the form of their lauded 2021 comeback album, ‘Dreams Still Inspire’, produced entirely by their early supporter and collaborator Kanye West.

The album would be the first and only project to release via Kanye’s elusive YZY SND imprint.

With renewed momentum and motivation, Gre and EP forge ahead with the preparation of their next album– this time with production from Midwest compatriot and Slum Village legend, Young RJ.

The album’s lead single, “True Story”, is available now to stream and cop on all major digital streaming platforms via Honest Music/Barak With Love/Virgin Music Group.

Co-produced by South African producer Dave Audinary and featuring vocals from Simthandile Mtolo, the new single details the jealousy and envy that Gre and EP have had to face along their long and hard-fought journey.

“This song is about the hate and jealousy we received from people we considered to be friends. It was cathartic to talk about it in this song. ‘Do you’, why be jealous of someone else’s success they earned from their hustle or mobility when there’s room for everyone to do it for themselves. I’ve never been one to hate when someone else’s experiences are resulting in more favorable results or progress than mine.” –Olskool Ice-Gre

“My [working] relationship with Abstract Mindstate developed through my friendship with Olskool Ice-Gre over the years. We never really talked about music at all during the development of our brotherhood. Years later, the idea of making a record together finally came up. And now we have an album. ‘True Story’ is a record Dave and I initially worked on for my ‘World Tour’ album in 2022. I felt like Abstract fit the record much better, that they would be able to give the record what it needed. And they knocked it out the park. I’m proud of this record, and I’m proud of the work they put in on this album. It’s a great body of work.” –Young RJ

Abstract Mindstate will join Slum Village on their “FUN Since 92 Tour” in Europe this spring.

More info and tickets are available here.

More About Abstract Mindstate:
Olskool Ice-Gre and Ebony Poetress (a.k.a. E.P. Da Hellcat) are the male/female Hip-Hop duo known as Abstract Mindstate, hailing from the Southside and Westside of Chicago respectively.

The pair made a name for themselves in the early 2000s with their golden era sensibilities, their brutally honest and introspective lyrics over soulful beats, and their energetic and connected live performances.

They proudly label themselves Adult Contemporary Hip Hop or ACH, a term Gre coined and has been using to describe the group’s music for several years.

Their 2001 debut album, ‘We Paid, Let Us In!’, was to be the first of three albums they had planned, including ‘Still Paying’ and ‘You Owe Us Change’.

The former was set to feature Kanye, Common, and John Legend.

But when a “a sizable investment” fell through, and their label situation didn’t pan out, the album was ultimately shelved.

The duo pivoted to their ‘Chicago’s Hardest Working’ mixtape series to try to stay afloat and keep the momentum in their favor, but the group soon faced personal hardship and decided to hang up the mics in 2008.

Over a decade later, Gre and EP would re-emerge with a full-length album produced entirely by Kanye West, an artist their group had inspired early on.

The album, ‘Dreams Still Inspire’, would be the only official release via Kanye’s YZY SND.

Although no longer affiliated with the label, the group continues to evolve as part of the Slum Village family, a sibling-like group who are internationally loved Hip Hop legends.

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