Video: 14 trapdoors feat. Che Noir – Orion’s Belt [Prod. Camoflauge Monk]

Delivering offbeat bars in distinct styles, Buffalo trio 14 trapdoors are motivated by a love of rapping and a limitless creative drive. Teaming up with fellow Queen City native Che Noir for a lyrical and ethereal video single, the group shares “Orion’s Belt.” With a warped, twinkling beat from Buffalo beatmaker Camoflauge Monk, “Orion’s Belt” finds all four emcees discussing their ambitions and money motivations: Bendyface counts his currency, WZA dreams of early retirement, Short Moscato spits in the face of the Grim Reaper, and Che Noir fantasizes about sipping champagne in a hotel jacuzzi.

“Che is a great rapper and a really cool person,” say 14 trapdoors. “None of us had a relationship with her before, but when we shot the video we had natural chemistry. It was a lot of fun.”

In the video, directed by DHawks, Che and 14 trapdoors post up in Buffalo (keep an eye out for the café at “Elmwood and Cleveland block” where Short Moscato works his day job), as they covertly execute a big money drug transaction. “Orion’s Belt” is the first video from Eileen, the upcoming album from 14 trapdoors, and the second single, following the Benny The Butcher-featured banger “I Did It All“.

Named after bendyface’s grandmother who recently passed, ‘Eileen’ is a stark and pure project, emphasizing bar-for-bar lyricism and flows that toe-tag glistening instrumentals. The project is produced in full by Camoflauge Monk (Westside Gunn, Tha God Fahim), a master of creating sparkling, textured, and bleak soundscapes that evoke a frosty evening in Western New York. The three emcees inhabit each instrumental with their brash demeanor and electric chemistry, occasionally highlighting phrases or punchlines with three-man gang vocals. With appearances from Benny The Butcher, Boldy James, Che Noir, Royce Da 5’9″, Smoke DZA, and more, ‘Eileen’ arrives on September 11th via The Media Music Inc.

Last month, 14 trapdoors shared ‘Croquet’, a new project available only on Bandcamp. An 8-track project produced by 14 trapdoors themselves, proceeds from Croquet benefit OpenBuffalo.org, an organization that fights to advance racial, economic, and ecological justice through skill building, network connecting, and activating leadership opportunities.

Stay tuned for much more music from 14 trapdoors over the coming weeks.

You can also stream & cop 14 trapdoors’ “Orion’s Belt” single on all major digital service providers