With an evergreen legacy in hip-hop’s evolution and a proven track record of relentless grit, Chicago-born hip-hop duo Abstract Mindstate returns on March 8 to release their newest single ‘True Story’ via Honest Music / Barak With Love distributed by Virgin Records. The song, featuring Simthandile Mtolo, is a soulful, feel-good track that cleverly shares the tale of their growth and journey despite the trials and roadblocks of the industry.

‘True Story’ is an adult-contemporary-hip-hop groove interlaced with a melody of Simthandile Mtolo’s raw, jazzy vocals. Following his opening verse, Abstract Mindstate member Olskool Ice-Gre taps in with his signature powerful rhymes. His heartfelt words are a detailed depiction of the woes of the deceptiveness and secrecy of others. His verses describe the emotions of discovering the true motives of those who were thought to be trusted. The other half of the duo, E.P. Da Hellcat, later chimes into the song with a beautifully effortless verse alluding to the darker side of artistic and personal growth – the bitterness received by those who are still left in the shadows by choosing to stay stagnant and watch as others decide to reach new light and choose to grow. With a beat co-produced by Young RJ of Slum Village and Dave Audinary (who was introduced to the duo by Young RJ himself), ‘True Story’ is a timeless blend of classic hip-hop and soul-filled melodies to tease the anticipated release of Abstract Mindstate’s upcoming album.

Reflecting on the single’s creation, Olskool Ice-Gre states that “Once the team heard ‘True Story’ and agreed it was a perfect first single, Young RJ immediately began mixing it. I sent it to Day Underscore (my artist/producer) from It’s A Cool Day to master it. He’s also a studio engineer. Everyone was very satisfied with the final product and we had our first single from the upcoming album”.

Hip-hop veterans with their roots planted deep into the genre’s history, Abstract Mindstate is a name recognized across the board. Working closely throughout the years with a plethora of accolades, Abstract Mindstate made hip-hop history. In fact, Olskool Ice-Gre was the one who mentored as well as executed the business that aided Kanye West in his journey of transitioning from being a producer to becoming a solo artist. They’re also known to be the first and only female-male rhyme duo.  Their last album ‘Dreams Still Inspire’ (2021) has the unique distinction of being the only album to have been solely produced by Kanye West. Back in the 2000’s the duo was on track to have their breakthrough moment to stardom. However, life took a turn as the industry falsely strung the duo along and the promise faded into an unfair outcome. This lead to a momentary sixteen year hiatus. Deciding to come back stronger than ever, Abstract Mindstate proved their hard work, dedication, and unmatchable grit, highlighted through a 2021 documentary titled ‘We Paid, Let Us In! The Legend of Abstract Mindstate’. The documentary (produced by Emmy-Award winning producer Trizonna McClendon) was so impressive it was selected as ‘Feature Documentary’ in Barcelona, Spain and a multitude of film festivals across the US in 2022. Now in 2024, plans are being executed for the film to be privately screened across the UK and parts of South Africa. Abstract Mindstate will also perform as special guests to Slum Village on their European tour starting early April ending in early May.

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