New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The Philadelphia-based hip-hop/R&B duo &More comprised of singer Donn T and rapper Chill Moody have released a video for their latest single "WHOA" featuring Chuck D of Public
Enemy (produced by Jake Morelli with additional mixing by Ben "IAmBNJMIIN" Thomas). The song is from the group's forthcoming debut album Ethel Bobcat that will be released on April 5 via D-tone Victorious/nicethingsMUSIC.
NPR's World Cafe said, "There comes a point in the bleak landscape of current events where those paying attention are left exhausted and speechless. Philadelphia R&B/hip-hop combo &More has a word for that moment when there are no words left: 'WHOA.'"
"'WHOA' is inspired by Angie Thomas' novel, 'The Hate U Give,'" explains Donn T. "A year ago, when I was on a book tour for 'Behind The Song' (a young adult novel I contributed to), I was introduced to it. I was hearing about this new writer who'd made the NYT best-seller list. First time I saw her book's cover, something resonated. My mind finished the phrase, The Hate U Give ... 'won't stop and let you think, the love you save, keeps you on the brink.'"
"It was the
Roots Jam Session in NYC Grammy week, our first show ever as &More, when Donn introduced me to Chuck D," explains Chill Moody. "I was all hype to tell him the story about when Public
Enemy came to my hood in West Philly around the time '911 is a Joke' was out, one of my earliest memories in hiphop. But, I couldn't even get a word out because as soon as Donn said my name he's like "oh yeah! I heard some of y'all album you got skills". I was speechless. Fast forward, we were able to get him this track and I was able to get the homie Jacquline Constance to produce his part, legendary."
&More's debut album Ethel Bobcat is a musical mix of hip-hop & inspired soul that alternates between themes of power, love and social justice. The duo ride atop the edgey tracks by producer Ben "IAmBNJMIIN"
Thomas ( Shawn Smith , Jazmine Sullivan, Ty $ ) and guitarist/producer Jake Morelli (Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, DJ
Jazzy Jeff, Esperanza Spalding, The Roots).
When &More debuted at the annual
Roots Jam Session last January in the lead-up to Grammy week, the pair settled on a band name in reference to festival lineups that state "and more" at the bottom of fliers. ("I could be 'and more' one day, just joking along with that," says Chill.) But &More's missive is grounded in the times, surveying the world at large and exploring a variety of topics along a political and societal spectrum. It's a perspective that drives their debut album Ethel Bobcat, inspired by the maternal figure in black communities who kept the neighborhood under her purview and offered sagacity where needed.
"What she represented is what we felt we were missing in music and our communities now," says Chill. "When that figure is no longer, we gotta understand the correlation in the fact that there are no more old heads in the neighborhood looking out for that." "We now all have to be Ethel Bobcat," adds Donn. "But the music," continues Chill, "is Ethel Bobcat. So the album is what Ms. Ethel would be saying to you."
The group will kick off a tour tonight, February 6, at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles, and will make stops in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and more. Additional tour dates and festival performances will be announced soon.
Track List:
1) My Own Light (Feat. J. Ivy)
2) Future
3) Gracey's Flame
4) Gravity
5) War (Feat. Bilal)
6) Talk
7) 4Ever 1st Lady
8) Rise Up
9) WHOA (Feat. Chuck D)
Tour Dates:
2/6: Los Angeles, CA- Bootleg Theater
3/30: Washington, DC- Songbirds
3/31: Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl
4/1: New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine
4/9: Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
4/10: Syracuse, NY - Wescott Theater
4/11: Boston, MA - Middle East
4/12: Portsmouth, NH -
Music Hall Loft
4/13: Portland, ME - Portland Empire
4/26: Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
6/2: Nashua, NH - Riverwalk Cafe
6/3: Brattleboro, VT - Stone Church
7/26: Lakehurst, NJ - Joint Base
8/2-4: Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon
8/23: Durham, NC - Durham Central Park
