Rhymesayers' The Uncluded Delightfully Marry Folk And Rap

By Katie Karpowicz in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 7, 2013 8:50PM

The Uncluded (Photo credit: Chrissy Piper)

We never thought we'd see the day when a Rhymesayers Entertainment artists played a show at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, but the times they are a-changin' and Rhymsayers' latest release, the debut from new duo The Uncluded, gets quite folky.

Despite the fact that this is the first release from The Uncluded, a combined effort from indie folk singer Kimya Dawson and rapper Aesop Rock, for Rhymesayers—the same Minnesota-based hip hop label that pumps out releases from Atmosphere and Brother Ali—they're no strangers to the label. Aesop has been putting out albums with them for years including 2012's critically acclaimed Skelethon. And just because the group is new, doesn't mean they're inexperienced. Dawson—who you might recall made up the bulk of the JUNO soundtrack—is a Grammy winner, a successful solo artist and former band member (of the Moldy Peaches).

The Uncluded's album Hokey Fright is intentionally raw and consequentially endearing despite its sassy lyrical deliveries. The album was written and recorded entirely by Aesop and Dawson in a series of makeshift studios and that nomadic, stripped style comes out strong. It's a frustrated mix of both dark and whimsical emotions that's kept at bay by the duo's contrasting vocals.

If hockey's not your thing, spend the weekend checking out songs from Hokey Fright performed live at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Saturday, June 8. Tickets are still on sale for $20.