Rich Jones and David Ashley are two Chicago rap veterans who first met in the early ‘10s DIY scene, and they’re linking up for the first time on record with “Coffee,” a homebrewed ode to the local premiering on POW. Over a dusty beat by Detroit’s Denmark Vessey, the ever-personable Jones raps about real friendships made through scenes and shows rather than the fleeting alternative: “Chase showbiz? That’s hopeless.” Ashley boasts about charging black market prices for his black speech and asks who’s got the drop while rocking an immaculate Crown Royal jacket. Their chanted hook pays homage to black coffee and backwoods, twin fuel sources.
Directing duo New Trash has amassed an impressive music video catalog, including clips for Mother Nature and Greensllime. The “Coffee” clip is filled with their signature DIY style: infomercial product shots, color-changing couches, amateur CGI coffee cup monsters. Jones and Ashley rap their way through the northwest side on a sunny February day, sipping mugs on back porches and eating chicken outside a neighborhood softball game. But don’t let the visuals fool you: this is indoors music, fitting for release during self-isolation. that can stretch a wake n bake far into the evening. Stream “Coffee” and watch the video below.