Question. What do you get when you cross a college senior majoring in chemistry with indie rap dreams?
Enter Psalm One. Enter Bio:chemistry. This is one Chicago rapper's dance with professionalism; 18 tracks of versatility, showcasing a torrid fling between the left and right brain. Released a scant 6 months after her debut EP Whippersnapper achieved unexpected notoriety, Psalm delivers a full-length album which spans many different genres of hip-hop, from basement to boogie to solemn woe-is-me-ism to head nod to banger to bounce. It's soulful, introspective and varied. If you like Atmosphere, Native tongue, Bahamadia, Common, Eminem and anyone in between, Bio:chemistry by Psalm One is a flavorful experiment in rap music.
...Now, what do you get when you cross a college graduate, day lighting as a Chemist in Chicago, and a need to feed the hungry children of her city something new? You get Personal Surplus, a jackrabbit frenzied EP that sits between two major independent releases. In the time it took Psalm to graduate, move back to Chicago, out of mommy's house and into a job in her field, she found the time to grow lyrically and vocally. This EP, while leaving you hanging like the last minute and-a-half of Dragonball Z, is full of tight production and lyrics that have Chicago nodding and rewinding...and you will be no exception.
Frequent Flyer, the next full length by Psalm One being unleashed this summer on new jack Birthwrite Records, is the next journey. It boasts (right now, anyway...more heat added daily!!!) beats by the Molemen, Overflo, Albert Jenkins, WEXL, Yoda and Kato, as well as guest appearances by Rhymesayers, Rhymefest, and fellow Nacrobats Pugslee Atomz (24 Years Later) and Thaione Davis (Progress). If this is a preview of what's to come from the woman, we should all take heed and stick around for the ride.
From hot rappers to cool rappers to backpackers to misogynists to feminist poets...Psalm One has rocked stages with them all--from opening for 50 Cent in front of thirsty gangster-lovin hotheads to finger snapping intellectuals. Boasting countless gigs with and without fellow crewmembers Nacrobats (Pugslee Atomz, Thaione, Cosmo, and Infinito), and a knack for making old friends out of audiences everywhere, Psalm has an undeniable stage presence that always promises to be worth the wait and the buck. Currently residing in Chicago, but willing to travel anywhere, Psalm relishes every opportunity to perform. Mister Promoter has the woman he's been so long without, and Christopher Concertgoer feels he has gotten more than what he paid for. Now it's your turn.
Discography (as of 1-2-03):
Psalm One "Whippersnapper" (Banarnar 2001)
Nacrobats "Network of Stars (Enohes 2001)
Infinito "This is not a listening Party #1" (Nephew of Frank 2001)
Psalm One " Bio:Chemistry" (Banarnar 2002)
Pugslee Atomz "24 Years Later" (Birthwrite Records 2002)
Overflo "Six Shades of the Same Color" (Birthwrite Records 2002)
Psalm One "Personal Surplus" (Psalm One 2002)
SoulStice "North By Northwest" (Banarnar 2003)
Performance Notables:
Eyedea (Minneapolis,Fall, 2002)
Rhymefest, Mass Hysteria, Nacrobats, J.U.I.C.E., ALL Natural, others (Metro Chicago, Winter, 2003)
50 Cent (Club E2 Chicago, Winter, 2003)
De La Soul (House of Blues, Spring, 2003)
Psalm One ~ 530 S. Scoville Ave., Suite 1C, Oak Park, Il. 60304 For booking & inquiries call 312.375.4147, psalm_one6511@hotmail.com
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