In the 21st century, Chicago-based Hip Hop is less about Common sense and Kanye confidence and more about drill genre drive-by shootings and post-Obama gentrification. Rap music, once a vehicle for the strongest voices to strengthen the voiceless listener, is now more often criticized for enabling the mis-education of communities and glorifying their gangland enterprises. Artists such as Jelani Lateef are changing this notion.
Written by ToneSwep
Motivated by personal factors close to home and even closer to the heart, Jelani Lateef – also known as J Fury – makes efforts to craft songs that have an inspirational impact. In 2010, the artist lost his daughter’s mother to cancer. Rather than allow the tragedy to immobilize his mentality and own his energy, the strong willed songwriter decided to preserve the past while focusing on the future. While admirably accepting the role of single fatherhood, the rap veteran expanded on his music career by adding track producer and label head to his resume. After founding Manhood Entertainment, an indie imprint dedicated to its mission statement of “Striving to be a Popular Source of Music and Entertainment while Portraying Men in a Positive, Powerful, and Inspirational Light,” the rapping CEO released two solid projects: “My Soul to Keep” and “My Soul to Keep 2”. In addition to dropping sonic material, Jelani also uses outreach and mentoring engagements to reach the Chicago community with an uplifting message.
This year, Jelani offered Hip Hop heads his most impressive project to date, a cohesive, thoughtfully planned, and well executed “Cold Days and Dark Nights”. Spearheaded by the singles “The Lyrical”, “Can’t Stop Now (Cold Days Remix), the independent album helps Jelani gather more momentum, a head of steam generated by earlier works like “Forward Advance”, on which the talented wordsmith rhymes: “Chi-Town, moving with a team of Ray Allen’s / Cuz they’re shooting for the Green / Bruised enemies, tendencies / to spill Hennessy in memory of homies / and open the Holy Trinity”.
In all, “Cold Days and Dark Nights” is a positive project offering 14 songs aimed to arm those seeking knowledge of self, who find value in well-written lyrics, and who embrace potential with open arms and minds. Jelani Lateef is one of Chicago’s best rap artists.
Visit Jelani Lateef‘s Official Site