[su_dropcap style=”simple”]J[/su_dropcap]ayson Jenkins, better known by his stage name Mick Jenkins, released some days ago an amazing new track called “The Artful Dodger”. It was produced by regular producers Kaytranada, who is definitely drawing attention this year, and THEMpeople, a Chicago-based rising circle of experimental producers.

The track is pure dope and features a sample from BadBadNotGood. It starts with some kind of lo-fi loops to finally turn into a lyrical attack on a confident and agressive beat.

The artist should normally release a debut album in the coming months. He has been working on this project for quite a long time now but we still don’t know anything about the official release date and neither if this new track will be part of the LP.

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The yellow artwork, that represents a Swiss army knife, was signed by Sam Schmieg.

Earlier this year, Jenkins also shared “Sip!“: “a collection of shit I’ve been working on with THEMpeople.

[su_dropcap style=”simple”]M[/su_dropcap]ick Jenkins doesn’t need to be picked in any lists such as the BBC Sound Of. Indeed, that is so inescapable that this young Chicago artist shines in 2016 that is would be too easy to include him in such a list. While we wait for his debut album “[T]he [H]ealing [C]omponent” that should finally be available for later this year, here is “Sip!”, a 2-track EP that the rapper just released for free via his Soundcloud account.

The two tracks are described as “a collection of shit I’ve been working on with THEMpeople“. Both tracks also feature the contribution of the rapper theMind and won’t be featured on his upcoming album. No, they are just gifts to get 2016 off to a flying start!

“Grenade Theory” is a dark and intense track about his hometown Chicago, a city where you can find some bodies at the corners of the streets.

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“$3,000 Advice” is not as serious and the chill side and the groovy basses of the track offer an interesting contrast with the previous track.

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This EP is the follow-up to “Wave[s]”, that featured the excellent single Kaytranada-produced single “Your Love“.