Talib Kweli Protégée K'VALENTINE Debut LP OUT TODAY

By: Apr. 07, 2017
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Chicago emcee K'Valentine is finally releasing her debut full-length album, Here for a Reason, today via Talib Kweli's Javotti Media. A longtime protégée of and collaborator with Kweli, K'Valentine builds off of her struggles and triumphs to prove her strength and lyrical abilities. Here for a Reason is available to stream via Spotify and iTunes, and CDs and LPs are available via Javotti Media.

K'Valentine is also debuting the video for "Family" via Billboard. A heartfelt standout track, "Family" is paired with visuals depicting K'Valentine in her home city with loved ones.

The artist has been in NYC for the past week promoting her album release with multiple listening parties and even an appearance on Sway in the Morning, available to watch in full here. K'Valentine discusses how the album came to be, her unique talent for meeting idols, and even performs two songs from Here for a Reason. Her final release party will be tonight, Friday April 7, at Subrosa in the Lower East Side. For RSVP, please contact Girlie Action. Watch K'Valentine on Sway in the Morning

MORE ON K'VALENTINE:
On a cold, snowy day at a downtown Chicago hospital, K'Valentine made her entrance into this world, an early Christmas gift to her mother. The news of her birth also excited her father, who at the time, was incarcerated out of state. At an early age, in spite of many family hardships, K'Valentine excelled academically and in the arts. Anything associated with creativity was and still is her forte.

As a little girl, K's exceptional artistic ability was so evident that it's no surprise that music became her life's passion. When she discovered the power of Hip-Hop, it became her first love. Soon enough, she impressed her friends and family with her vast knowledge about the world of hip-hop.

K'Valentine began her lyrical journey by writing poetry to get out emotions she wanted to express. After a chance meeting with world-renowned poet laureate Dr. Maya Angelou before she passed, K'Valentine was encouraged to practice until she mastered her craft. On the advice of Dr. Angelou, K wrote poetry non-stop, and those poems eventually transitioned into songs.
After reciting poetry at numerous spoken word events and receiving positive feedback, it was time for K to finally get in the booth. Shortly after, she released her debut project, Breakfast at Tiffany's, in 2011. Breakfast at Tiffany's gave listeners their first look into K'Valentine's heart. She wrote about personal subjects but she also wasn't scared to get down and dirty on the microphone. On Valentine's Day 2013, K'Valentine dropped her second mixtape, K'Valentine's Day, which picked up where Breakfast at Tiffany's left off.
In 2014, K'Valentine linked up with Javotti Media, a label owned by hip hop star Talib Kweli, and began to work on her third mixtape, Million Dollar Baby. Million Dollar Baby finds K'Valentine rhyming over original tracks as well as her versions of existing hits, giving the listener a well-rounded perspective of a young lady who can lyrically spar with the best of the best. You can also find K'Valentine's contributions to the world of music on Javotti Media's mixtape, The Cathedral, which placed K in the company of esteemed artists such as Big K.R.I.T. Joell Ortiz, Curren$y, NIKO IS and more. In 2015, K was featured on Indie 500, the collaborative album from Talib Kweli and 9th Wonder. In 2016 she was featured on the latest Javotti Media mixtape, Awful People are Great at Parties, with production from some of the top names in the game including Kaytranada, Hi Tek and the late great J Dilla.
K'Valentine's love for music has given her a calling, and she is here to answer that call. The music she makes is not just wonderful for the listener, but has also been her therapy to get through life's trying times. As beautiful as she is talented, her experience is valuable and her voice is needed.
HERE FOR A REASON Tracklist:
  1. Intro
  2. She feat. Nirè (prod. Dope Boi)
  3. Atlanta (prod. Lexi Banks)
  4. That's Real feat. BJ the Chicago Kid (prod. J Lbs)
  5. Foreplay feat. Scotty ATL (prod. Maurice "Mobetta" Brown)
  6. Family (prod. Dave West)
  7. Us feat. Talib Kweli (prod. Dope Boi)
  8. Loudest Whisper feat. Kendra Ross (prod. Thanks Joey)
  9. Hands High (prod. Thanks Joey)
  10. Too Much (prod. Antwan "Amadeus" Thompson & Trilogy)
  11. King feat. Tweet (prod. C-Sick)
  12. Higher Power (prod. Lexi Banks)
  13. Award Shows (prod. Lexi Banks)


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