Talib Kweli Protegee K'Valentine Debut LP Out 4/7

By: Mar. 06, 2017
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Chicago's K'Valentine is making 2017 her year. She's put in the time, writing poetry since her youth, putting out three mixtapes, including one with Talib Kweli's Javotti Media, and is finally ready to release her debut album, Here for a Reason, with an updated release date of April 7 via Javotti Media. After touring with mentor and collaborator Talib Kweli, K'Valentine is following up with a New York show and two showcase appearances at Austin's SXSW. For a taste of what's to come, check out her collaboration with fellow Chicagoan BJ the Chicago Kid, "That's Real".

NEW YORK CITY
3/14 - SOB's - tickets here

SXSW
3/16 -- Right Now Tour Showcase - Peckerheads
3/18 - Urban Fêtes Artist Showcase -- Peckerheads

WATCH "THAT'S REAL" HERE

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 in another 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 was impressing 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 tracks that are new as well as her versions of existing hits, giving the listener a well-rounded perspective of a young lady that 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 joint 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. Her debut album, Here for a Reason, is slated for an early 2017 release.

CATCH K'VALENTINE LIVE:
3/14 - New York City, New York - SOB's
3/16 - SXSW - Peckerheads
3/18 - SXSW - Peckerheads

HERE FOR A REASON Tracklist:
  1. Intro
  2. She
  3. Atlanta
  4. That's Real
  5. Foreplay
  6. Family
  7. Us
  8. Loudest Whisper
  9. Hands High
  10. Too Much
  11. King
  12. Higher Power
  13. Award Shows

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