Chicago is the birthplace of monumental movements, celebrated musical icons and decadent art history. Just like our pizza, our culture is deep with rich narratives and delicious colloquiums that are truly addictive. The Windy City is undergoing a renaissance period of black creatives and artists.  There is no denying that Chicago houses the diamonds of the underground music ; Chance the Rapper, BJ the Chicago Kid, Noname Gypsy and Jamila Woods just to list a few. 

Now, David Ellis is the rapper you need to know.

David Ellis is the future of conscious rap. Hailing from the Southside of Chicago, a proud Chicago State alum, Ellis channels his love for dismantling patriarchy, racism and the structures in place that affect the disadvantaged. Ellis acknowledged "I want my music to make people act, politically. I want my listeners to overthrow, protest, research. Most of all, I want them to create their own perspective. That is the aesthetic of art, the beauty of it. Rap is art."

With a beautiful amalgamation of jazz instrumentals, eclectic beats, and supraliminal bars. He has featured at Young Chicago Authors, University of Chicago, Northern Illinois University, North Coast Music Festival and opened for Famous Dex at Chicago State University. In fact, Minister Louis Farrakhan asked the rapper to perform at the Mosque Merriam.

He has been featured on numerous blogs, Fake Shore Drive, Hip Hop Detox and Four Star Chicago.

David Ellis seamlessly raps about black economic empowerment, feminist ideals and black boy joy. The 23-year-old is proud to be black, from Chicago and preaches the conscious truths we need to hear. The activist has organized with BYP100 Church on the 9 and F Your Institution (FYI). Similarly, Ellis was pivotal to the #SaveCSU movement, in which his alma mater Chicago State University was threatened with closing due to Governor Rauner’s lack of state budgeting. The students overthrown this decision through protesting and shutting down the Dan Ryan expressway in the city of Chicago. ( You can hear David Ellis talk about the #SaveCSU movement in his song “Budget or Else”) The artist explained 

"Activism to me is a obligation, it is reciprocity. We have to give back to communities that made us who we are. Chicago State University is a staple in the South side community. It keeps Roseland, Chicago's Southside, alive. It is a nucleus."

David Ellis brings Hip-Hop back to life, each song is a new lesson about our history, black socioeconomics, and revolutionary rap. He has an innate gift for teaching. The recent college graduate majored in Sociology at Chicago State and wants to become a college professor. The artist is truly multifaceted with diverse talents, leadership and progressive ideals. However music is your true passion and calling. The artist elaborates :

"Rapping is medicinal. It is healing. It heals people and it heals me. All of the anxiety, stress, I just write it away".

His next EP "This Too Shall Pass" will be releasing this summer 2017. Check out his latest video "Nah Nah Nah".