King Louie’s “Live & Die in Chicago,” off his recent Tony mixtape, is one of my personal favorite mixtape cuts of the year. Using a simple, repetitive melody over a suspenseful beat, this song creates an ominous, larger-than-life vibe. Louie paints a powerful picture by spitting without a filter, but mixed in with the ugly truths (“no murder rate like Chicago”), there is a sense of pride that makes this a compelling hometown anthem. The DGainz-directed video keeps things appropriately raw.
My city influenced my country, can’t get away from Chicago
They ask me, “Louie, you gon’ leave?” No, I’m gon’ stay in Chicago
