Lay Lemons

We know the soul and funk world of the glory days, big labels, radio shows and bands amid a social context of segregation. A context that starts becoming less important when these music genres enter the mainstream in the late 70’s to eventually fade away at a fast pace in the 80’s until its complete disappearance in the 90’s and beyond. With this album we dive deep into the hoods as todays social context ain’t no greatly different and it has its very own music, deeply rooted in the sounds of the early days, although more immediate and dense of beats and urban feel.

We are in Chicago, a place where every hour someone is shot, and every 10 hours someone is murdered. It ain’t no Iraq or Afghanistan but one of the biggest and most sophisticated cities in the world. In the city’s west and south sides, which are considered the heart of Black America, gang rivalry is tearing its people apart. It has become so brutal that both police and perpetrators agree that this urban warfare is out of control. Lay's his daughter Raven was caught innocent in a gang shooting crossfire. After the following investigation, the FBI (yes, big gangs are federal business) arrested and charged some members of The Four Corners Hustlers, yet Raven’s murder has no responsible.
Lay Lemons has never been involved with gangs nor was Raven, nowhere near that business. They are people of music, family and religion trying to survive in one of worlds toughest places. This album, its vibe, the beats, the voice... are coming straight out of their hood, written around a fire bin on the side of the street and put together with 3 instruments. It barely bears choruses, verses all the way through, it is a kind of prayer to the unknown in the hope of salvation.

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Perfection