The Chubby Tape is out now!
Image: Supplied.
Sydney based hip-hop artist YIBBY has teamed up with producer Chub.e to create The Chubby Tape. To celebrate the release, the duo are taking MILKY through the release track by track!
"This is essentially the third project I’ve released and I honestly think the process has been completely different to anything I’ve done before, it’s still a rap project and I’m doing similar things that I’ve done but it was made differently. Usually I would record and re-record over months but we recorded this in the Lowkey Studio over 2 months from start to finish - from creation to release. There’s been something about this project and the way it’s come together where everything is so organic and natural, Chubs is one of my good homies so nothing is forced, we’re trying without trying – everything is just made to be how it is and to feel right. So the project is exactly that, the ‘The Chubby’ tape, our soul food in a time where people want everything quick, quick money, quick entertainment – it’s not to say it took us the longest time to make but to be straight, we’ve been both honing our craft and almost more importantly setting our sights on creating something that made us feel good above all else." Yibby shares.
Chub.e adds, ‘It all started with meeting Yibby. I knew of him through mutuals and was introduced through one of them. We clicked straight away especially through our similar music tastes, specially Earl Sweatshirt, Medhane and more. When he found out I made beats he asked to send him over some and the rest was history, from there we knew we’d be working together one way or another to put something unique out for Australia to listen to. This is the first project where I've been involved from the start to finish, usually I'll just send something off, or have 1 or 2 studio sessions then leave it in the hands of the artist. But this time around I had a part to play in all aspects. It’s beautiful to see how it’s come alive. If I could describe it in a couple of words I'd say ‘warm and organic’, that's how this entire project has felt, and when I listen back to it that’s the same feeling I get.’
SYD CITY
YIBBY: If someone is going to tell our story, we’d rather be the ones to do it. This feels like the right way. This record is really special to me, a look into our lived experiences, done in a fresh way. Everything is style to me at the end of the day. We really have our own shit, our own style out here. Chub.e: This is Sydney through our boys eyes, I tried to capture that through the sound - tell our own narrative, you know.
CHOCOLATE
Y: Chocolate is about getting the W, triumphing through whatever you're facing and doing it in your own way “getting the chocolates”. This one features the bro Josef, we on some smooth like chocolate. C: About that time back in the day (no specific time) but you’ll get that reminiscent feeling.
LOW RISE JEANS
Y: Low Rise Jeans is that story of catching feelings for a girl with expensive taste, she likes finer things, she’s designer and she’s always in low rise jeans. It’s like “apple bottom jeans”, it’s that moment she walks in and you can’t help but notice her from across the room.
C: About a woman who has a certain fashion taste and she’s drawn some people in.
PRADA
Y: Prada is a feeling of being proud of how far you’ve come and living in that piece of time, windows down “like the summer”. Prada is an aspirational brand, so it goes hand in hand with thinking about your growth.
C: Referencing the luxury brand Prada.
LATE NIGHTS
Y: This one just feels like a real record to me. It’s simply about Late Nights and all they involve, getting active whether that’s for work or just being out, there’s so many stories to tell from those times. We did this one in legit one of the last sessions of the project and I wrote it all out so quickly, shit just made sense to me, I didn't have to force it, it’s easy when you're coming from a place of just sharing lived experiences.
C: I was really in a specific mindset for this one, it came near the end of the project sessions and Yib said we needed something a bit more up tempo so Late Nights came about. When I heard Yib lay that first take, I felt like I knew we had something, so it will be cool to see how people react when they get their first listen.
ROLL WITH ME
Y: Words to someone wanting to be in your life and really roll with the punches with you, whether that’s on the road or at home.
C: About a girl who wants to always be around because she’s /infatuated with everything about someone.
YOU BRING THE SUN OUT
Y: The last track is a moment to myself, It’s the end of the day and I’m reflecting on everything that’s happened, will happen and who’s been a part of that. Who keeps the day going.
C: About a person who always can shine the light on your day regardless of the situation, your ride or die.
The Chubby Tape is out now!
YIBBY + CHUB.E - THE CHUBBY TOUR
2/12 - EORA/SYDNEY - OXFORD ARTS FACTORY (GALLERY)
3/12 - DHAWAWAL/WOLLONGONG - LA LA LA
9/12 - NAARM/MELBOURNE - THE GASOMETER
17/12 - NOONGAR/PERTH - THE BIRD