Ju • "I'M NOT OKAY"
Back in 2014, the Chicago duo Moon & Ju gained a significant amount of traction for blurring the line between hip-hop, indie rock, and atmospheric ambiance. After the two members went their own way following only three official songs (and one collaboration), artist Ju spent 2015 focusing on his solo content. Back in October, we ran a 'Single Slideshow' of his enticing material in hopes to hear his project around the corner. Months passed and Ju went ghost, refining and retouching his sound until he was satisfied with his release; timeless material took importance over flooding the streets with mediocrity. With that in mind, before this week, Ju could only be found on one 2016 track: "Sleeping", a collaborative effort between seven Chicago creatives. Fresh off the heels of that posse cut of sorts, Ju finally let loose his lead single for the year. The track is known as "I'M NOT OKAY" (all caps) and highlights his grunge coated angst, tip-toeing the line between punk rock, garage noise, and alley rap. Handling production duties on his own (with help from Jeff Arenson aka Pimp Glitter), the solo effort comes and goes in two quick minutes. Hopefully this is the start of a Ju rundown that will hold our attention for the remainder of 2016.