Rhymesayers’ prodigal Pacific Northwesterner Grieves has blossomed into a lethally excellent spitter, on a killer streak of evolving performance and perspective following the release of his fourth album Winter & The Wolves. We’d say that makes for a fine time to turn the spotlight on Mr. Benjamin Laub as Crave’s Band of The Month featured artist.
Winter & The Wolves blossoms widely beyond Grieves’ poetically lush 2011 Rhymesayers debut Together/Apart, and defies the current industry rush to recreate the pop-rap stylings of another Seattle flowmaster. Sidestepping the tired trope of arrogance & conquest, the young MC lays out relatable struggles through poetically lush & vivid lyrical narratives that indicate not only a sharp upward trajectory of personal evolution, but a determination to connect to a core humanity. Melancholic rhymes over deliciously minimalist slow-drip production combines for an atmospheric weight that convey the lyrics’ hardships and heartbreaks, but isn’t mired in negativity and gloom.
For his first CraveOnstage performance as our Band of The Month featured artist for June, Grieves delivered the mojo with “Shreds,” a third-act gem off Winter & The Wolves. Now we continue on week two with a hilariously awesome rendition of “Whoa Is Me,” on a very special day for Star Wars fans. You’re going to want to see this badass intro, exclusively on CraveOnline:
Years of relentless touring and dedication to the craft have yielded a strong balance of sound and a promising new chapter in the career of the man born as Benjamin Laub. The self-proclaimed love-song rapper’s alt-soul lyrical acrobatics hopscotch the web of life, love and loss through a romantic’s lens on his latest offering, and we can’t wait to see where he heads next.
Check back next week for our exclusive interview with Grieves, as well as another CraveOnstage performance from our session with the Rhymesayers export. While you’re at it, keep up with Grieves at his official site, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Photo: Johnny Firecloud
