Album: Caleborate – Real Person

The Berkeley Rapper Delves Deep Within Himself for the Heartfelt Follow-Up to Last Year’s Acclaimed 1993

10.6.2017

Critical Praise

“Caleborate delivers his rhymes with the confidence of a vet” – Complex

“…one of the most promising spitters coming out right now” – XXL

“a mix of personal songwriting and quick wit” – The FADER

“lyrical mastermind” – East Bay Express

“Caleb has proven himself to a MC in the purest form, eschewing the flashy brag raps for a centered focus on precise wordplay and introspective storytelling paired with some of the best production that the Bay can offer.” – EARMILK

“Caleb comes across like someone who’s honest with himself and everyone around him” – Uproxx

“[Caleborate] displays the poise and wisdom of a rap veteran” – HipHopDX

“One to watch in 2016.” – Pigeons & Planes

“The Easy Bay’s next Rap Titan” – KQEL (NPR San Francisco)

The Album:

A charming and relatable wordsmith who favors soul-inflected instrumentals, Caleborate looks to move from an underdog to top dog. The follow-up to 2016’s autobiographical 1993, which Earmilk called “the album for your 20s,” Caleborate shares Real Person, the next chapter in his upward trajectory. Packed with soul-sampled beats that evoke the sonic palette of College Dropout-era Kanye West, the project finds the burgeoning 24-year-old confronting his relationships, his career goals, the current presidential administration, and his struggle breaking through to the mainstream despite his superlative talent. While 1993 brimmed with optimism and youthful exuberance, the more subdued and personal Real Person finds the young rapper developing into a unique talent with a distinct sound and aesthetic all to his own. The album boasts highlights such as “Bankrobber,” which deals with Caleb’s upbringing and his relationship with his father, “Wanna Be,” a lush rumination on Caleb’s numerous responsibilities, and the politically-charged “Down,” which in part focuses on the negativity of the Trump presidency. The album also features the hit anti-sellout anthem “Soul,” which garnered more than 600,000 plays on Spotify and over 382,000 on Pandora, featured on Ebro Darden’s Beats 1 radio show, and earned a spot on Spotify’s Most Necessary playlist. Featuring production from Ian McKee, Lege Kale, Chonchies, Drew Banga, and Willem Ardui, and guest appearances from 1-O.A.K. and Donte Thomas, Real Person arrives via TBKTR.

“My life drove me to create this album,” explains Caleborate. “It’s a culmination of my musical taste, experiences, feelings and views. It’s my story. It’s delivered in a much more palatable way than 1993 was. 1993 was extremely fleshed out and musically advanced and at times that was very necessary. I feel that Real Person delivers with solid bars, smooth melodies, and overall efficiency throughout.”

Born in Sacramento and a resident of Berkeley, Caleborate built his considerable fanbase online, eventually earning a spot on the 2014 edition of The Thizzler‘s Bay Area Freshman 10, which has featured luminaries such as Nef The Pharaoh, IAMSU!, and Sage The Gemini. In 2015, Caleborate collaborated with G-Eazy for “Want It All“ and released his album Hella Good, which received critical praise from Pigeons & Planes, The Source, and SF Weekly, which named it the Best Hip-Hop Album of the Bay Area for 2015. Last year, Caleborate expanded his sound with 1993, which Earmilk called “the album for your 20s.” This summer, Caleborate shared the loose, exuberant “Make Me & Take Me,” which was accompanied by a one-take video that depicted Caleborate depositing a check into his savings account at the bank. With Real Person, out now, Caleborate stakes his claim as one of the region’s most talented artists, with a unique take on working-class life.

Buy Real Person: http://i.caleborate.io/RealPersonPR-ZuvATa

Spotify: http://i.caleborate.io/RPSplashSpotify2
Apple: http://i.caleborate.io/RPSplashApple
Soundcloud: http://i.caleborate.io/RPSplashSC
Google Play: http://i.caleborate.io/RPSplashGoogle

Please contact Michelle or Isabel for more info.

The Background:

A Berkeley bred student of hip-hop and all around eclectic artist, Caleborate has been renowned as one of the games most promising emcees. With lyrics that represent the unique struggles of the average 20-something, and stanza’s about the day to day grind as a collegiate youth, he covers topics far and wide and is anything but shallow. After being awarded the “Best Hip Hop Album of The Bay Area” in 2015 by SF Weekly, Caleborate is poised to sit cross-legged atop the hip-hop genre someday.