UG Rap Community

On April 16th, Illogic, a veteran of the Columbus, Ohio, hip-hop scene and Blockhead, a veteran of the New York hip-hop scene and long-time producer for Aesop Rock, will release their first collaborative full-length, Capture The Sun. The album, which includes features from Slug (of Atmosphere), Blueprint, Abstract Rude, and more, will be released on TK via Man Bites Dog Records.

While Capture The Sun serves as the first full-length collaboration between Illogic and Blockhead, the two share a friendship, and working relationship, that dates over a decade. And for Illogic, an artist who's largely been quiet on the scene for a handful of years, and Blockhead, who's recently immersed himself in solo instrumental work, Capture The Sun comes during a creative intersection in the artist's respective solo careers. "I'd been wanting do to an album where it's just one MC and one producer," says Blockhead, explaining how he got back into producing for rappers. "All it took was Illogic dropping me a line, and I was down.

Capture The Sun is a very personal project for Illogic, now married and with children, and everything about the album, from the music to the title, stems from the life changes that Illogic has experienced in the past years, as he nurtures his family while still pursuing his dreams of artistry. "The title, Capture The Sun, comes from something my grandmother always told me: 'Things delayed are not things denied,'" says Illogic. "Things happen how and when they're supposed to; the point is to go after your dreams no matter how out of reach they may seem, no matter what road blocks may get in your way. Keep going; keep moving."

Those sentiments resonate throughout Capture The Sun, with songs like "Beautiful Sunday" or "Lighthouse," tracks that display not only Illogic's penchant for open, relatable stories but also the pairing's ability to create unique, complex songs. Another is "Last Breath," essentially an open letter from Illogic to his parents. "'Last Breath' is about how I've seen them over the years, how I appreciated what they've done for me and my brothers, but it also deals with their divorce," explains Illogic. "The song took me almost three years to write – I wanted to be sure I found the right words, for them and for myself, to understand my feelings."