Florida artist King Chad has returned with a fresh album called St. Hilaire. An emcee known for blending refreshing, soulful sounds with southern hip-hop flourishes, he has been on a prolific tear of releases that included three albums since the beginning of 2024. On St. Hilaire, Chad further explores his airy, warm sound and penchant for vivid lyricism atop a set of jazz and soul-laced beats that blend both old school and modern hip-hop influences.
“Callin” opens St. Hilaire with hypnotic, balmy loops laid atop organic percussion, as Chad weaves together poetic lyricism- before transitioning into the colorful bounce of “So Special”. “So Special” puts a refreshing twist on mid-90’s boom-bap inspired grooves, while giving Chad ample space to shine with deft rhyme patterns. He even directly pays tribute to the 90’s with album finishers “90’s Kid” and “90’s Women”, both of which present charmingly retro instrumentation centred around vibrant synths and energetic percussion, with Chad sounding present and focused in his delivery.
The latest from Florida emcee King Chad, St. Hilaire presents a set of vignettes that feel like throwbacks without sounding antiquated, paired with Chad’s detailed lyricism and ear for smooth, soulful production.
