Last year, Ric Wilson, a 21-year-old self-proclaimed artist, performer and prison abolitionist from the Southside of Chicago released his EP The Sun Was Out, now he’s back with a new project called Soul Bounce.
It’s seven track project features sonically infectious production by James Gent, 3lo, Kdagreat, GrizzRivers and Safe N Sound, and, laced with Wilson’s woke lyrics, the set is timeless and current at the same time.
The uptempo title track Soul Bounce features eargasmic chords, horns, and electric guitar solo while Wilson suggests that you “let your soul bounce.” On “We Love Us,” Wilson affirms social self-love on for black community: “It’s time to stop expecting white folks to give a f*ck,” feature David Ellis flows on the track. “Powerful” is a synthy groove with another uplifting message: I know you think you’re not, but I’mma tell you that you’re powerful.” But it’s not all socially aware songs; on the sixth track, Wilson finds himself so infatuated with a young woman that it makes him say “Lord Have Mercy.” The house/dance track is sure to make you at least tap a toe.
Stream the project below:
Outside of music, Ric also spends a great deal of time giving back to the community by leading panel discussions and has led workshops at University of Illinois at Chicago, Depaul University, Roosevelt University, Loyola University and more. Ric was also one of the eight delegates chosen to travel to Geneva, Switzerland in November of 2014 to represent the We Charge Genocide coalition. The coalition successfully presented a shadow report and testified at the United Nations, charging the Chicago Police Department with genocide and torture actions on Black and brown youth within the city of Chicago; helping to create a worldwide connection that resulted in coverage all over the US and Internationally as well.
Download Soul Bounce on iTunes HERE.