Today, Chicago-based rapper McKinley Dixon releases a stripped-down, acoustic version of his single “Tyler, Forever” as part of his Kitchen Table sessions inspired by Carrie Mae Weems’ seminal photo collection, The Kitchen Tables Series. Watch the “Tyler, Forever” Kitchen Table session HERE. Listen to the previously released single HERE and watch the music video HERE.
Symphonic horns and gritty vocals seamlessly blend in the “Tyler, Forever” kitchen table session to create a track that is as catchy as it is emotional. This rendition hones in on McKinley’s raw and real display of grief as he paints a beautiful picture of his late friend Tyler. The song’s infectious chorus transitions midway to a more somber sound with McKinley’s hard-hitting bars as the focal point. “The pain still lingers,” he repeats against his band’s jazz instrumental.
The Kitchen Table sessions’ raw and immediate energy showcase McKinley’s maestro performance style. The series presents alternative versions of notable singles from his upcoming album. The set for the sessions is inspired by artist Carrie Mae Weems’ seminal photography work known as the Kitchen Table Series–a collection known for exploring the self in collective experiences at a kitchen table and is also a landmark in Black representation in American fine art. He previously released his “Sun, I Rise” in the stripped-down format watch HERE.
“Sun, I Rise,” released last year, is a virtuosic display of lyricism joined by the melodies of fellow Richmond-based vocalist Angélica Garcia. LISTEN & WATCH “Sun, I Rise” HERE. The Line of Best Fit called the song “full of reflection, prayer, and promise – a moment of clarity amid a sea of violence, temptation, and noise” and The Guardian recently named McKinley Dixon one of “2023’s most promising musical newcomers,” predicting “his gorgeous 2023 full-length looks set to put him on the map.”
“Blur[ring] the lines between the personal and the political,” (FADER) McKinley calls the late Toni Morrison the greatest rapper of all time; and the way he tackles topics like survival, violence, and religion within the expansive landscape of the Black experience, evokes her novels. In the “Tyler, Forever” Kitchen Table session he dons a Beloved jersey.
This Spring, McKinley will hit the road with Tank And The Bangas. He’ll open for the GRAMMY-nominated group on select tour dates. Tickets are on sale HERE. He will also be in Austin as an official SXSW performer from March 16-18. See full routing below.
Tank & The Bangas Supporting Dates:
3/9 – Fort Worth, TX @ Tulips
3/11 – Santa Fe, NM @ Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery
3/12 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom
3/13 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
3/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
3/19 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
3/21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
3/22 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
3/25 – Fort Collins, CO @ Washington’s
3/26 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
3/28 – Lexington, KY @ The Burl
