The Detroit rap trio is making their return back to the music as their new CD, Villa Manifesto, will be hitting everyone’s local retail shelves on September 22. And for fans that were wondering then the answer is yes as it refers to the trio as Baatin will finally infuse himself back with his Detroit comrades.
Fueled by the single “Cloud 9” featuring the songstress best known as the other half of Floetry, Marsha Ambrosius, the upcoming project will be distributed digitally through the Independent Online Distribution Alliance. The IODA is currently one of the largest digital label distributors of independent music.
“Slum Village is the perfect example of how digital distribution can revive the profile of a truly great group after a long hiatus. IODA has already secured top level placements at retailers like Amazon, eMusic, MySpace and Verizon, ensuring new and old fans alike will know that Slum Village are back with one of their best records yet,” said Adam Rabinovitz, IODA Vice President of Marketing.
Behind the wheel is Barak Records which has been diligently working to build its brand for the past decade to become one of the most respected imprints in the Midwest area. Barak has released over six Slum Village projects.
On the boards for production, the Village’s line will have an extensive bench with the likes of Hi-Tek, Mr. Porter, Madlib, Pete Rock and others. In the absence of J Dilla, who died in 2006 after being diagnosed with rare blood diseases Lupus and TTP (Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpra ), it has been rumored that the Village will be enlisting the producer’s young brother Illa J to have the essence of Dilla infused in some of their upcoming sounds.
Musical features gracing the work will include names such as Macy Gray, Colin Munro along with others as this album has been deemed as being a “labor of love.”
The group broke from a trio into a duo when member Baatin became sick before the release of their 2004 album, Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit), and left to seek treatment. Even with pressure on their shoulder, T3 and Elzhi would go on to release the single “Selfish” featuring Kanye West and John Legend which would climb the ranks on the charts and become the groups highest charted single.
