Future Islands, Madlib Unite for Collaborative Hip-Hop EP
Future Islands fans know Samuel Herring for his distinctive, emotive croon – but he’s equally adept at rapping, as he’s proved under the moniker Hemlock Ernst. Herring’s latest hip-hop project is the Madlib-produced Trouble Knows Me, a 12-inch vinyl EP out September 1st via Madlib Invazion.
The duo have teased the EP with the release of the introspective title track. “My mind’s still that of a child,” Herring flows over a soulful, brass-driven groove (sampled from Sunny & the Sunliners’ “Should I Take You Home”) and guttural vocal hooks.
Trouble Knows Me features three vocal tracks, along with beats and instrumentals. The vinyl is available to pre-order now at Rappcats, and the description specifies that “a few of these records” are ready to ship “right now.” Each 12-inch is stamp-numbered and features one-of-a-kind, screen-printed sleeves.
One hundred and fifty copies of Trouble Knows Me – including covers designed by Gustavo Eandi and Jeff Jank – will be live screen-printed and sold during Madlib’s concert at the Mid in Chicago on Friday, July 17th. An additional 150 copies will be available during the Los Angeles Rappcats popup shop from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 19th at 5636 York Blvd.
Madlib teamed with rapper Freddie Gibbs for the collaborative studio album Piñata in 2014. Future Islands‘ most recent LP, last year’s Singles, spawned the trio’s breakthrough hit “Seasons (Waiting on You),” which Rolling Stone ranked Number Nine on our list of the year’s 50 Best Songs.