Watch EL.i.BE’s “Come On (ft. Graydon Francis & Bryan Doe)” Video

EL.i.BE is a Liberian/American MC and producer, and his Liberation LP, due out May 19th, chronicles the musician’s journey as a first generation immigrant. A veteran of the music scene, he hails from the Twin Cities and founded the hip-hop group D-Mine while still in high school back in 2004. After that group broke up, EL.i.BE launched a solo career in 2011 releasing his EP Dreams. This month the artist dropped his nostalgic party anthem “Feelin’ Right,” as well as a video for the more self-reflective cut, “Come On (ft. Graydon Francis & Bryan Doe).”

Able to straddle the good vibes of “Feelin’ Right,” EL.i.BE’s multi-faceted vision is also at home dropping knowledge about the immigrant experience, and what it feels like to grow up African-American in the US, on this thought provoking track, “Come On”. Fortunately, his clear-eyed and honest reflections are the required antidote against the kinds of xenophobic notions currently being used to try and support a nationalist agenda thru bans on immigration, etc. EL.i.BE matches that animosity with a positivity that still pulls no punches as far as what it means to grow up black in America; but, as he says, “I ain’t mad/just statin’ facts.”

The video for the track was directed by M&A Productions, and it features the rapper with Graydon Francis and Bryan Doe. Out on the streets and riding the bus, this crew’s affable presence conveys the importance of their message with an unassuming and effortless style.

If you live in Minnesota or Iowa, you can catch EL.i.BE live, with a backing band, at his remaining Liberation release events. You can find a list of his upcoming shows after the YouTube embed…

Watch EL.i.BE’s “Come On (ft. Graydon Francis & Bryan Doe)

EL.i.BE Live Shows

May 12 The Nest St Cloud, MN
May 19 The What’s Up Lounge Mankato, MN
Jun 09 Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, IA
Jun 24 Melhaven Festival Fergus Falls, MN
Jul 10 St. Paul Saints – CHS Field Minneapolis, MN