— Cleveland rapper and producer Kipp Stone has announced a new album, 66689 Blvd Prequel, for August 18th via Chicago’s Closed Sessions label.
With the upcoming release of his first project since 2021’s buzzy Faygo Baby EP, Kipp finds himself at the height of powers on the much-anticipated 66689 Blvd Prequel. Part rap game Henry David Thoreau, part Albert Camus, Kipp Stone brings deep introspection to his art, isolating himself in the making of 66689 Blvd Prequel to paint narratives around the people in his life with whom he compares himself the most. From scenes of the culture shock that comes from traveling to the West Coast for the first time after only ever knowing East Cleveland to raps about escaping his job, poverty, and selfishness, 66689 Blvd Prequel is the start of an ego death that will come in the album’s sequel.
Today you can watch the official music video for “Vanderhall Venice,” a devastatingly beautiful, neo-soul-infused track that explores the feeling of being in a place where you truly belong for the first time and finding freedom.
Kipp Stone has been a staple in the Cleveland scene for the past decade, dropping his debut HOMME in 2020. His subsequent EP Faygo Baby expanded his musical universe with Pitchfork noting that “his years of rap-as-therapy finally seem to have placed him on the verge of a personal breakthrough.”
Watch “Vanderhall Venice” right here and be sure to stay tuned with Kipp Stone via Instagram and Twitter.
66689 Blvd Prequel Tracklist
“BLVD Intro”
“Lakeshore”
“18 The Hard Way”
“Petrichor”
“Passivist Prayer”
“Ambigram Theory”
“The Sun is Medicine”
“Hive Mind”
“Vanderhall Venice”
“Kill The Father Freestyle”