Very talented multi-GRAMMY Award-nominated R&B/Soul singer and songwriter, BJ the Chicago Kid. Today releases his highly-anticipated fourth solo album, Gravy. That is all produced by super producer, Yeti Beats and the first release under his new label Reach The World Records, a joint venture in partnership with RCA Records.
Coming in at 15 tracks, it features previously released singles, Forgot Your Name featuring Cory Henry, Liquor Store featuring frequent collaborator Freddie Gibbs, Spend The Night featuring rising great superstar singer and songwriter, Coco Jones and Long Time. With features also from the likes of Robert Glasper, Andra Day, Chloe Bailey and Philip Bailey.
BJ also debuting through Vevo in conjunction with the release of the new album a new video for brand new single, Never Change featuring Philip Bailey of the legendary and iconic, Earth, Wind & Fire. That sees the Chicago-bred crooner and Bailey crafting the very heartfelt love ballad in the legendary Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, of yet another legendary and iconic R&B/Soul great, Al Green.
Yeti saying in a statement how influential Green was in the making of the album. ”My father loves Al Green and I’ve always dreamed of recording a soul album in Memphis. When the opportunity came up, BJ was my ideal collaborator—I consider BJ to be one of the greatest voices in soul/r&b today. His knowledge of and passion for soul music shaped the authentic sound of this album. I am proud and excited to release Gravy through my label, RTW, in partnership with RCA.”
BJ also adding in a statement how he came up with the name of the album. ”I’m sick of soul music having an old name,” Adding, ”When you’re in the hood and they love you, they give you a nickname. To me the nickname of soul music is ‘gravy.’ Gravy smothers, covers and makes everything taste better. The album Gravy is the persona of what the new cool is. It’s that feeling when you’re at your absolute best, got on your best clothes, exuding confidence in every step and word. This project embodies the very essence of how you carry yourself, how you assert your authority, and how you rise to the occasion. In essence, it’s the soul of the music, and in turn, the music becomes the gravy that defines me.”