Gee Slab at The Boom Bap's 10th anniversary party at The Basement East, 2018
It feels good to say that you’re probably familiar with Six One Trïbe, the ever-evolving, always busy Nashville hip-hop collective that has shaped itself as “the Wu-Tang Clan of the South.” Now is a particularly good time to zero in on one of the co-founders, top-notch rapper Gee Slab. For the past several years, he’s focused his energy on the Trïbe, but he’s released his first solo track in a hot minute along with the announcement of his first full-length solo album since 2018.
Riding on a synth riff from producer Smokey Hendrixx that recalls ’80s R&B filtered through a G-funk lens, “Trending Topic” is all about keeping things in perspective and celebrating the value of the work you’ve put in. As Slab raps in his unmistakable drawl: “Look at all these rappers / Actin’ out because they losin’ / Fishin’ for attention / I’m just swimmin’ in influence.” Hear a sample in the embed, and use this handy link to find the track on your favorite streaming service.
The song is an extension of the mantra that Slab frequently posts to social media: “Wake up every day and expect to win. Then accept the wins, never feel guilty.” And that brings us to the title of his upcoming record: Expect to Win is set to drop March 26.
In the meantime, you’ll want to keep an eye on Slab’s Instagram profile for updates, but you’ve got plenty of chances coming up to see him and others from the Trïbe in person. The collective is has a weekend of events planned to celebrate their new single “Paradise Lost,” including a show at The Basement on Jan. 26 and a release party for the second season of local hip-hop-focused streaming show Mobile Melody (whose first episode features the Trïbe) at Center 615’s H.O.M.E. on Jan. 27. The Trïbe crew is also involved in the Valentine’s Day Poetry vs. Hip-Hop event at City Winery, which includes Queen Sheba’s poetry, William Davenport’s music and Renard Hirsch’s comedy in addition to the titular hip-hop/poetry battle.
