Chicago artist and educator 7 Metrix turns memory into living documentation on I Heard The City Breathe, a multimedia project that expands beyond music into film, visual art and community storytelling.
Rooted in the South Side of Chicago, the album blends hip-hop, soul, spoken word and experimental production to capture the emotional weight and everyday resilience woven through Black life in the city.
Rather than framing Chicago through familiar headlines or hardened mythology, 7 Metrix approaches the city with intimacy. Across the project, textured production and reflective narration create a sense of movement that feels both restless and deeply grounded.
One standout moment from the release unfolds with quiet intensity, pairing layered soul influences with spoken-word passages that linger long after the track ends. The music never romanticizes struggle, but it refuses to strip the city of beauty either.
The project also doubles as an intergenerational collaboration. Students from ISPro Academy, including Blessing, Trish, Carson and Christian, contributed creatively alongside Chicago producers Warren Davis, Cavan Jackson, Marlon King, and 7 Metrix himself, while Lamar Pates of Creation Sound Studios handled engineering.
Supported by the DCASE Individual Artist Grant and Illinois Arts Council Catalyst Grant, the release was further presented through a gallery exhibition at the Beverly Arts Center in partnership with Saint Xavier University.
More than an album rollout, I Heard The City Breathe functions as cultural preservation. Through music, mentorship and education, 7 Metrix documents the humanity of Chicago from the inside out.
Listen to I Heard The City Breathe and share your thoughts with us on X and Instagram. Visit Lyrical Muse for more fresh drops and emerging artist spotlights.
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