Seattle – Angel Haze is an American rapper. Angel Haze is a profound lyricist. Angel Haze, perhaps most importantly, is a serious rebel. Sure, albums are leaked all the time but it’s not so common that an artist defies her label and pre-releases a sample of her album. This is exactly what Angel Haze did with her upcoming debut full-length, Dirty Gold. The album was initially set to be released by Republic Records in March of 2014 but because of Angel Haze’s “stunt” (as they’re calling it) the release date was moved up to December 30, 2013.
The “leak” (although I struggle to call it that because is it really a leak if the artist intentionally put it out?) showcased not only her independent spirit but also a serious quality of production and lyrics that have added to the hype of the album itself. Well played, Angel Haze. This leak is in addition to the album lead single, “Echelon (It’s My Way)” whose video has already brought the album and Angel Haze herself considerable attention. In the age of internet marketing, Angel Haze knows how to work it. Before we get too carried away with the latest release, let’s get a little back-story.
Angel Haze is the stage name for 22-year-old Raykeea Angel Wilson, who got her start making music with her mother and the church in Detroit. The city was the site of serious personal struggles that Angel Haze has no trouble rapping and speaking freely about. She’s freely discussed her past with fans and has openly sited it as the source of her words and works.
She left Detroit at the age of 10 and started writing music when she was 7 (living in Virginia at the time). While she moved around a lot after her initial departure from Detroit, Angel Haze finally settled in Brooklyn which is where Angel Haze truly began her dedicated career in music. She abandoned the college path (having been set to attend Penn State) to concentrate on music; it’s a choice that’s obviously been paying off.
She released her first mixtape, New Moon, in 2009 and hasn’t taken too much of a break since then. Republic Records picked her up in 2012 when they released her New York EP. Since its release, she’s been nominated for awards and appeared on “Best Yearly Tracks” by MTV, BBC, NME and Pitchfork. The Dirty Gold sample might have helped us with the wait, but we still have the full-length to look forward to; check back here for our full thoughts!
