One of my favorite musical projects to come out of Champaign-Urbana is Mother Nature. It's a duo between Shasta "Klevah" Knox and Tierney Reed aka T.R.U.T.H. I spoke with them last yearabout their debut record.
Mother Nature counts Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Questand Public Enemy as influences. Like those acts, they take on social justice issues and inequality. Knox says the music is meant to spread knowledge and to "uplift black people ... It helps us with our identity as well."
Mohter Nature is now settled in Chicago and recently released this track, MVMNT. Check out the video below. It was shot in their new home city and takes on the violence they have worked against through efforts like the Black Lives Matter movement. (Heads up - strong language is used.) Follow Mother Nature on Facebookand Instagram to stay up to date with what they're working on.
Jovan Landry is a filmmaker, photographer and hip hop artist who shot this video.
