Chicago phenom Ric Wilson creates the kind of music that makes the walls sweat – a kinetic blend of funk, disco, and hip-hop that gets crowds to their feet and fans itching to catch him performing live. But even as the hype behind his music career builds, he stays smooth, cool, bold, and balanced – just like the glass of Rémy Martin V.S.O.P he’s sipping on during his intimate, no-holds-barred interview with Uproxx.

As an extension of Rémy Martin’s V.S.O.P This Is My City campaign, the brand has teamed up with Uproxx to launch their new summer event series: Sound Of My City. In the first installment, Wilson sat down with host and spirits expert Frank Dobbins to capture the flavor of his city by diving into its inimitable influence on culture, and by crafting a Rémy Martin V.S.O.P cocktail that mirror’s the vibe of the rapper’s signature sound. As Wilson samples his custom creation, Ric’s Dancing Juice – a polished, vibrant mix of cognac, elderflower, brown sugar, and mint – he reflects on the flavor notes of Chicago itself: raw, rich, bitter, and sweet.

Ahead of a pop-up performance set against the city skyline for Wilson’s hometown fans, the artist opened up about his Chi-town influences and how disco – a genre his city helped to grow – inspires not only his sound, but the sound of hip-hop today. Between sips, Wilson shared his favorite Chicago rappers (legends and newcomers alike made the cut), his dream collab, and the festival he wants to headline.

Watch the full video to learn more about how Chicago influenced Wilson’s come-up and stay tuned for footage from his exclusive concert performance, courtesy of Rémy Martin.

In 2023, Offset and JID linked up when they recorded “Danger (Spider)” for the Across The Spider-Verse soundtrack. A couple years later, the pair has reunited for “Bodies,” a brand new collaboration.

The hook uses a sample of the whispered intro of Drowning Pool’s 2001 signature single of the same name, and it works well in this hip-hop mode removed from its original nu-metal context.

A video arrived following the song’s release, and Offset directed it himself. It starts with a dark and stormy scene before incorporating visual themes of religion and death; The track also prominently samples a rendition of the gospel song “Ringing Them Bells” performed by the choir The Spirituals.

In a statement, Offset says of the song:

“‘Bodies’ is one of them ones I had to really take my time with. It’s about standing on who you are, coming out the mud, and being confident in the face of adversity. I’m always evolving, and I don’t fit in a box as an artist. I’ve been cooking this up for a minute and I’m just getting started. JID is my guy and had the perfect energy to match ‘Bodies.’ Stay tuned because we going up.”

Watch the “Bodies” video above.

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