On the heels of Monte Booker’s Grammy win, landing Best Rap Album for his work on Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal, and his seasoned influence in the Chicago community as a producer and songwriter, Monte returns to share a first solo track with debut single “balance.” The song comes alongside a video and highlights Monte’s masterful production work with unexpected piano refrains while also incorporating his soft and never before heard vocals. Speaking about the song Monte shares, “I’ve been chasing ‘balance’ for a long time. This is me arriving.” The song is a first taste of a project to come.

 

 

Monte Booker is known as a pioneering producer from Chicago, Illinois, celebrated for his otherworldly yet organic sound and genre-blurring approach. Since first diving into FL Studio in 2011, he’s drawn inspiration from artists like Kanye West, J Dilla, DJ Rashad, Thom Yorke, Flying Lotus, Aphex Twin and many others, shaping a sonic identity that’s instantly recognizable. Breaking out with his Soulection White Label EP in 2016, Monte became the heartbeat of the Zero Fatigue collective, crafting era-defining sounds for Smino and Ravyn Lenae, while also leaving his mark on Chicago’s 2010s scene with Mick Jenkins, Saba, and Noname. His signature drum sounds and textural production have influenced an entire generation of producers, and in 2020, his track Kolors (ft. Smino) became a viral sensation on TikTok. Post-pandemic, he’s collaborated with artists like Kenny Mason, Timbaland, Pink Siifu, JID, Mavi, Vince Staples, J Cole and Mereba constantly evolving his sonic landscape.

With “balance” Monte is making his first comprehensive solo statement as an artist.