Two of Chicago’s most dynamic forces—Joey Purp and Thelonious Martin—have reunited for a brand-new collaborative project, Champagne Seats, which is now available via Fake Shore Drive.
Longtime friends, frequent collaborators and Savemoney Collective members, Purp and Martin first connected on the critically acclaimed iiiDrops mixtape in 2016, where Martin produced three standout tracks. Their creative chemistry continued on Purp’s 2018 debut album Quarterthing, with Martin again contributing production, on a record that featured appearances from RZA and GZA. Both projects landed on numerous year-end “Best Rap Albums” lists, establishing the duo as key voices in Chicago’s ever-evolving hip-hop landscape.
Now, nearly a decade later, Champagne Seats finds the two artists picking up right where they left off. Blending Purp’s introspective, no-frills lyricism with Thelonious Martin’s signature jazz-laced, progressive beats, the album presents a matured sound steeped in growth, experimentation, and the spirit of collaboration.
“I owe so much to music, but to rap music in particular,” Joey Purp expresses. “This is a purist project; a love letter to this thing of ours.”
“This isn’t just fan-service, this is what everyone needs,” Thelonious Martin asserts. “A one-producer, one artist project like this is like Kobe throwing Shaq a lob.”
A proud member of the Savemoney collective—alongside Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, and Nico Segal—Joey Purp has continued to evolve as one of Chicago’s most uncompromising and reflective voices, most recently with Heavy Heart, Vol. 1 and standout singles with Chance, “GIRLS” and “Bad Boys 2.”
Meanwhile, Thelonious Martin has become one of the most sought-after producers in hip-hop, with credits spanning A$AP Rocky, Mac Miller, Cam’ron, Curren$y, Halsey, Joey Bada$$, G Herbo, and Cordae, among many others. His solo albums—including Wunderkid, Late Night Programming, and Molotov—have showcased collaborations with legends like Freddie Gibbs, Smoke DZA, Ab-Soul, and the late Mac Miller, whose track “Malcolm’s Interlude” has amassed nearly 100 million streams.
Joey Purp & Thelonious Martin’s Champagne Seats is now available at all DSP’s via Fake Shore Drive.
