Get To Know Pivot Gang
By: Noah Weinberg
Originating from the depths of Chicago’s west side is Pivot Gang, a vibrant hip-hop collective that’s been creating music for over a decade. The group currently consists of brothers Saba and Joseph Chilliams, who collaborate alongside high school friends MFnMelo and Frsh Waters. Previous members of Pivot Gang include Saba and Chilliams’ cousin John Walt, who was tragically murdered in 2017. However, Walt’s untimely demise didn’t stop Pivot Gang from creating the art that brought them together.
In early 2019, Pivot Gang locked themselves in a recording studio for two weeks straight with one singular goal: create an album. A few months later, in April 2019, the group’s debut album, “You Can’t Sit With Us”, was released to the world. The project was met with positive reception from critics and fans alike, which led to Pivot Gang conducting their first North American tour later that year. Things were only looking up for the group, that is, until August 2021 when squeakPIVOT, the group's in-house producer, was tragically gunned down in front of his grandmother’s house. Once again, Pivot Gang deliberately chose to persevere in the face of such catastrophic violence, as the group released their latest single, “Aang,” on October 19, 2022. Pivot Gang is one of the more resilient musical collectives to emerge this century, so let’s dive into what each rapper brings to this infectious rap group.
Saba
By far the most well-known rapper of the group, Saba has been making noticeable waves as both a solo artist and part of Pivot Gang for quite some time. John Walt’s murder played a central theme in Saba’s critically acclaimed melancholic 2018 album, “Care For Me”. His equally beloved follow-up, 2022’s “Few Good Things”, takes a more optimistic approach to the concept album, as Saba raps and sings about life’s simplistic beauties.
Outside of his solo work, Saba has attracted the attention of hip-hop fans from his guest appearances. Notable features from the Chicago rapper include Chance the Rapper’s “Angels,” Noname’s “Ace,” and Dreamville’s “Sacrifices.” Currently, Pivot Gang’s frontman contends as one of the best lyricists alive. Saba’s use of vivid imagery, narrow-specific world-building, and impeccable wordplay all help his case as one of rap’s elite. With immense pain, loss, and grieving in Saba’s rearview, it will be fascinating to see what topics this wordsmith tackles next.
Joseph Chilliams
Being the older brother to someone more successful than you in the same art form can be challenging. However, Joseph Chilliams still knows how to smile and stand out from the typical hip-hop performer. Chilliams frequently sports lively pink clothing on stage or in music videos and has become a fan favorite for his amusing dance moves full of carefree, hip movements. Joseph Chilliams consistently spits his bars with a unique cadence while almost always delivering a witty or comedic simile. For example, in the middle of Pivot Gang’s song “Mortal Kombat,” Chilliams connects former MLB player Sammy Sosa’s bleaching cream with a hypothetical brace that Chilliams wears:
“Why shoot my shot? I could be battin' for the fence
Like Sammy Sosa, I know that I blacked in my past
Got this shit covered like a cast on my ass”
This type of playful lyricism has attracted Chilliams an extremely devoted fanbase. With a solo album and EP to his name, that following is only looking to grow. Chilliams released his latest single, “Snow Cones,” on October 27, 2022, a four-minute-long stream-of-consciousness track that proves to the listener why he’s worth paying attention to.
MFnMelo
As the most laid-back member of Pivot Gang, MFnMelo knows how to bring the right vibes to a track. Melo’s deep, grave voice hits the listener’s ear in such a peculiar way that his words tend to blend together into several homogenous lines. With a flow as silky as it is rugged, MFnMelo’s delivery hits you like a sucker punch from a velvety golden retriever. There are currently two projects under MFnMelo’s name, 2019’s “Everybody Eats” and 2021's “En Route,” the latter of which was a collaboration album with the late squeakPIVOT.
Typically, there’s more of a psychedelic twist to Melo’s production, allowing him to be the most “experimental” artist of Pivot Gang. Take one of Melo’s most well-known songs to date, “Yallwhadinhere,” a subdued kickback track that finds MFnMelo sleepily repeating a hypnotic refrain of “yeah yeah yeah.” This Pivot Gang member emphasizes relaxation and life’s pleasures, and all MFnMelo desires to do is spread that blissful optimism to whoever decides to press play.
Frsh Waters
With only four solo singles out on DSPs, Frsh Waters is the least popular rapper of Pivot Gang. That probably has to do with Frsh not seeing himself as a solo artist until Joseph Chilliams pushed him into it. That doesn’t mean Frsh Waters doesn’t have anything to offer to the group, though. His continuous, never-ending, almost “bated-breath” flow patterns are similar to Lil Baby's. On “Soho Freestyle,” Frsh Waters bursts out of the gate rapping:
Watch me work, lil' player he from the dirt
Dirty hands, all my mans got they palms on alert
Dame Lillard thing, believe in our worth, time to curse
Like any great role player to a championship-winning team, Frsh Waters knows how to compliment the pieces around him. He’s arguably the most versatile group member, with an impressive rapping cadence and singing voice. It will be interesting to witness the next steps Frsh Waters takes in his solo career. Still, without a doubt, he’ll continue to play a pivotal role for Chicago’s number one rap group, Pivot Gang.
