Abstract Mindstate Drop “Bar Louie” — A Testament to Grit, Growth & Grown-Up Bars

Some artists chase the wave. Abstract Mindstate are the tide — steady, seasoned, and unshaken. With their new single “Bar Louie,” the Chicago duo made up of Olskool Ice-Gre and E.P. Da Hellcat (a.k.a. Ebony Poetress) returns with a refreshing reminder of what mature, message-driven Hip-Hop sounds like when it’s done right. The track, produced by Detroit’s Young RJ and featuring a standout verse from Mississippi's own David Banner, is out now via Honest Music/Barak With Love/Vydia.

Gre and EP aren’t newcomers. They’re veterans of the craft — storytellers who cut their teeth during the golden era, blending soul samples and raw truth long before it became a trend. Their early 2000s debut We Paid, Let Us In! is considered a gem in underground circles, but label troubles and real life led the pair to step away from the mic in 2008. What followed was silence… until 2021, when they returned with Dreams Still Inspire, fully produced by Kanye West and released under his YZY SND imprint. It was poetic — the mentees turned muses coming full circle.

Fast forward to 2025. After reconnecting with Young RJ and joining Slum Village on tour across Europe, Abstract Mindstate are back in motion. “Bar Louie” is the next chapter. It’s laid-back and sharp all at once — a smooth beat laced with lessons, humor, and heat. Gre’s delivery is confident without trying too hard. EP? She’s still cutting through with lines that make you pause and smile. And Banner? He shows up swinging, dropping hard truths with the precision of someone who’s been through it.

Visually, the music video — directed by Gre and shot in Atlanta — leans into the song’s themes with a playful, literal twist, adding another layer to their grounded but witty storytelling style.

“Bar Louie” isn’t just a single. It’s a checkpoint in a journey that’s been everything but linear. For those who’ve been watching Abstract Mindstate since day one — and for those just tuning in — the message is the same: real Hip-Hop never expires. It just gets better with time.

Stream 'Bar Louie' now: