Palmer Squares

Before ever recording their own music together, The Palmer Squares were listening to artists such as Talib Kweli, Big L, Heiroglyphics, Typical Cats, and The Roots. However, while Acumental’s introduction to hip-hop came at age nine (upon witnessing the world premeire video for “Triumph” by The Wu Tang Clan), it wasn’t until years later that TK identified with the genre. “Personally, MF Doom was the first rapper I ever heard that made me want to write my own material,” he recalls. Term also credits Bob Dylan as one of his primary inspirations.

During their high school tenure, the two emcees-to-be considered the majority of commercial “hip-hop” music to be laughably banal, and were stupefied by the admiration their peers displayed towards it. Not respecting the same lyrical content as their pseudo-friends, The Palmer Squares sought after a more inventive style, even if it meant creating one all their own.

In March 2010, their online fanbase expanded rapidly after being featured on a YouTube cypher with a list of reputable rappers including Wax, Dumbfoundead, and Jin. They have since released their 2nd mixtape and are currently working on an EP with Nate Kiz; producer of “Dis Cap.”

Term and Acumental have shared a number of things over the years, including a zealous appetite for polysyllabic rhyme schemes as well as their first mushroom trip, but have more recently enjoyed sharing various stages throughout the Chicagoland area. They are in the moment, on the edge, over the top, but under the radar so turn on, tune in, and drop out.