Filipino R&B singer Jess Connelly quietly surfaces on a surprising collaboration with Chicago rap duo The Cool Kids. Connelly lends vocals to “Crunch Rap Supreme,” a track on The Cool Kids’ fifth studio album, Hi Top Fade.
Out on October 10, the album is set to be released on Fool’s Gold, which also houses Los Angeles rap collective BROCKHAMPTON, Jersey club producer DJ Sliink, electronic producer RL Grime, and rap duo Run The Jewels, just to name a few. The album also features guests such as Pink Siifu and DJ A-Trak, positioning Connelly in rarefied company and marking a notable crossover for a Filipino R&B artist.
The Cool Kids, made up of Sir Michael Rocks and Chuck Inglish, helped define a stripped-back, brash Midwest sound in the late 2000s with releases like Tacklebox and When Fish Ride Bicycle. Over the past decade, Connelly has built a reputation for selective partnerships, often doing surprise drops with long-time collaborators like electronic music producer crwn, funk and R&B producer LUSTBASS, and R&B singer Jason Dhakal. That low-profile strategy has translated into artistic credibility. Working with The Cool Kids lets Connelly expand her sonic palette while reinforcing her position as a serious player in contemporary R&B. This collaboration also underscores a growing willingness among international hip-hop acts to foreground non-U.S. vocalists in meaningful ways.
In a conversation with Rolling Stone Philippines last June, she explained her ethos of collaboration. “I’m really heavy on real life and offline life because it’s such an internet-heavy society,” she says. “I don’t think people even realize [that] none of this shit is real. Real life is more of a priority to me. If you can text me, that’s more important than getting your manager to message me and tell me all these great things. Just be real. Message me, let’s hang out. Let’s see how it is.”
