Pittsburgh’s C.Scott Launches New Era With “Phase 2” Featuring Moemaw Naedon

Pittsburgh producer C.Scott and emcee Moemaw Naedon reconnect on “Phase 2,” the title track and lead single from C.Scott’s upcoming full-length project of the same name. Built on a hard-edged yet atmospheric boom-bap foundation, the track brings the duo back into the kind of psychedelic musical space they have been shaping together for years.

On “Phase 2,” Moemaw Naedon delivers a tightly controlled performance built around a continuous end-word rhyme scheme, riding C.Scott’s production with precision and momentum. The instrumental balances grit and atmosphere, creating a sound that feels rooted in classic underground hip-hop while still pushing toward something more immersive and abstract.

The collaboration continues a creative partnership that has already produced several notable releases. Their 2023 project “Yinztroducing…” reached NPR’s New Music Friday through the track “Star Time” and also earned coverage in the UK print publication The Wire. Before that, their 2021 full-length River Rats drew attention for its feature and video with El Da Sensei of the Artifacts Crew, further establishing their chemistry within underground rap circles.

The new single also serves as the entry point into C.Scott’s broader album Phase 2, which arrives April 7 via Soul Slime Records. A limited vinyl run will also be available.

While C.Scott has maintained a steady catalog since the early 2010s, he identifies 2019’s Phase Shifting as his first official solo LP, making Phase 2 something of a return to a fully self-orchestrated format. From the opening moments, the album reportedly leans into that sense of authorship and exploration, beginning with triumphant horn blasts, hard drums, and existential vocal samples before moving into tracks like “The Very Top,” described as a classic East Coast head-nodder energized by vocal snippets and party-starting momentum.

Elsewhere, the album expands its palette with humor, dreamlike sequencing, and a range of stylistic turns. “Do it!” featuring Aarie introduces the first vocal feature on the album and reinforces the project’s hip-hop core, pairing nimble delivery and lightness with C.Scott’s pocket-heavy production. On “So Hip,” the energy shifts toward something more aggressive, driven by booming drums and relentless bass while exploring C.Scott’s desire to challenge expectations placed on him earlier in his career.

For longtime listeners, Phase 2 promises familiar touchpoints, including another appearance from Moemaw Naedon, as well as a house track and noticeable growth in C.Scott’s production techniques. For newer listeners, the project is framed as a strong entry point into his catalog, with enough depth and confidence to stand beside work from more established beat-makers.

With “Phase 2,” C.Scott and Moemaw Naedon pick up where previous collaborations left off while opening the door to a larger statement from C.Scott as a solo producer. The single is out now, and the full album arrives Tuesday, April 7 via Soul Slime Records.