How to have a Perfect Philly Day, according to Philly rapper Kur
Mt. Airy rapper, whose new album is "ARD," has a special pick for a late-night fresh fruit stop. And it's not Wawa.
Philly rapper Kur turns pain into poetry.
Since his 2012 mixtape, Straight From The Kur, the Mt. Airy native has transformed his past experiences into emotionally raw music that has drawn an impassioned fan base.
Over the years, his fiery lyrics and hard-nosed delivery have become sharper, and his fan base and influence has grown. After striking hot with street anthems like “Peach Snapple” and acclaimed release like 2024’s THURL, Kur has become a national mainstay.
The 31-year-old rapper, born Chauncey Ellison, continues the momentum with his new album ARD, released earlier this month.
Kur said the project, which stands for both the Art of Release and Discipline and a shortened version of “alright,” marks a return to form.
“I was super transparent and vulnerable when I first came out. I think as the years went on, I started to put a filter on and shut [fans] out from certain things,” he said. “I think that was a contradiction because people were actually supporting me because I was transparent. I tried to get back to it as much as I could on ARD.”
He’s peeling back the layers, letting fans in on his own personal struggles, in hopes the two parties find a path of self-reclamation and healing.
“When you dig a little deeper, everybody has built up trauma that they’re not releasing. And I think that people don’t hear, ‘Yo, you will be alright or you will be OK.’ Somebody may not have anybody to tell them that they will be OK. I think just to see it may change their perspective. I’m coming from a healing point.”
We asked him about his perfect day in Philly. Here’s how he’d spend it.
10 a.m.
It’s different in the summer than the winter. If it’s summer time, I’m waking up and going to Kelly Drive, then stopping by Rita’s for a mango water ice. Or, I’m going to get a Philly Pretzel Factory.
Noon
I got to fall back on cheesesteaks, so I’m going to go to Bistro SouthEast on South Street. It’s not a heavy Philly staple, but that’s my kind of day in Philly.
2 p.m.
Look at clothes at Status and Creme on 2nd and Race Street. Or go to King of Prussia Mall. There’s also a place called Bullseye on 15th and Walnut Street. They have some good stuff in there. And there’s Common Ground [in Midtown Village] and [Center City’s] Lapstone & Hammer.
6 p.m.
I go to a smoothie truck in Fishtown and then I usually go to the studio. I’m telling you what I do, so I don’t want to make nothing up. I can’t lie.
3 a.m.
I leave the studio at 2 or 3 a.m. I go to Healthy Picks in Center City because it’s 24 hours. It’s the only place in Philly where you can get fresh fruit at 3 a.m. That changed my whole jawn. Nothing against Wawa, but when you go there and you get fruit, it isn’t really how you want it. To have a jawn where they chop it up and it’s fresh and super icy.