Audio Drops January 25, 2026 | Official Music Video Premieres January 27, 2026 at 9pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brooklyn, NY — GMS, the acclaimed MC, producer, DJ, and educator, is set to release the highly anticipated “Freedom (How We Get) Shadez Remix” — a powerful, thought-provoking exploration of liberation, resistance, and self-determination — on January 25, 2026.
The track features Chordz Cordero — whose soulful hook underscores the collective struggle for liberation — and Vic Shades, who contributes both lyrically and sonically, adding philosophical depth shaped by decades of experience as a producer and creative director within hip-hop culture.
Rather than offering easy answers, “Freedom (How We Get) Shadez Remix” invites dialogue and reflection, encouraging listeners to define what freedom means for themselves. The song is less a statement than an invitation — to question, discuss, and imagine what liberation looks like in a world shaped by power, politics, and personal manifestation.
This remix was born from a unique collaboration with the EOdub collective’s EObeats producer challenge in 2022. GMS provided Chordz Cordero’s original a cappella lyrics and his own flute parts, allowing producers to reinterpret the song. Vic Shades’ beat and demo verse stood out so strongly that GMS invited him to keep his verse on the track, transforming the contest win into a full collaboration. This dynamic remix combines Vic’s innovative production and live drums with GMS’ and Chordz Cordero’s original musical elements.
Preview the track here:
A veteran of New York City’s underground hip-hop scene, GMS has roots in Lyricist Lounge, End of the Weak, MCMI, and the Nuyorican Poets Café, and has shared stages with Wu-Tang Clan, Slick Rick, Biz Markie, Das EFX, Doug E. Fresh, Souls of Mischief, and Sadat X. His work consistently bridges music, culture, and education, positioning hip-hop as both art and social commentary.
While earlier versions of the song were released in limited formats — including Bandcamp, an NFT-based music player (DEMU JUKEBOX), and NFC-enabled apparel — this marks the first full digital distribution of the track.
The audio release arrives on all major DSPs on January 25, 2026, followed by the official music video premiere on YouTube on January 27, 2026 at 9pm, debuting live at a community watch party at an event co-curated by GMS called Crates & Keys at Hatch in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
For press inquiries, please contact:
itsGMS777@gmail.com
Artist: GMS
Track: Freedom (How We Get) Shadez Remix
Features: Chordz Cordero, Vic Shadez
Producer: Vic Shadez
Co-producer: GMS
Audio Release: January 25, 2026
Video Premiere: January 27, 2026
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Label: MCMI Records
FREEDOM (HOW WE GET) featuring CHORDZ CORDERO is the next single off of the album ALONG THE WAY 777, from MCMI’s co-founder GMS! The Official Music Video drops this SUNDAY, January 15th (a nod to Freedom fighter Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) here.
Fans and supporters can purchase the album through Pre-Order, where they will receive the songs, videos, artwork and NFT’s, 1-by-1 “along the way”. You are along for the ride and can also join GMS on the journey, through his podcast series “Along the Way with GMS“, which airs on youtube, and other social media (follow all GMS channels) and details the recording process, the stories behind the songs, making of the videos and everything in between.
So what is the song FREEDOM (HOW WE GET) all about?
It is about whatever “freedom” means to YOU. For GMS, it was freedom to improvise with the flute and make Hip Hop beats as a producer. Chordz showed you his idea of freedom in the lyrics –
“Together, no matter how high,
How high the mountain – lost souls, wandering,
Searching for light and truth
Knees on the planet, head to the clouds,
Praying for salvation, oh,
Everyday we battle – with others – and ourselves”
letting you know that he
“wont stop ’til I get my freedom”.
However you interpret Freedom, whether personal, religious, financial or freedom from oppression, anyone can relate. Freedom is a life long mission we all struggle to achieve.
How did the song FREEDOM come about?
GMS tells it like this
“Freedom (How We Get) is a song that came about so organically! I made the original track when Dennis Mitchell of Stonebrown Studios came over to install a computer I use in my home studio. While testing out the new system, I made a quick beat, picked up my flute and played a into the microphone. I saved the session and forgot all about it.
Years later, Chordz Cordero came through to work on a different project, but I had that beat playing with the flute on it, when he entered. When I went to switch it off, he said, “Wait, what’s that? Leave that on for a minute”.
Chordz sat down, took out a pen and pad and started writing. He says the flute inspired the melody. The lyrics – those were inspired by something higher than both of us.
I turned on the mic, he laid down the vocals and the rest is history! Of course, we took it to Stonebrown Studios in Brooklyn to put finishing touches on it! “
The result is jazz infused, gospel influenced, pure Hip Hop Soul! No raps on this version, but look out for several remixes, with GMS and his amazing friends rhyming on them, in the near future!
The song is dedicated to Dr. MLK Jr, Malcom X, Gloria Steinem and Freedom Fighters throughout history, reaching for freedom, for themselves and for the world.
What does “Freedom” mean to you? Let us know in the comments.
FIND GMS: FLOWPAGE.COM/GMS_MCMI
WHERE TO GET THE MUSIC:
FREEDOM (HOW WE GET) feat CHORDZ CORDERO (Bookends Mix) (single)
FREEDOM (HOW WE GET) feat CHORDZ CORDERO (w/ Instr, Aca, Rmx)
TEACHER feat BAMBOO (clean) (single)
ALONG THE WAY 777 (with TEACHER & FREEDOM)
ALONG THE WAY 777 DELUXE DIGITAL (with Bonus sings and extras)
On Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, MCMI Records presents “FREEDOM (How We Get)“, a musical collaboration between GMS (Hydra/The Plague/MCMI) and Chordz Cordero (Intaphaze/MCMI).
According to GMS, “The song kinda came about by accident. We were in the lab to work on something else and I had this beat playing. Chordz said, ‘Wait, leave that on. Let me write to that.’”
Ten minutes later, they recorded it. Once Chordz dropped his vocals on the track, the two knew they had something powerful on their hands. GMS added speeches from several historical figures who have championed the cause of freedom, to enhance the feeling of inspiration generated by Chordz’ lyrics and harmonies.
“I chose people who have stood up for people’s rights and fought for an ideal of freedom,†explains GMS.
GMS is an emcee in the group Hydra and a larger collective known as The PLAGUE. He has appeared on projects on QN5 Music and on PH’s last 2 albums “Orange Moon Over Brooklyn” (Soulspasm/Rawkus) and “Know The Ledge” (MCMI), as well as put out 2 Plague mixtapes featuring the crew. He also DJ’s and plays several instruments. He has been making tracks on the low for years, but this is the first song he has released as a producer.
“A lot of people know me as an emcee / lyricist.” GMS tells us, “Most people don’t know I am also a musician.â€
Chordz Cordero is a Jamaica Queens artist that has been perfecting his skills as an emcee, singer, producer, and
musician since 1995. He has collaborated with artists such as St. Joe Louis, Brokn.Englsh, Daniel Joseph, Swave Sevah, and PH, to name a few. You might also remember him from playing the trumpet and singing the intro to PH’s song King Latifah at the Album Release Show at Southpaw.
“I met PH at a Jean Grae concert at Highline Ballroom a few years back,” Chordz recalls, “when he was performing with his former group Brooklyn Academy. After a few chats we got together to do some tracks for both of our projects.“
PH introduced Chordz to GMS and LR Blitzkrieg, his partners at MCMI Records.
“GMS gave me some beats to rock to and I had ideas for some, but nothing hit me like “Freedom“.”, Chordz explains. “I needed a song that spoke to the people and not just one group or race. “Freedom” is for all mankind. We live in a crazy world and everyone screams daily to be “free” from something (self destruction, poverty, prison, debt, social stigma, etc.). This is for all of us!”
The song is dropping on Jan. 15th 2012 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s on his birthday, but celebrates all those who have fought for freedom, from Bobby Kennedy, to Gloria Steinem, to Malcom X, to others in the worldwide struggle, including the struggle within ourselves.
DJ’s, producers, MC’s and Spoken Word artists who want to create remixes of the song, get in touch with GMS [at] MCMIreport.com. There will be a video contest announced in the near future as well.
Follow @MCMIreport | @GMS_MCMI | @ChordzCordero | @PH_TeamHOMI | @LR_Blitzkrieg |