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The Chicago Reader

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Music, Music Review Mar 31, 2021
Recommended
Vic Mensa’s rejuvenating raps breathe life into I Tape
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Review, Vic Mensa, Roc Nation, I Tape, rap, hip-hop, Kids These Days, Innanetape, The Autobiograpy, 93Punx, V Tape, Recommended

Music, Music Feature Jun 10, 2020
Video
A room of Ohmme’s own

On Fantasize Your Ghost, Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham make their music a place of trust, discovery, and compassion.
- By Jessi Roti
- Tags: Music Feature, Ohmme, Homme, Macie Stewart, Sima Cunningham, Matt Carroll, Parts, Fantasize Your Ghost, Joyful Noise, Chris Cohen, Waxahatchee, V.V. Lightbody, Do Division Street Fest, Furniture, Flood Your Gut, 3 2 4 3, The Limit, Spell It Out, Twitch, Selling Candy, Kids These Days, Marker, Ken Vandermark, Vic Mensa, Liam Kazar, Marrow, Lane Beckstrom, Dorian Gehring, After All, Constellation, Hungry Brain, Chicago Children’s Choir, Time Is Never Your Friend, Chance the Rapper, Tortoise, Jeff Tweedy, Twin Peaks, I Hear Voices, Vivian McConnell, Postock Festival, Sturgeon Moon, Dave Vettraino, Public House Sound Recordings, Shelly Steffens, Chicago Mastering Service, Video

Music, Music Feature Apr 23, 2019
Video
Operation Hennessy digs a new channel for Chicago hip-hop

Keen-eyed rapper Qari hooks up with producer Green Sllime and opens the floodgates on his reservoir of irreverent old-school beats.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, Qari, Green Sllime, Operation Hennessy, All Smiles, Hurt Everybody, Supreme Regime, Mick Jenkins, Mulatto Beats, Qari Delaney, Lyrical Lemonade, Cole Bennett, No Time to Explain, Pants From Japan, Baghdadi, Sllime’s Broke Ass Low Budget Show, 119 Productions, the 406, Music Garage, Wu-Tang Clan, SolarFive, OnGaud, Nate Marshall, Rich Jones, Enfa Red, Wiggidies Crew, Jackson Duncan, Music Garage, Kids These Days, Vic Mensa, Will Is Chillin’, Smoko Ono, Sloane Peterson, Devin Smith, Frederick McCulloch-Burton, Supa Bwe, Chicago Sight ’n Sound: Part 2, Ghosts, The Water[s], The Life Aquatic, Pony, Steve Zissou, Alistair Hennessey, Video

Music, The Block Beat Feb 14, 2018
Video
Vic Mensa revisits his vanishing Hyde Park

The rising rapper considers his teenage stomping grounds home, even though gentrification has killed his favorite hangouts.
- By The TRiiBE, Tiffany Walden, and Morgan Elise Johnson
- Tags: The Block Beat, Vic Mensa, the Block Beat, Tiffany Walden, Morgan Elise Johnson, the Triibe, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Hyde Park Records, 2nd Hand Tunes, Jay-Z, No I.D., Dion Wilson, Roc Nation, rap, hip-hop, Save Money, Chance the Rapper, Joey Purp, Towkio, Brian Fresco, Common, Nuthin’ to Do, Resurrection, Angel Elmore, Participatory Music Coalition, Ribs ’n’ Bibs, Hyde Park Gyros, Vue53, permission wall, Bell Hooks, We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity, 4:44 Tour, Lollapalooza, Kids These Days, Video

Music, Music Feature Nov 1, 2017
Knox Fortune learned his trade in hip-hop, but he wants to make his name in pop

The producer also known as Kevin Rhomberg headlines his first show as a solo artist to celebrate his debut album, Paradise.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, Knox Fortune, rap, hip-hop, pop, indie-pop, Paradise, Kevin Rhomberg, Save Money, Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book, Vic Mensa, Kami, Joey Purp, iiiDrops, Season, Leather Corduroys, See Music, Donnie Trumpet, Nico Segal, Lil Thing, 24 Hours, Seaglass, Vinyl Me, Please, All Night, Mexican Coke, Help Myself, Haight Brand, Oak Park, Northern Lighting & Power, Cody Kazarian, Kids These Days, Chuck Bein, RMS/Launch, Badmon, Remember Me, Edith Beake, Always in Love, Peter Cottontale, Lido, Stolen Goods, Fume Fort, LPZ Studios, Macie Stewart, Carter Lang, Colin Croom, Just Like the Movies, Lincoln Hall

Blogs, Bleader Jun 8, 2017
Video
Vic Mensa narrows his focus on crossover pop with The Manuscript

After foregrounding his radical politics with last year's "16 Shots," Vic Mensa emphasizes the pop aspects of his rap songs on a new EP.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Vic Mensa, The Manuscript, There's Alot Going On, OMG, Pharrell, Pusha T, Clipse, Laquan McDonald, Travis Barker, Blink-182, Fake Shore Drive, Andrew Barber, hip-hop, Chicago rap, Kids These Days, Down on my Luck, Video

Music, Music Feature Jul 27, 2016
Video
Can Vic Mensa radicalize Lollapalooza?

The Chicago rapper publicly supports Black Lives Matter and LGBT rights, among other progressive causes—which makes him an interesting fit for a festival that tries to please everyone.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, Vic Mensa, Save Money, Kids These Days, There’s Alot Going On, Lollapalooza, Pepsi Stage, Grant Park, Perry Farrell, Innanetape, Respect My Vote!, Hip Hop Caucus, Black Lives Matter, Black Youth Project 100, Malik Yusef, Free Love, 16 Shots, Laquan McDonald, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Justice for Flint, One Campaign, Rock the Vote, HeadCount, Syd Rocks, Working Bikes, CeaseFire, Center on Halsted, Cure Violence, Aja Monet, Blood Orange, Bike 4 Life, Chicago Cares, Straight Up, Whispers, Nico Segal, Towkio, Queen, Pride, Traphouse Rock, Pulse, Orlando, Video

Blogs, Bleader Jun 3, 2016
Vic Mensa gets personal and political on his Roc Nation debut, There's Alot Going On

Chicago rapper Vic Mensa doesn't always strike the best balance of politics and pop, but he never fails to get his point across.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Vic Mensa, There's Alot Going On, Save Money, Sterling Hayes, Antidepressant, Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book, Joey Purp, iiiDrops, 16 Shots, Laquan McDonald, Jason Van Dyke, Kids These Days, Save Money, Kanye West, Save Money, Roc Nation, Ebro Darden, Emmett Till

Blogs, Bleader May 29, 2015
Video
Donnie Trumpet and Chance the Rapper's new album hit the Web last night without any warning

Surf, the new album from Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment (aka Chance the Rapper's backing band), is for sale on iTunes.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Whoa, Hip-Hop, Music, Surf, Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment, Donnie Trumpet, Chance the Rapper, the Social Experiment, Acid Rap, Nico Segal, Peter Cottontale, Nate Fox, Erykah Badu, Kids These Days, Busta Rhymes, Jeremih, Migos, Quavo, Noname Gypsy, J. Cole, Saba, Pivot Gang, Comfort Zone, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Sunday Candy, Video

Blogs, Bleader Mar 11, 2015
Up-and-coming rapper Frank Leone discusses his debut full-length, Enter Wild

The 19-year-old talks about the influence of Vic Mensa, Chicago violence, and Phantom of the Opera.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Frank Leone, Enter Wild, hip-hop, Vic Mensa, Monticello, Phantom of the Opera, Kids These Days, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West

Blogs, Bleader Oct 2, 2013
Hunting for fun on Vic Mensa's Innanetape

One Reader writer went on a scavenger hunt for a CD copy of the brand-new debut mixtape from Save Money cofounder Vic Mensa, Innanetape.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Vic Mensa, Innanetape, Save Money, Kids These Days, Chance the Rapper, Acid Rap, Cocoa Butter Kisses, Magic, Orange Soda, Lovely Day

Music, Gossip Wolf May 22, 2013
Gossip Wolf: Friends help Scoundrel bounce back from a van crash

Plus: Hunter Husar books a schizo bill in Bridgeport, and Lili K. goes from mixtapes to jazz standards
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Scoundrel, Mobile Alabama, Josh Snader, Sharptooth, Charlie the Knife, Winters in Osaka, Mahjongg, Hunter Husar, Co-Prosperity Sphere, Calvin Johnson, Beat Happening, K Records, Hunter & Josh, Josh Johannpeter, Distract, Warrior Tribes, Viking Moses, DJ Earl, Lili K., Chance the Rapper, Acid Rap, MC Tree, Sunday School II, My Favorite Things, Peter Cottontale, Raheem "the Love King" DeVaughn, Greg Landfair, Nico Segal, Kids These Days

Music, Music Feature Apr 23, 2013
Video
Chance the Rapper drops Acid Rap

The local MC's second mixtape is about to take him to some places he's only imagined.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, hip-hop, Hannibal Buress, release parties, Sulaiman, King Louie, Treated Crew, Chance the Rapper, schools, Taylor Bennett, Closed Sessions, Ruby Hornet, Alex Fruchter, In Rod We Lust, Roosevelt University, Lincoln Park, Rodney Kyles Jr., Blended Babies, Patrick Corcoran, Peter Cottontale, Caleb James, Vic Mensa, Nico Segal, Stefan Ponce, Oak Park River Forest High School, Advocate Illinois Medical Center, ThemPeople, L-Boogie, Chuck Inglish, Lili K., Fake Shore Drive, Red Bull Sound Select, SXSW, South by Southwest, ShowYouSuck, Cool Kids, Chancelor Bennett, Chief Keef, mixtapes, rap, Acid Rap, Andrew Barber, Save Money, Kids These Days, Lincoln Hall, Danny Brown, Childish Gambino, XXL, Pitchfork, videos, Austin Vesely, dance, humor, Chatham neighborhood, Ken Williams-Bennett, Kanye West, Chef Sean, rappers, Jones College Prep, YouMedia, Harold Washington Lirbrary, Young Chicago Authors, Lounder Than a Bomb, open mikes, YCA, Kevin Coval, Video

Blogs, Bleader Dec 12, 2012
Gig poster of the week

This week's featured gig poster was created by Austin Sellers out of Portland, OR
- By Luca Cimarusti
- Tags: Gig Posters, Music, gig posters, Austin Sellers, the Vic, Kids These Days, Savemoney, Mathien

Blogs, Bleader Nov 24, 2012
The Reader's Agenda: Sat 11/24

What's on the Agenda for Saturday, November 24, 2012
- By Drew Hunt
- Tags: Do This, Club Foot, Ukrainian Village, Tim McAtee, The Hipsters, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Bucktown Bazaar, Holstein Park, Kids These Days, the Vic, Traphouse Rock, Miles Raymer, Mathian

Blogs, Bleader Nov 23, 2012
Best shows to see: Leonard Cohen, Meshell Ndegeocello, Cianide, and Kids These Days

Live hip-hop, old-school metal, and lotsa Leonard Cohen
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: Do This, Music, Leonard Cohen, Meshell Ndegeocell, Cianide, Gates of Slumber, Kids These Days

Blogs, Bleader Nov 21, 2012
Video
Chance the Rapper on Obama, LSD, and being pigeonholed as a high school MC

An interview with the local MC, who headlines at the Metro on Friday, November 23rd
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Chance the Rapper, Acid Rap, #10Day, Three Beats, Kevin Coval, Metro, Kids These Days, Rockie Fresh, Milo & Otis, Mikey Rocks, Save Money, Peter Cottontale, Lily K, Thempeople, Jamiroquai, Kanye West, Can't Tell Me Nothing, Chief Keef, Childish Gambino, Stefan Ponce, Lincoln Hall, Leaders, Jugrnaut, Barack Obama, Video

Music, Music Sidebar Apr 10, 2012
The music of the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival

Bobby Bare Jr., Kids These Days, and more than 40 film programs
- By Luca Cimarusti
- Tags: Music Sidebar, Chicago International Movies & Music Festival, CIMMFest, Nora O'Connor, Mucca Pazza, Kids These Days, Sugarhill Gang, Wonder Mike, Master Gee, Abstract Black, Chrissy Murderbot, Kevin Brennan, Zachary Ross, Bobby Bare Jr., Lawrence Peters Outfit, Adult., Hubble

Music, Music Sidebar Sep 22, 2011
The Hideout Block Party

For its 15th year the club welcomes back headliners Andrew Bird and Mavis Staples
- By Luca Cimarusti
- Tags: Music Sidebar, Hideout, Hideout Block Party, Andrew Bird, Mavis Staples, Jon Langford, Burlington Welsh Male Chorus, Booker T. Jones, the Eternals, White Mystery, Kids These Days, Plastic Crimewave, Vision Celelstial Guitarkestra

Blogs, Bleader Apr 26, 2011
Blah-lapalooza

Lollapalooza announces 2011 lineup, inspires deja vu.
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: Crickets, Music, Lollapalooza, Chicago, Bright Eyes, Arctic Monkeys, Crystal Castles, Flogging Molly, Atmosphere, Cold War Kids, Cage the Elephant, Delta Spirit, Ween, Deadmau5, A Perfect Circle, Cee Lo Green, Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, Sleigh Bells, the Kills, Titus Andronicus, Black Lips, Disappears, Smith Westerns, Gold Motel, Kids These Days

Blogs, Bleader Mar 30, 2011
Video
UChicago Hookups, Now eduHookups, Spreads the Love

A buzzed-about U of C casual encounters site, eduHookups, opens registration to other colleges in Chicago, with a view to world domination.
- By Asher Klein
- Tags: News, college, kids these days, casual encounters, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Columbia College, DePaul University, Loyola University of Chicago, modern love, startups, Video

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