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The Chicago Reader

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Music, Music Feature Mar 8, 2018
Video
Could DJ Taye make Chicago footwork the biggest music in the world?

The Teklife producer integrates rap so perfectly on his new Still Trippin’ that he could bring footwork to new heights.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, DJ Taye, Dante Sanders, footwork, Teklife, hip-hop, rap, Still Trippin’, Hyperdub, Music Frozen Dancing, DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, Planet Mu, Move Out, Break It Down, Double Cup, GhettoTeknitianz, RP Boo, Traxman, Battlegrounds, Wala Cam, DJ Oreo, Mano, Dude ’N Nem, Watch My Feet, BBU, Chi Don’t Dance, Bangs & Works Vol. 1, Just a Taste Vol. One, Live From Your Mama’s House, the Era, In the Wurkz, Heat Squad, Dubby, Off That Loud, Get It Jukin, Cool Kids, Chuck Inglish, Treated Crew, Video

Music, Music Feature Aug 23, 2017
Video
Chicago blog Lyrical Lemonade shares its juice with rising rappers

By showing love to potential stars as well as certified sensations, Cole Bennett and Elliot Montanez have built a community alongside their brand.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, Lyrical Lemonade, hip-hop, rap, blog, streetwear, video, Cole Bennett, Elliot Montanez, Duffle Bag Buru, Warhol.SS, Famous Dex, Haight Brand, Cdot Honcho, Roy French, Chance the Rapper, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Ausar Bradley, Chicago’s Biggest Cypher, Ever, Smokepurpp, Ski Mask, Susan Bennett, Ugly God, Big Body Fiji, Portage Theater, XXL, freshman class, Summer Bash, Lil Pump, Flex Like Ouu, D Rose, Pat Corcoran, Femdot, Isaiah G, Bernie Niyonzima, Kembe X, Fake Shore Drive, Elevator, Hit Em Wit It, Vanessa Satten, Bryan Snow, Space Snow, Vic Mensa, Sunnie Storm, Max Bouvagnet, Carl, Hurt Everybody, Qari, Music Garage, Treated Crew, Saint Millie, Supa Bwe, Supreme Regime, Alex Wiley, Pollari, Luis Rodriguez, Laka Films, Jake Lusted, Lane Cowherd, Video

Music, Gossip Wolf May 23, 2017
Video
Writer, drummer, and emcee Brian Costello closes the book on two decades in Chicago

Plus: Nasim Williams throws a free 12-hour party at Madison Public House, and Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo drops in on the Elbo Room.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Brian Costello, Shame That Tune, Functional Blackouts, Outer Minds, The Enchanters vs. Sprawlburg Springs, Losing in Gainesville, The Fall and Rise of ‘The Worst Commercial Ever Made’, Florida, Los Angeles, Treated Crew, Nasim Williams, Madison Public House, Vic Spencer, the Boy Illinois, White Gzus, Henny B, Camay, Sisi Dior, Mucho Culo, Elbo Room, Gregory Skyler Taylor, Skyzoo, Nicholas May, Jon Content, Navarro, Respect It, Molemen, Panik, Video

Blogs, Bleader Jan 20, 2017
Chicago producer Nasim Williams on his new track with Cam’ron and the mentor who made him a musician

Today Nasim Williams drops "Want It All," a collaboration with L's, Ly-key on the Beat, and Cam'ron.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Want It All, Nasim Williams, Na$im Williams, Cam'ron, Mano, Treated Crew, Vic Spencer, GLC, Ly-key on the Beat, L's, hip-hop, Chicago hip-hop

Blogs, Bleader Feb 24, 2016
Video
Hxlt's hip-hop past lingers on his punk debut

This Friday, GOOD Music drops the first album the former Hollywood Holt is releasing in his postpunk incarnation Hxlt.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Holt, Nigel Holt, Hollywood Holt, GOOD Music, Kanye West, hip-hop, Chicago, Chicago hip-hop, Treated Crew, Underground, Hxlt, Miles Raymer, Video

Blogs, Bleader Dec 28, 2015
A tribute to DJ Timbuck2 tomorrow night at Metro

The Chicago hip-hop scene pays tribute to a DJ who helped make it the community it is today.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Timothy Jones, Timbuck2, Chicago hip-hop, the Twilite Tone, Mano, DJ Pharris, Treated Crew, Holt

Blogs, Bleader Dec 22, 2015
Video
Remembering DJ Timbuck2, a guiding force in Chicago hip-hop

A nightclub party starter, WGCI radio personality, and scene linchpin, DJ Timbuck2 died Saturday at age 34.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, DJ Timbuck2, Timothy Jones, WGCI, Treated Crew, Mic Terror, Fake Shore Drive, Andrew Barber, the Twilite Tone, Ruby Hornet, Closed Sessions, Alex Fruchter, Twista, YP, Mano, Common, No I.D., WHPK, Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, the Cool Kids, Bump J, Video

Blogs, Bleader Oct 14, 2015
Video
Twilite Tone forms a Chicago-rap dream team in an effort to end gun violence

The veteran local rap producer recruits a bevy of Chicago MCs to record "Put the Guns Down."
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Twilite Tone, music, hip-hop, rap, Common, King Louie, Katie Got Bandz, Saba, Tree, Noname Gypsy, Lil Herb, Treated Crew, Mic Terror, Nick Jr., G Herbo, Put the Guns Down, Music Versus Gun Violence, John Monopoly, Video

Music, Gossip Wolf Jun 3, 2015
Teklife and Treated Crew bring their collaboration to the stage

Plus: Hausu Mountain erupts again with three oddball tapes, and Already Dead cofounder Joshua Tabbia leaves town.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Teklife, Treated Crew, Live From Your Mama's House, Mic Terror, Pilsen Food Truck Social, Empty Bottle, DJ Spinn, Heavee, DJ Phil, Hausu Mountain, All the Way, Natalie Chami, TALsounds, Light and Dark, Potions, Tom Owens, Piper Spray, Krolorog, Already Dead Tapes & Records, Panda Kid, Daymaker, Problems That Fix Themselves, ADT, Joshua Tabbia, CHIRP Record Fair, Pitchfork

Blogs, Bleader May 19, 2015
Announcing the lineup for Afropunk Chicago

Here's the breakdown for Afropunk's one-off Chicago bash, plus all the info you need to see it.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Do This, Hip-Hop, Music, Comedy, Afropunk, Afropunk Chicago, Danny Brown, Hannibal Buress, Holt, GOOD Music, Kanye West, Treated Crew, Hebru Brantley, D.R.E.S. tha Beatnik

Blogs, Bleader May 15, 2015
Video
Treated Crew and Teklife further DJ Rashad's legacy on Live From Your Mama's House

Treated Crew rapper Mic Terror leads the charge on this collaborative EP, a blend of hip-hop and footwork that can be traced back to his coming-of-age in Chicago's south suburbs.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, Mic Terror, Teklife, Treated Crew, Live From Your Mama’s House, DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, DJ Phil, Mano, Gant-Man, Video

Blogs, Bleader Feb 18, 2015
Drake and White Gzus redefine the rap mixtape

Two new releases from a Toronto rap king and a rising Chicago hip-hop duo stretch the definition of the mixtape in the digital age.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, White Gzus, Stackin’ N Mackin’ Vol. 2, hip-hop, Gzus Piece, Blanco Caine, Treated Crew, Drake, If You're Reading This It's Too Late

Music, Music Feature Nov 13, 2014
Video
DJ Rashad is gone, but his influence on footwork lives on

The Chicago producer died before the music he helped define could break out, but he's still inspiring his Teklife crew—which is releasing a compilation to benefit his young son.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, DJ Rashad, Morris Harper, DJ Spinn, Treated Crew, The Era, Teklife, GhettoTeknitianz, Rashad Harden, footwork, juke, Double Cup, Next Life, Hyperdub, Steve Goodman, Boylan, Nate Boylan, Traxman, Cornelius Ferguson, Chicago house, Frankie Knuckles, Ronnie Sloan, House-O-Matics, Dance Mania, RP Boo, Kavain Space, Gant-Man, Gant Garrard, Markham Roller Rink, DJ Puncho, Wills Glasspiegel, Full Effect, Dude 'N Nem, Watch My Feet, Juke Trax, The Battlegrounds Chatham, Planet Mu, Bangs & Works Vol. 1, Video

Music, Music Feature Mar 4, 2014
Video
Chicago MC Caleb James does right by his dad

He grew up in his father's studio and started rapping at age seven. Now he’s ready to join his friends Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa in the spotlight.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Feature, rappers, MCs, Caleb James, Steve "Stone" Huff, Safe House Church, Evanston, gold records, producers, West Town, studios, Stone Recording, Bump J, Avant, Billboard charts, Save Money, Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, James, ThemPeople, mixtapes, Andrew Barber, Fake Shore Drive, rap, hip-hop, South by Southwest, Souls of Mischief, SXSW, musicians, bass players, Keith Sweat, R. Kelly, Kanye West, Keke Wyatt, Don C., Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland, Charlie Wilson, Gap Band, Pathways in Education, Wicker Park, Joey Purp, Leaders 1354, Rodney Kyles Jr., Lincoln Park, religion, Treated Crew, Nez & Rio, Schoolboy Q, No. I.D., Xtreme, Soundscape, beats, recording, Video

Film, Artist on Artist Feb 3, 2014
Video
Artist on Artist: Boots Riley of the Coup talks to ShowYouSuck

"I like to say it's like Sly Stone and the Clash, without the cocaine."
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: Artist on Artist, interviews, Boot Riley, The Coup, hip-hop, Clinton Sandifer, ShowYouSuck, Treated Crew, DJ Million Dollar Mano, punk, TheWhoevers, records, albums, Spice, UPS, Oakland, ODB, Grammys, Wu-Tang, Bill Maher, rappers, Dave Chappelle, Harland Williams, Snoop, Chuck D, BET, MTV, television, Billy Jam, DJs, Tupac, Eazy-E, East Oakland, OutKast, race, Peter Guralnick, books, marketing, David Cross, Patton Oswalt, The Roots, drummers, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Video

Music, Gossip Wolf Jul 24, 2013
Gossip Wolf: People-watching at Pitchfork

Plus: New material from the reunited Pezband and a farewell to Emily Cross of Cross Record.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Lady Gaga, Pitchfork, M.I.A., Devon Welsh, Matthew Otto, Majical Cloudz, Disappears, Brian Case, White/Light, Matthew Hale Clark, Metz, Sky Ferreira, Swans, Treated Crew, DJ Rashad, Sally Timms, Damons Locks, Major Taylor, Killer Mike, El-P, Das Racist, Kool A.D., Based God, Rockie Fresh, TNGHT, Peter Cottontale, Lili K., Tree, Save Money, Caleb James, HoZac Blackout, Pezband, Baby It's Cold Outside, Ukrainian Village, Pieholden Suite Sound, Billy Boy Arnold, I Wish You Would, the Yardbirds, Robbie Hamilton, Emily Cross, Dan Duszynski, Any Kind, Austin, Double Door, Other, Cross Record, Be Good

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 Apr 17, 2013
Win a Closed Sessions CIMMfest prize pack

Try your hand at rap-related movie trivia and win a pair of tickets to Closed Sessions' CIMMfest showcase and a limited label T-shirt.
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Hip-Hop, Music, hip-hop, CIMMfest, Closed Sessions, Treated Crew, Juice, ShowYouSuck, Alex Wiley, Kembe X, Double Door, Ice Age: Continental Drift, ATL, T.I., Mos Def, Fred Durst, Ice Cube, Kanye West, Power, RZA, Common, Ludacris

Music, Gossip Wolf Apr 17, 2013
Gossip Wolf: Hollywood Holt joins Beyonce and Andre 3000 on the Great American Soundtrack

Plus: A sophomore effort from synth-popper Fielded and toil and trouble from dirt-rock trio Lil Tits
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Baz Luhrmann, The Great Gatsby, Amy Winehouse, Andre 3000, Beyonce, Treated Crew, Hollywood Holt, Alfonso Mayen, Le Fonz, Fielded, Lindsay Powell, South by Southwest, Ninety Thirty Thirty, Genesis, Gel Set, Macbeth, Lil Tits, Rat Mansion//Do It Til You Puke, Electrical Audio, Frightwig, Flipper, Record Breakers, Reggie's Rock Club

Music, Music Feature Dec 19, 2012
Image
People Issue 2012:
Million Dollar Mano, the producer

"I didn't know I was ever gonna DJ for Jay-Z."
- Tags: Music Feature, People Issue 2012, People Issue, Million Dollar Mano, Millon $ Mano, Kanye West, Treated Crew, DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, 2 Chainz, Jay-Z

Music, Gossip Wolf Dec 19, 2012
Gossip Wolf: GLC anything but silent

The local rapper released his third mixtape of the year, Silence of the Lames. Plus: Local bands prepare for the Mayan Apocalypse
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Rabble Rabble, Cole's Bathroom, Matt Ciarleglio, Logan Square, Cole's, Empty Bottle, Vamos, Magic Milk, Experimental Sound Studio, The Drone for the End of Time, Kanye West, Fellowship &Congregate, Cathedral, The Anti Sim, Silence of the Lames, Million Dollar Mano, Blended Babies, SK, Really Doe, Bun B, Treated Crew, Reggie's Rock Club

Music, Gossip Wolf Sep 25, 2012
Gossip Wolf: Legs McNeil reads from Please Kill Me at Late Bar

Plus: The inaugural Black Dot Music Festival brings together bands of color and Mountain Dew taps Chicago music-scene flavor
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Legs McNeil, punk, Illazium, Ed Perkins, Black Dot Music Festival, LeAnna Eden, Chance the Rapper, Andrew Barber, Lil Wayne, Hebru Brantley, Treated Crew

Blogs, Bleader Aug 23, 2012
12 O'Clock Track: Kami de Chukwu, "Heavy"

Chill rap when I've needed it the most
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: 12 O'Clock Track, Music, Kami de Chukwu, Heavy, Light, hip-hop, 12 O'Clock Track, Flying Lotus, Chief Keef, Million Dollar Mano, Treated Crew, Groundislava, Jonwayne, Nosaj Thing, weed

Music, Gossip Wolf May 9, 2012
Gossip Wolf: Bitchpork's not dead!

The DIY anti-Pitchfork festival returns for 2012. Plus: Engine merges with Soma Studios, and the prolific MC Sulaiman
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Bitchpork, Pitchfork, Tyvek, PC Worship, Panicsville, Psychic Steel, Gas Mask Horse, Engine, Soma, Sulaiman, Mic Terror, YP, Naledge, Vic Mensa, Rockie Fresh, Chance the Rapper, GLC, Million Dollar Mano, Treated Crew, King Louie, L.E.P., Bogus Boys, Chief Keef, Got Bandz, Mikey Rocks

Blogs, Bleader Apr 12, 2012
This week on the B Side

The nonthreat of Tumblr, El-P and Million Dollar Mano talking rap music, our guide to CIMMfest, and more
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: Music, Tumblr, John Herndon, Million Dollar Mano, Treated Crew, El-P, Company Flow, Gold Star, Susan Stursberg, Serengeti, Bang on a Can, Behemoth, Disappears, Ceremony, Bassnectar, Miguel Zenon, CIMMfest

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