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- Music, Music Feature Jun 2, 2020
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Rhymefest’s greatest moment in Chicago music history
The veteran rapper and activist remembers an all-star festival by and for the community.
- Music, Music Feature Oct 30, 2019
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Fighting for Chicago’s place in hip-hop history
Darrell “Artistic” Roberts of Chi-ROCK Nation has worked to document the culture he loves for more than three decades—and now he’s finally publishing a book.
- Music, Gossip Wolf Nov 21, 2018
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The DJs of Windy City Soul Club celebrate ten years of getting asses moving
Plus: Sunny Woodz throws a release party with a bonkers bill in West Chicago, and Comfort Station gets a welcome windfall from the MacArthur Foundation.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Aug 28, 2018
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Chicago producer Larry Sturm worked with Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley and Naked Raygun—just for starters
His influential career took him from house and punk to gigs for the likes of Prince, Destiny's Child, and Michael Jackson.
- Music, Gossip Wolf Mar 6, 2018
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Twista celebrates (more than) 25 years in hip-hop
Plus: Well Yells drop a new tape of creepy, crawling postgoth, and Chris Connelly releases an album of baroque, Bowie-esque pop.
- Blogs, Bleader Nov 2, 2017
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Fake Shore Drive founder Andrew Barber on ten years of blogging and the evolution of the Chicago hip-hop scene
Fake Shore Drive has grown alongside Chicago rap, becoming an institution in its own right—and it celebrates its tenth anniversary by reuniting Big Tymers for a show at the Portage.
- Music, Music Feature Aug 1, 2017
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How Blink-182 gave hip-hop a refreshing Enema
The Friday-night Lollapalooza headliners helped connect the mainstream pop-punk of the late 90s to the Soundcloud rap of today.
- Music, Music Feature Jul 26, 2017
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Reviewed: Twista’s disjointed but generous Crook County and 11 more new releases
Seven Reader writers tackle a dozen records, including the long-gestating debut from footwork producer Jana Rush, lost recordings from 60s garage-rock oddballs the Monks, and a riveting solo set from unsung improvising pianist Pat Thomas.
- Blogs, Bleader May 11, 2017
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Chicago rap hero Bump J passes the torch to Ty Money
Ty Money's new Cinco de Money 3 features the first appearance by Bump J since his release from prison last month.
- Music, Music Feature Dec 22, 2016
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The year Chicago hip-hop beat the haters
For ages, local rappers tore each other down, as though the city could produce only one star at a time—but in 2016 the whole scene seemed to grasp the value of community.
- Music, Gossip Wolf Dec 20, 2016
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Guitarists Ryley Walker and Bill MacKay whip up some sorely needed holiday cheer
Plus: Timbuck2Forever returns to Metro to honor the fallen Chicago DJ, Macabre host their 19th annual Holiday of Horror at Reggie’s, and more.
- Blogs, Bleader Nov 29, 2016
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Black politicians call for investment in poverty-stricken areas to end gun violence, and other Chicago news
Also, video of a racist rant at a Lakeview craft store is going viral.
- Music, Music Feature Sep 28, 2016
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Saba brings the west side to life in rap
On the new mixtape Bucket List Project, the Pivot Gang MC reminds Chicago that one of its most violent neighborhoods is also a home.
- Blogs, Bleader Sep 9, 2016
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Hip Hop Summerfest, Windy City Wine Festival, and more things to do in Chicago this weekend
Shock Top Oyster Fest, 48 Hour Film Project, and more happenings from September 9-11.
- Blogs, Bleader May 17, 2016
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Sinead O'Connor found safe after mysterious disappearance in Wilmette, and other Chicago news
Also, rappers from around the country are flocking to Chicago to make music.
- Blogs, Bleader Apr 22, 2016
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Twista digs up a Kanye-produced mixtape track in tribute to Prince
This morning west-side rap veteran Twista uploaded "I Can Make You Say," which samples Prince's "Do Me, Baby."
- Blogs, Bleader Dec 22, 2015
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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.
- Blogs, Bleader May 20, 2015
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Twista and Do or Die speed ahead on Withdrawal
The Chicago hip-hop titans band together for a quick shot of superfast raps.
- Blogs, Bleader May 6, 2015
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Supa Bwe, Tree, Marvo, and Twista form the local rap-team version of the Avengers
Sunny Woodz assembles some bright Chicago rappers on one track.
- Blogs, Bleader Jan 28, 2015
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Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Mick Jenkins headline two stacked hip-hop shows on Saturday
Two big local hip-hop shows kick off Saturday night, one featuring 90s legends Crucial Conflict and Twista, the other anchored by rising stars such as Mick Jenkins.
- Blogs, Bleader Aug 12, 2014
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Twista talks about his new album, The Dark Horse
The Chicago hip-hop veteran chats about what inspired the title of his new album, working with rising local rappers, and getting involved in the community.
- Music, Record Roundup May 19, 2014
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Lily Allen's almost annoyingly catchy Sheezus and 15 more record reviews
Nine Reader writers sift through a musical farrago that includes Ben Frost's defibrillating body music, Dawn Golden's alchemical electro-pop, and Sleaford Mods' grimly minimalist postpunk.
- Music, Record Roundup Jan 13, 2014
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Lil B's 101-track mixtape 05 Fuck Em and 15 more record reviews
Eight Reader writers recommend Don Cherry's joyful collectivist jazz, Against Me!'s transformative arena punk, and Murmur's inscrutable blackened prog, just for starters.
- Blogs, Bleader Jan 1, 2014
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Kick off the new year with Sicko Mobb's debut mixtape
If your New Year's resolution is to strap on some dancing shoes and learn how to bop then you should be playing Sicko Mobb's Super Saiyan Vol. 1 on repeat.
- Blogs, Bleader Nov 7, 2013
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12 O'Clock Track: Sicko Mobb team up with Lil Durk for the frenetic fiesta jam "Maserati"
The west-side duo recently dropped a couple bop-ready tunes with a couple big-time Chicago rappers, and the tune with Lil Durk slays.