Don’t Hate Them Because They’re Hip
One of Chicago’s hottest scenes has attracted the inevitable backlash.
By Miles Raymer
June 5, 2008
In late May the old-school hip-hop site Unkut.com put up a post called “The Search for the Biggest Douchebag in Hipster Rap.” Site curator Robbie Ettelson defines the hipster-rap scene as a “new wave of ‘ironic’ rappers who seem hell-bent on achieving new levels of sucking,” dismissively calls their style “Party Rocking,” and complains about the “gimmicky, calculated vibe” of everything they do. “Whether it’s wearing 80’s gear and garish print hoodies, rapping about skateboards and BMX bikes or making songs about nail polish/lip gloss, these wacky young ’uns are poised to take ’tarded rap to the next level.” The post ends with a poll, “Who Is the Biggest Hipster Rap Douchbag [sic],” and five of the eight contenders presented are from Chicago: the Cool Kids, Kanye West, Kid Sister, Lupe Fiasco, and Kidz in the Hall.

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Not too long after I published yesterday’s post about Rhymefest and Lupe Fiasco’s lovers quarrel re: this year’s presidential election, I received the following email from one of my Chi-town correspondents. Come to find out, not only is everything you ever suspected about Chicago hip-hop true, but it gets worse. Way worse. I was even warned about mentioning this shit, lest I end up the next Nailah Franklin. But whatever. I’m willing to take certain risks to bring the truth to the light.

emailing from chicago again. you want to see some bullshit on how these two dudes complaining is the fakest thing. see if you can catch…Gangland on history channel. They have a segment on GD’s in chicago and BD’s. It talks about the gang influence in chicago and how the BD’s where working with jihadist since the 60’s and shit and how the BD’s are “muslims”, sponsor businesses (aritsts), jesse jackson and others. the BD’s is the one you want to see.

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This day long event begins with a free “Winter Block Party,” celebrating Chicago’s hip-hop arts. Featuring a live mural painting by Revise CMW, one of Chicago’s finest graffiti artists; an open mic showcase; music by DJ Itch13 and DJ Issues; and a debut gallery exhibition of works-for-sale by some of Chicago’s most notable contemporary artists. Participating artists include: Krista Franklin, Zeph, Brett Neiman, Kane, Novem Studios, Roper, Revise CMW, The Cartel, Rebekah Raleigh, Sam Adams, Stephanie Land, James “Casper” Jankowiak, Sandra Antongiorgi, David Robinson, Rebecca Crouch and Kuumba Lynx.

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Kanye West- duh. Numerous albums with amazing hit singles, sweet sunglasses and his fame beginning with an almost tragic car accident. Kanye might have a few attitude adjustments to figure out but don’t we all?

Common**- double duh. Smart and pensive lyrics make me really respect him. Right on, Common.

J.U.I.C.E.- or MC Juice respectively, he’s “the illest warrior of all time in rap music”, or so says the intro on his myspace page.

CopperShot- Made up of emcee LongShot and producer Copperpot, Coppershot is a little less abrasive than most mainstream hip hop out there today. More smart lyrics make the listener actually live up to their name and LISTEN. The song “Save Me” is really good.

White Boy- Chicago- based ICEE Records’ own has been wowing crowds since 2004 with his amazing and energetic music.

Nacrobats- consisting of Pugslee, Thaione, Psalm, infinito and Cosmo, Nacrobats bring the sounds or early hip hop with today’s technology and present something totally cool.

Lupe Fiasco- “Superstar” anyone? Enough said.

Lord 360- Straight out of Rogers Park, Lord 360 incorporates loops of creative sounds with hypnotic rhymes that captivate the listener instantly.

Common Sense- ** This is actually what Common was known as in the early ’90s. Youtube Common Sense and you’ll probably die laughing.

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Hip-Hop’s Demilitarized Zone
Andrew Barber’s Fake Shore Drive forum has room for every faction of the local scene.
By Miles Raymer
January 29, 2009
Like most hip-hop events, the party Mikkey Halsted threw on inauguration day to celebrate the launch of his new Web site was awash in networking—cards were exchanged, demos pressed into hands, phone numbers typed into Blackberries. The rappers and producers in attendance included quite a few with at least modest national profiles (GLC, No I.D., Naledge of Kidz in the Hall, Mic Terror), and together they formed a cross section of Chicago’s diverse hip-hop scene, which makes room for commercially inclined gangsta types, conscious backpackers, and skinny-jeans-wearing so-called hipster-hoppers. And almost everybody there took a second to swing by and say what’s up to the scruffy-looking white dude whose blog, Fake Shore Drive, has become a vital nerve center for that scene.

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Obviously the history to Chicago’s Hip Hop scene is much more complex, intricate, and extensive than can be covered in this article, a magazine special or even a series of stories. This is merely an attempt to spotlight some of the key names, places, and events that helped shape it into what is has become. For more info on the Chicago Hip Hop scene (past, present, and/or future), as well as any of the artists or information in this piece feel free to contact: formless21@hotmail.com Information sources & inspiration: J-bird, Bomb The Suburbs, E.C,, The Molemen, Upski, Flypapers, Jesse De La Pena, Kingdom Rock, Third Rail, PLEE Fresh, Slang, Trixster, Denz, Demon, Zore. The earliest stages of the Hip Hop scene in Chicago don’t differ much from most other areas outside of New York. It began by listening, admiring, bonding, and ultimately imitating it. The roots of Hip Hop date back to somewhere in-between the early to mid 70’s. Its story can be told by a variety of means. I’ve always found it best to visualize it as a series of chronological eras:

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Chicago Hip-Hop Initiative services are available to all, but our programs are planned and facilitated by our members, and managed by our Board of Directors. Membership is open, and we are always looking for headz across the city to become active C.H.I. members, joining us in community organizing at various levels. There’s always something to do, and there’s something for everyone. In 2003 we drafted a resolution which was presented to the City Council of Chicago on our behalf by 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. to recognize the month of July as Chicago Hip-Hop Heritage Month. The resolution passed, and now Chicago has an entire month to celebrate hip-hop culture.

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A brief history of Chicago hip-hop. Rap is the first truly urban, avant-garde folk music, a story-telling vehicle that uses turntables as an instrument. Though it emerged in the South Bronx in the mid-1970s, a number of American cities (and even a few in Europe) have put their own distinctive spin on the music and the broader hip-hop culture that surrounds it. Chicago has a long tradition of hip-hop, but for decades it stood in the national shadow cast by rap epicenters such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Atlanta. There are a number of theories about why this happened, among them the primacy of house music in the South Side clubs and the lack of local labels and recording studios devoted to hip-hop.

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