Chief Keef’s art isn’t just artifice
Chief Keef has earned his fair share of headlines over the past three years, only a fraction of them inspired by his music. There's no question that Alki David, the...
All Stories
Energetic Kendrick Lamar ruled Congress
Compton, California rapper Kendrick Lamar is one of hip-hop's most interesting up-and-coming artists. Guarded, intricate and intense, he and the other members of his "Black Hippy" crew have made waves...
2 Chainz brings high energy to Metro
Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz is a hip-hop industry veteran, but he only became a star in the past two years. After a mainstream-accommodating name change and a series of buzzed-about...
A night of new and classic hip-hop with El-P, Killer Mike and friends
Friday's hip-hop showcase at the Bottom Lounge was a bill with four separate artists who've been tied together in recent years thanks to headliner El-P, a former member of Company...
Skrillex’s sixth sense highlights successful start to Spring Awakening
The first day of the first Spring Awakening music festival, held in Soldier Field Saturday night, was an unquestionable success and a tribute to the contemporary reign of "EDM," or...
The-Dream brings his euphoric melodies to the House of Blues
At his best, The-Dream is a master of crafting pop songs ("Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" for Beyonce),, blending influences old (Prince) and slightly...
It was a messy night for Travis Porter
Travis Porter is a three-man act from Decatur, Ga., that, over the past few years, has put together a sizable catalog of strip club-forged music popular primarily with the nation's...
Dogg Pound
Not much is expected from the Dogg Pound, a trio of California-based rappers whose relevance declined along with Los Angeles gangsta rap in the late 1990s. But low expectations work...
Ray Cash
Since Bone Thugs-N-Harmony fell from the radar in the late 1990s, Cleveland hasn't exactly been known as a hub for rap music. It is hard to see much changing with...
Shawnna
While critics and rap heads fawned over promising Chicago stars such as Lupe Fiasco and Rhymefest, Shawnna--the daughter of blues legend Buddy Guy--took the streets and clubs by storm, thanks...