If you've ever thought the iconic Delorean from the Back To The Future movies needed some bomb-ass speakers playing chill hip-hop, Chicago rapper Rockie Fresh has you covered. From his Driving 88 mixtape comes a new clip for "Into The Future". more ›

In the first two hours after Lupe Fiasco tweeted his new mixtape Thanksgiving morning, "Friend of the People" was shared thousands of times on Facebook and Twitter. more ›

Boy, that header makes Chicago rapper Psalm One sound like creepy, doesn't it? But don't be alarmed. The Rhymesayers rapper and hashtag facilitator just wants you to hear the third installment in her Get In The Van mixtape series, released Tuesday. more ›

Last week, the folks from Twosyllable Records showed Chicago some love. The label is based in New York, but they released a compilation highlighting music local to Chicago. more ›

A little over a month after its release, 19-year-old rapper Rockie Fresh’s second mixtape, The Otherside, is still surprising us with its sonic, if not necessarily lyrical, depth. For a mixtape, Otherside is impressively produced, with lush, ominous synth textures creating a dense and haunting atmosphere. But don’t be entirely mistaken: This is a rap record, and there are jams on it. Enter “Living,” which features Kidz In The Hall’s Naledge and DC emcee Phil Ade. The video for this tune was released last week, and, like Rockie, it’s definitely one to watch. more ›

Ever since we announced the impending release of a Kid Sister mixtape featuring a collection of past collaborations and new freestyles (mixed by Nick Catchdubs), the hype machine has been in full effect. DJs in the Twitterverse have dropped hints of its greatness, and fans have been chomping at the bit in a fit of anticipation. Well, just in time for your evening commute, the wait is over. more ›

New Year’s Eve is just right around the corner, and you know what that means: Somber, stoic reflection upon a year’s worth of accomplishments and disappointments. Or avoiding getting grab-assed by a bunch of skeevy dudes who seems insistent on ruining your Whiskey-fueled buzz. Regardless of what comes first, Chicago DJ duo Flosstradamus will provide your soundtrack to the evening. more ›

As a performer and as a songwriter, Kid Sister demands attention. As Chuck pointed out yesterday, the charmingly hyper local house-hop queen released a track, “Kiss Kiss Kiss” from her upcoming mixtape. Needless to say, “Kiss Kiss Kiss” had the Chicagoist offices bumpin’ in no time. According to a news release, members of the (Kid) Sisterhood have more reasons to get up and celebrate. more ›

By now, readers of this here web-rag are probably sick of death of discussing what the jam of the summer was - or if there was one at all - and whether or not Cee-Lo’s rapturously profane “Fuck You” qualifies as a dark horse candidate. If Cee-Lo’s single from his upcoming The Lady Killer album fits that description, then the tracks from Chicago rapper Hollywood Holt’s new mixtape are like resurrected musical zombies wreaking havoc on listener’s mindgrapes from beyond the grave. more ›

DJ collective Only Children keeps chuggin' along, we're told we can expect brand new original material from them later this fall, and their recently released Sons Of Double Rainbow mixtape gives us a peek into the labs to see what they've been concocting in there. We hate to say summer is winding down -- but summer is winding down -- so pop this mix in and wring a few more drops of pleasure out of the season. more ›

Those of us who are still wishing for the laid-back atmosphere of a 3-day weekend can take heart. Chicago rap duo The Cool Kids dropped their latest mixtape Tacklebox late Monday evening, and the 15-song set contains enough old-school throwback jams to at least keep us in a party mood mentally, if not physically. more ›

The Hood Internet -- the DJ duo of STV SLV and ABX -- has come a long way since they first started to drop their inde / hip-hop mash-ups, and even further since they played their first live show at an event put together by a certain local website. (O.K., we admit it, we're a little proud of the fact that we were on-board with the boys back before they started their jet-set lifestyle and became a household name in the music blogosphere. Sue us.) more ›

Russell Simmons and Green Lantern have put together the "Yes We Can" mixtape. Outtasite! Download it here. [donewaiting] more ›

We understand your needs. Coming into work after a three-day weekend sucks. Even way up here in the Chicagoist offices, our usually rambunctious and festive staff is a tad subdued. Our bellies are still slightly swollen from overcooked burgers and sweaty cans of beer. more ›

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. Love is a Mix Tape, Rob Sheffield's book about women, music, and love. American Express' Urban Adventures-- for information about shopping, dining, and entertainment. Homes for Working Families-- working to make housing affordable in... more ›

Steven Vance, Online Music Promoter more ›

With a music scene as robust as Chicago’s, it’s rare that we’re at a loss for things to write about (with the notable exception of the entire month of February). No, our problem is we’re so easily distracted. When faced with the choice between making words form sentences or reading a few good websites, we usually end up taking the road most easily traveled. Give us a decent blogroll and we’re like a little kid... more ›

It’s become de rigeur (French for “something that hipsters do right before they mock everybody else for doing it”) to hook your iPod up during parties so you can impress/test-the-loyalty-of your friends with playlists like “Guaranteed Ass Shakers” or “Emo Songs That Are Totally Not Emo But Will Make That Girl Who Works At Pontiac Cafe Fall In Love With Me Nonetheless.” If this sounds like you then perhaps you’re ready to foist your talents on the world (or at least Lincoln Park) at The Tonic Room’s inclusively-but-clumsily-titled iPod/MP3 Night. more ›

Chicagoist just loves receiving mix tapes � or mix CDs now, *sigh* � and analyzing the meaning behind every agonizing choice. As the recent Tony Award winner Avenue Q notes, �A mix tape./ He made a mix tape./ He was thinking of me,/ Which shows he cares!/ Sometimes when someone/ Has a crush on you/ They'll make you a mix tape/ To give you a clue.� And when making the tapes, we definitely abide by the rules of one Rob Gordon: �You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch.� more ›