A vibe not unlike Thundercat meeting Toro Y Moi. Having previously contributed to music by Kiefer, Orion Sun, Ravyn Lenae, Steve Lacy, Monte Booker, and more, the LA-via-Chicago singer, songwriter,… Continue reading
New from the Chicago-via-Wisconsin artist. Led by a jazz piano hook that instantly draws you in, “L-Train” by Silas Short is an ode to the Windy City’s signature mode… Continue reading
New from the Chicago DJ and producer Rahaan Young. The Ones is a superbly crafted, ten-track document of soul, funk, house, and disco excellence that features vocalists Marcus J.… Continue reading
A reminder that the shine of two of hip-hop’s most brilliant talents has only gotten brighter over time. The amalgamation of storytelling rhymes from the ever erudite Common that… Continue reading
Guitar waves upon guitar waves. After reading about Nick Drake’s guitar detunings and listening to a lot of underground 80s and 90s bands from New Zealand last year, Horsegirl… Continue reading
Bryan Kveton, Carl Hauck, Garret Bodette are Sunjacket, an alt-indie electronic trio from Chicago. “Machine” is my favorite song from their new album. It’s an energetic, uptempo drum ‘n’… Continue reading
“DNTGETUSE2ME” is a vibey vintage organ-led R&B concoction from Chicago’s Eleeza Silva. Eleeza Silva – “DNTGETUSE2ME” “DNTGETUSE2ME” is out now via Ciudad Records. Get it here.… Continue reading
The secret life of plants. Not solely content with his immensely delicate folk-informed brass output as part of DanDigs.com faves Whitney (listen to their early demo “No Matter Where… Continue reading
No time-wasters please. Instantly infectious and incessantly grooving, listening to “Don’t Waste My Time” is time well spent. The song is the second single from Sault, a trio… Continue reading
Both lyrical and vocal skills are on full display here on “Symmetry,” the latest track from Chicago musician and Chance the Rapper collaborator Saba. Track of the day. … Continue reading
Warm Wednesday afternoon early July jazz. Jeff Parker, perhaps best known for his work with his band Tortoise, is an expert Chicago jazz experimentalist. His latest project, The New Breed, is… Continue reading
Chicago’s The`ve is music producer, songwriter, and engineer “Dug” and singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist “Sam Trump.” T`ogether they m`ake f`uturist s`oul and R`&B of the h`ighest, h`aziest order, and “V`isions” is… Continue reading
Despite being called “The Wonder Years,” this new future soul synth-simmerer from Chicago-born singer-songwriter-producer Jesse Boykins III contains approximately 0% guest raps from Fred Savage. Big love for this one. Track of the day. … Continue reading
Chicago’s Eryn Allen Kane is probably best known for her powerful vocals on collaborations with Chance the Rapper‘s Social Experiment. Her brand new solo single, “Have Mercy,” is an amazing, attention-grabbing layering… Continue reading
That bassline still holds up. Digable Planets’ 1993 breakout hit gets reworked for the dancefloor by Chicago’s Altered Tapes without losing any of the soul and gaining a whole load of shuffle. … Continue reading
“Bengal tiger for my pet tho…” Cool Kid Chuck Inglish rolls heavy over a whirring siren synth and a snare hit with so much reverb it sounds like it… Continue reading
This epic, apocalyptic new fire from Common and Vince Staples over No I.D.’s soaring gospel samples and drums is making my Friday all kinds of perfect. Does anyone know… Continue reading
“First step is intention…” Love this new track and Cosby Show-riffin’ video from Chicago-born, LA-based rap artist Open Mike Eagle. Love, too, these squealing synth strings that open… Continue reading
Lazy horns and laid-back rhymes from Chicago’s Nico Segal aka Donnie Trumpet and Chicago’s Vic Mensa, both formerly of the live hip-hop band Kids These Days and both teaming up here on… Continue reading
Aaron Velasquez aka Flamingosis gets wavy with the disco gravy. Not only do I love the golden, filtered production sheen and 1974-updated-for-2014 beats on this record, I also love the fact that he… Continue reading
Wednesday night at Low End Theory was live! Every time I walk into the Airliner and enter that upper room, I’m hit with mind-bending sounds of every kind. Entire galaxies of sonic inspiration… Continue reading
Anything that features even a few bars of Sampha‘s production or vocal talent deserves an automatic click of the play button. Here the English falsetto wizard teams up with Chicago’s Jean Deaux (correctly… Continue reading
Future-funked acid house all day. Watch the accompanying video that resembles the 3D graph blueprints on the 4D desk of some 5D cosmic alien architect. Simian Mobile Disco & Bicep – “Sacrifice”… Continue reading
On first listen, it’s all Julio B business at usual, but then that classic Chicago house bassline comes in at 1:33 that catapults this remix from good to great. Drop at 3:06… Continue reading
Chicago emcee ShowYouSuck. Rest in pizza, and while you’re doing that check out ShowYouSuck’s pretty amazing pizza-themed hip-hop album Mo Slices Mo Problems.
Chicago-based producer Mister Lies aka Nick Zanca, 19, who, when not studying dramatic writing and philosophy at Columbia College, crafts floaty, pastoral, nocturnal electronic beats. Mister Lies & Different Sleep – “Vermont… Continue reading
Tall Black Guy Productions flips Fela’s “Water No Get Enemy” into something way laidback. Get more TBGP beats here.
Every once in a while I’ll take a dive head-first into the weird and wonderful gym-bag that is “folktronica” (see Beth Orton and the Chems’ collaborative output, see also the rather excellent Perfect… Continue reading
Big show tonight! Brand new music from Efya, Dub Gabriel, Mosca, Primary 1, and Kendrick Lamar. Plus we got in the mix with a special time-themed song showcase and got housey at the… Continue reading
Love Nguzunguzu! Just when you thought the L.A.-based, M.I.A.-matey, Mad Decent-sanctioned, Chicago footwork/UK bass/general beat insanity duo couldn’t get any cooler, you then find out that their name is inspired by a canoe… Continue reading
