Chicago hip hop

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The hip hop scene in Chicago, Illinois has produced a distinct group of artists and styles. It is marked mainly by its musical diversity and inability to be pigeonholed into one particular sound or style.[1]

1 History
2 Famous artists
3 Minor Artists
4 Producers
5 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Famous artists

[edit] Common

Possibly Chicago's best and certainly its most prolific hip hop artist, Common has been making music since his 1992 debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar? Since then, Common's mainstream success has only increased, with his most recent album, "Be," receiving both critical and public praise, as well as four Grammy Award nominations. Common's trademark blend of socially conscious lyrics on jazz infused beats has been a welcome breath of fresh air in the global hip hop community. Common is currently signed to fellow Chicagoan Kanye West's G.O.O.D (Getting Out Our Dreams) Music.

[edit] Do Or Die (D.O.D.)

Do or Die is a gangsta rap trio originally from Chicago, Illinois, USA. The group experienced mainstream success with the single "Po Pimp", a collaboration with fellow Chicago rapper Twista, from the album Picture This. Group members are brothers Belo, Nard and AK-47. The trio has sold more than three million albums, launching Chicago's first national hip hop movement and renovating the pimp music to mainstream success. Many of the tracks feature Chicago's own Johnny P singing the hooks.

[edit] Kanye West

Kanye West has been Chicago's most mainstream hip hop success. Both of his official album releases —The College Dropout and Late Registration— were smash critical and mainstream successes. Both were chart toppers and were nominated for and won various Grammy Awards. West's success has helped to put Chicago hip hop on the map, and his promotion of and collaboration with artists such as Common and Rhymefest can be pointed to for their mainstream success as well.

[edit] Twista

Chicago's first artist to gain widespread acclaim and recognition, Twista is known primarily for his rapid-fire delivery. At one point recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's fastest rapper, Twista's success has come largely with other Chicago acts (notably Kanye West and Do or Die). His most successful album to date, 2004's Kamikaze, and its two singles, "Slow Jamz" and "Overnight Celebrity", were all chart toppers. Kamikaze has been one of Chicago's biggest public successes to date.

[edit] Rhymefest

Rhymefest hails from a Chicago neighborhood known as Jeffrey Manor Projects. Although relatively new (he has only released one album, Blue Collar), he had built himself a strong name in the hip hop community before releasing his album. Notable for his raw lyrics detailing the time he spent working low-wage jobs while paying his dues freestyling, Rhymefest was first thrust into the spotlight as a co-writer of Kanye West's 2004 single, "Jesus Walks". Although much hype and critical praise surrounded his debut album, Blue Collar was a relative flop publicly, only hitting #61 on the Billboard 200.

[edit] Lupe Fiasco

A relative newcomer, Lupe Fiasco's success has come very recently. Since first being publicly noticed for his guest appearance on "Touch the Sky" with Kanye West, his debut album, Food & Liquor was highly anticipated. Receiving both critical and public praise, Food & Liquor peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200, and at one point was at #1 on the Hip Hop Billboard Charts. It was nominated in 2007 for three grammys, including Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Best Solo Rap Performance. Lupe Fiasco's The Cool is scheduled for release in the summer of 2007.