On Monday, we shared the sad news about the death of indie-rapper Micheal “Eyedea” Larsen, of Eyedea and Abilities. And tonight, and this week, the indie-rap community and fans will gather to celebrate his life and mourn his passing.
Indie-rap Community, Fans Gather for Michael “eyedea” Larsen Memorial
October 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Hip Hop Call-And-Response: Are You Inspired or Conditioned?
February 24, 2010 By 2 Comments
Headliners vs. Openers: Who Wins the Battle?
November 30, 2009 By 3 Comments
You don’t come to the show expecting it. Some artists fear it–while others live for it. But when you’re caught in the middle, as a fan, you feel weird because it’s not what you necessarily paid for or expected to experience. And depending on which artist you came to see, you might feel pissed, guilty or even sorry for [...]
Live Preview: Brother Ali at Metro
November 18, 2009 By Leave a Comment
As the fiery lyrics of emcee Brother Ali and DJed beats of BK-One simmered down, sweat was dripping off my steaming skin and I headed to my car in the cool night air. I was amazed at how effortlessly Brother Ali led us in celebrating hip-hop’s krush-groove roots, its underground indie-rap present and promising future. [...]
Live Concert Review: Brother Ali at Metro in Chicago
November 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This review originally appeared in Ink19. Minnesota-based emcee Brother Ali knows what it means to grind and persevere in the rap game. Since 2000, he’s released a solid set of albums/EPs and honed his live show skills by opening for fellow Rhymesayers labelmate Atmosphere while trying to make a name for himself in the independent [...]
Concert Review: Atmosphere at the Vic Theater
November 12, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Returning for their third show in Chicago this year — after selling out the smaller Metro back in April for two nights — Minneapolis hip hop duo Atmosphere knew exactly what to do to complete the hat-trick. My pre-show talk with DJ Anthony Davis (a.k.a. Ant) served as a nice primer to what I would [...]
