Check out this collection of classics, vintage music, old videos, and fond memories of Chicago's Hip-Hop past that I compiled from YouTube. Some of you will know all of these songs and even remember where you were when you heard them. It is also very likely that many of you are a part of this collection in some way. There are also those who will only know a few of these songs and maybe just a handful of artists.
Either way enjoy the memories, and remember this: In 15-20 years some of today's music & videos will look and sound corny too! This was life beforewe all had digital home recording studios and HD cameras on our cell phones. The collection includes 50+ music videos, songs, and interviews,
including: The Realest – Recshop, Rubberoom -
Bouncin' Off The Walls, Spalaney’s - Universal Language, The Figure - Dream Come True,
Ang13 feat E Drop - No Contest, Undaground Solution – Sandbox, All Natural - 50
Years, Crucial Conflict – Hay, Do Or Die - Po Pimp, Ec Illa - Game You Claim, Triple
Darkness - Cold Blooded,Twista - Mr Tung Twista, No I.D. - Sky's The Limit, Common
Sense - Take it Easy, Psychodrama – Magic, Ten Tray ft Dj Xrai - I Convey, Kool
Rock Steady - You Ain't Nobody, Weekend Aerosol Action -
Chicago Graffiti Originals, Akbar – Akbar’s Groove, Dirty MF & Ang
13 Freestyle, Liquid Soul - Salt Peanuts, Poetree Chicago – Spinning…And many more… Click PLAY, then SCROLL through the playlist!!!!Or simply click the YouTube link on the player, and see the whole playlist on YouTube.
HIP-HOP
CULTURE OFFERS MORE THAN JUST ENTERTAINMENT IN CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS.
There’s no debate Chicago is a
world-class metropolis. And we know it’s a first rate destination for music,
arts, and culture. And our music roots run deep. From the early Chicago Boogie
Woogie days, through the waves of Jazz, Rock, and Soul; to the emergence and
domination of House music, Chicago has always been innovative and on the pulse
of music & pop culture.And now
Chicago hip-hop is featured prominently on the world’s music stage.With the commercial rise of artists like
Common, Twista, Lupe Fiasco, and of course Kanye West, Chicago is now known and
respected for its Hip-Hop.But
something else has also been brewing in Chicago’s underground for quite some
time now, and it’s staring to create some major ripple effects.
The fusions of art and community,
hip-hop and activism, youth and empowerment are not new concepts, but Chicago
hip-hop artists and community groups are implementing new strategies in inner
city neighborhoods that are reaching and uplifting young people.With all the negative controversy
surrounding rap music these days, one might be surprised to know that Hip-Hop
has a heart, a soul, and a very positive and progressively conscious agenda.
Community and arts groups are
developing formulas for change that begins with young people, and they are
using hip-hop in a big way to engage, empower, and mobilize youth to create the
change they want to see in their neighborhoods. Kids are learning some
important life lessons in critical thinking, team building, and defining their
place in the world. Hip-hop is giving them a key to unlock their optimum
potential, and open the door to a brighter future.
We could begin our tour on the
city’s south side at the Ark of St Sabina in Chicago’s Auburn-Gresham
neighborhood where Hip-Hop Detoxx has modeled a unique holistic hip-hop
approach. Since detoxification refers the process of removing poisons from the
body, Hip-Hop Detoxx has developed a formula that uses ‘Hip-Hop’ as the tool to
help remove the poisons of unhealthy lifestyle choices and negative influences,
and helps strengthen the socio-emotional life skills of youth and teen members.
Founded in 2004 by Enoch Muhammad and Kesha Wells, HHD has presented workshops
across the country, reaching over 100,000 individuals.They now offer programs & workshops from
Youth Leadership, Talent Development & Music Studio Apprenticeships, to
Food & Drug Addiction Prevention, Entrepreneurship, Family Mediation
Workshops, and so many more.They
provide services for teens and young adults with solutions that consider
healthy social, emotional, and physically development. They highlight the
interplay between the family, school, community, socio-economic status and
environment and provide the tools that inspire hope, change, and truth.
Kuumba Lynx(KL) an Arts
Partner with the Chicago Park District, and provides free drop-in arts classes
from their home base in Uptown’s Clarendon Park Community Center at 4501 N.
Clarendon Avenue. An an arts and edutainment organization formed by three young
women, Jaquanda Villegas, Jacinda Bullie and Leida Garcia, in 1996, their
mission is as important today as it was 16 years ago. Kuumba Lynx provides
access to programs that preserve, promote and present urban arts & culture;
empower youth and their communities, and use hip-hop culture as a vehicle for
inter-generational and cross-cultural dialogue. In conjunction with community
arts programming, Kuumba Lynx developed a traveling intergenerational
performance ensemble, comprised of children as young as eight years old. KL
believes it is important to help develop healthy hearts, minds, and bodies so
that strong community foundations can thrive.They are dedicated to providing programs for creative expression &
literacy, and work diligently to increase social consciousness, community
analysis & exchange, global action, inner peace, and universal freedom. KL
offers Arts Residencies and Workshops, Kuumba Lynx Performance Ensemble (KLPE),
and Community Cultural Events. These programs push community reflection,
critical thinking and support the active exchange of ideas. http://www.kuumbalynx.org, http://youtu.be/B47h85Sr2nQ
Also in the Uptown neighborhood Connect Force uses instruction in the
core hip-hop elements including breakdancing, graffiti art, MCing, DJing, and
music production, as artistic expressions to bring together a diverse group of
youth and community members to promote a positive, healthy and productive way
of living. Started in 2003 by Justin Grey, Connect Force offers hands-on
opportunities for youth to develop their artistic ability, physical fitness and
critical life skills through a combination of structured and self-directed activities
including community service projects, monthly performances, peer-led workshops
and social justice events. They recently presented a Back To School
Jam free to all children,in partnership with one of Chicago’s
premier crews, the Chi Rock Nation. Together they collected donations and distributed
school supplies to hundreds of local children at a daylong event hosted at Alternatives on Sheridan Road. In addition to giveaways for
students, there were free haircuts, manicures, food, entertainment, and many arts
activities. Connect Force is an oasis in Uptown for community empowerment, portrayed in the dynamic work they do!https://www.facebook.com/connectforce,
http://youtu.be/r-gafnPUSk0
Southwest Youth Collaborative’s, University
of Hip-Hop located at 6400 S. Kedzie in the Chicago Lawn/Marquette Park
neighborhood combines art and the urban landscape through dance, poetry, music,
mural arts and gardening in an environment that promotes respect for all
cultures and the world around us.
‘UHIPHOP’ (where hip-hop stands for
Healthy Independent People Helping Other People) examines the historical
socio-cultural backgrounds of its participants, and engages them in the study
of diverse cultural identities and expressions. They offer multi-disciplinary
courses in dee-jaying, rap, graffiti/mural arts, and break-dancing, as well as
classes in political education, outdoor and environmental education, humanities
and social sciences. Working with professional artist, participants learn the
histories, philosophies, and methods of urban art forms with particular
emphasis on the values of the Youth Liberation Movement. Community service is a
central component of this program and typically involves replacing graffiti
vandalism with professional-quality murals, and hosting open mic nights for the
community. http://www.swyc.org/programs/University-of-Hip-Hop,
http://youtu.be/09wbJKXPueM
Developed and facilitated by two
Project NIA volunteers in Rogers Park, Ethan Ucker and Emmanuel Andre launched Circles
and Ciphers, a leadership development program for young men who are
prison, court, and gang involved. Through the use of improvisational
hip-hop freestyle ciphers, as well as talking and peacemaking circles,
participants become community organizers.Participants conduct research on re-entry, identify beneficial resources
available to young men returning to their neighborhoods after incarceration or
disengagement, and they facilitate public forum to present research findings,
as well as developing and touring a youth-led street law curriculum to CPS high
schools in partnership with First Defense Legal Aid, and the "Know Your
Rights!" project of the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern
University School of Law.http://www.project-nia.org/circles-and-ciphers.php.
This list only skims the surface of
one of the ways hip-hop is playing a major role in the lives of young people,
and helping to inspiring progressive and empowering change in Chicago
neighborhoods. Hip-hop is more than music here. In some cases it’s a safety
net, in others it is an outlet for creative expression and individualism, but
in many cases hip-hop is the last resort… and when all else fails, they bring
hip-hop to the rescue.
Yes! This is one of those rare, can't miss events for lovers and supporters of Chicago Hip-Hop. It's the kind of event you don't want to just see pictures and read status updates about. You've just gotta be there! And it's at Double Door! How much more nostalgia do you need? So go ahead and make your babysitting arrangements, put in a request for the next day off work, and make sure you have gas or bus fare. Rain, sleet, blah, blah, blah, yeah it's Chicago, you never know. Get ready ya'll! CHI TOWN STAND UP!!!
**Get yourself ready! Click below for artist links. See videos, download music, join mailing lists, and more.**
Chicago’s I Still
Love H.E.R. is the highly anticipated monthly event dedicated to the love
of hip hop and its four elements through the feminine experience. Since 2011
LadyGemStar andKickAssAlyssia have
produced the monthly series featuring a variety of female DJs, MCs, Breakers,
and Graffiti artists. “We want to create a platform for women in Hip Hop and
raise awareness to the importance of the feminine contribution in the Chicago
hip hop community as well as in its culture worldwide,” they say, and they have
been doing just that.
As a tribute to the first fantastic year, they released the
mixtape entitled “I Still Love H.E.R. (Vol.1)” It is hosted by I.S.L.H.
founders LadyGemStar & KickAssAlyssia, and mixed by DJ ALO.
No other event series can claim the ranks of showcasing
female hip-hop artists in Chicago. I Still Love H.E.R. has featured a
stellar lineup of DJs, MCs, Breakers, and Graffiti artists, including emcees
Ang 13, Anyiahlation, Dream, Maya Odim, Rita J, Flipsidee, Spq-Her, Ruby Yo,
Camoflaj Jones, Milly Mango, Crystal La’Juene, Davilla Tha Dutchezz, Psalm One,
yours truly, and so so many more… I.S.L.H. has also featured DJs Tess,
Bumblebee, Gemini Jones, Kristin, Rhated R, Am Pm, Narz, Karma (from STL), All
The Way Kay, Chante; and Graf artists Stef Skills, Nisi Rok, Urbal, Beloved,
Zena, Blis, Ms Bel; and B-Girls Lady Champ, Sweetfeet, Dirty Sneakers Crew, and
a host of other wonderfully talented women.
I Still Love H.E.R. takes place every fourth Monday
of the month in ‘The Lounge’ at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave, in Chicago’s
Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood. It runs from 10pm-2am. There’s a $5 cover. And
it is a 21 and over event.
Beast Productions Presents: BATTLE AT THE BOTTLE Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave
Fri Nov 30 2012 - 9:30 - PM $7
Don't miss out on this underground event!
Hosted by Shadowmaster & DJ Epik 1
featuring..... The Primeridian
From "b-boys on the street" to "grown men with responsibility", we address harsh, contemporary themes with positive inspiration for the youth raw with refined experience. Disciplined, educated artists who work have studied and performed with numerous artists of various genres including the legendary Run-DMC, Redman, Talib Kweli, Erykah Badu, Common, Fareed Haque, Frank Orral, Bobby Irving, Kahil El Zabar, Ari Brown, Dizine, and Tamara Shaw and many others. the primeridian has remained active in the community working extensively with youth & performing at anti-war demonstrations across the nation and standing in solidarity with the struggles of the oppressed peoples in the world. The primeridian takes listeners on a soul filled "mental ride" and is filled with conscious lyrical content that is honest and genuine, inspiring critical thought, while touching on topics from politics, to relationships, to the present state of hip hop.
Also check out Primeridian on Coolout’s B-Sides, Bootlegs, & Unreleased Music featured on OkayPlayer.com www.okayplayer.com/news/the-primeridian-aint-no-words-mp3.html and catch The Primeridian on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/the-primeridian/40432147521?ref=ts&fref=ts
Tomorrow Kings
Tomorrow Kings is a group of seven emcees and one DJ with a wealth of musical styles and artistic directions at their command. The central aim of the collective is to break the typical mold usually prescribed to Hip Hop artists through creative deviations that shed light on life in a globalized and postmodern world. With several distinct styles of delivery and cadence along with their own varied influences, each emcee plays their part. These roles range from traditional storytelling and skill rhymes to vivid hardcore imagery and avant-garde soundscapes and lyrics reminiscent of John Coltrane or Ornette Coleman. Tackling subjects like religion, social change and global politics, each member expresses themselves in their own unique way, yet display a colleagueship which results in multidirectional and electrifying musical rawness. You would need to witness it to get a glimpse of what's happening here. Composed of multitalented creative technicians known for taking the mold, shattering it, and representing several facets of reality for what they are, Tomorrow Kings is self destined to release an aesthetic ethos so universally transformative that life as we know it would fade into black if it failed to imitate their art.
www.facebook.com/tomorrowkings
Pugs Atomz
Fresh off a Worldwide tour with his group The Electric (DJ Vadim/Graziella) Pugs Atomz is ready to release "The Decade" teaming up with the legendary BBE records for a compilation of old and new tunes he wrote between 2000 and 2010. All the classic Pugs songs from his out of print albums, plus new music with some of Chicago’s best talent...The album is available now at all online merchants. On his latest mixtape "Enjoy" he teamed up with producers DJ avdim, Dj Simbad, Dirtty Dunnz, Grant Parks and more it also features Brandun Deshay, and Naledge (KITH). Download it here http://pugsatomz.tumblr.com/mixtapes Okay Player describes him as "a rare renaissance figure in hip hop with a background in all the elements. Pugs drops a fun and thoughtful albums that take a few listens for you to realize how rare that combination is nowadays. It's clear he takes rapping seriously without being so himself, always exuding laid back confidence".
www.reverbnation.com/pugsatomz
Sure there are about as many perspectives about what it
means to be Hip-Hop as there are people who claim allegiance, trying to
identify what is real vs fake hip-hop is even more difficult.Every time I ask the question, I get a
different response. What does it mean to identify yourself as “HIP-HOP”? How
exactly does one become Hip-Hop?Are
you initiated into it?Are you born in
or sworn in? Do you pledge, take an oath, make a commitment, do you sacrifice
anything? Does anyone vouch for you, sponsor you, do you need references? Is it
exclusive?Are these questions
rhetorical?
Some say it’s a movement, a culture, a way of life.The definition often falls along
generational, or commercial lines.How
old you are is generally reflected in how you view hip-hop. Gen X’ers who grew
up on Soul & RnB have a vastly different view of hip-hop because they
witnessed her birth, and watched her evolve. A young adult or teenager today
cannot fathom a pre hip-hop world, and their definition and perspectives of
this middle aged culture sometimes falls short of depth and substance, and if
often viewed simply as a music genre, or a street culture. Does anyone really
know what hip-hop is anymore? Is there a definitive answer?
It’s not enough to get confirmation from web inquiries and
unscientific polls. I really want to get to the bottom of this question because
I believe the conversations about hip-hop are compromised if those having the
conversations cant even agree on what it means to be HIP-HOP.
So, let’s take it back a step.I wondered how the pioneers define hip-hop. Those who were there
and started this phenomenon… What does hip-hop mean to them?How do they explain it?In a 1989 Davey D interview (later published
on his site www.daveyd.com/interviewbambaataa96.html),
he asks Afrika Bambaataa how he defined hip-hop. Bambaataa explained:
“People have to understand what you mean when you talk about
Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop means the whole culture of the movement. When you talk about
rap you have to understand that rap is part of the Hip-Hop culture. That means
the emceeing is part of the Hip-Hop culture. The Deejaying is part of the
Hip-Hop culture. The dressing, the languages are all part of the Hip Hop
culture. So is the break dancing, the b-boys and b-girls. How you act, walk,
look and talk is all part of Hip Hop culture. And the music is colorless. Hip Hop
music is made from Black, brown, yellow, red and white. It's from whatever
music that gives that grunt, that funk, that groove, that beat. That's all part
of Hip Hop.”
That makes sense! Okay now we have a definition from a
person who was there, who had a hand in it, and is respected for the role he
has played in the culture.
With the ammunition of a better definition, I now wonder
how do we identify something as hip-hop?What does real hip-hop look like?How can I spot a fraud? Or is there such a thing?If a person dresses hip-hop and also raps,
does that validate them as authentic? It’s very subjective, especially with no
solid criteria to judge.
I recently spotted a viral photo of Lauryn Hill, Trina,
and NickiMinaj that suggested Lauryn
was Hip-Hop, Trina was Rap, and Nicki was Pop…hmmm, ookaaay… I see where they were going with this, but my first
question was, why use 3 female rappers for this viral photo? It seems divisive
to me, as they aren’t the ones supposedly killing the game are they? But anyway
I digress and move on… They are all rappers! “Rapping” is what Emcees do
in Hip-Hop.Nowadays the rap music
genre has gone so mainstream it’s considered very popular music, so yes, Nicki
M would certainly be pop.But does that
mean she isn’t Hip-Hop?
There’s a wonderful document called the Hip-Hop
declaration of Peace (http://www.declaration-of-peace.com).
It was presented to the United Nations Organization on May 16th 2001, signed by
Temple Of Hip Hop, Ribbons International, UNESCO and 300 Hip-Hop activists,
pioneers and UN delegates. KRS One, Pop Master Fabel, Afrika Bambaataa, Ralph
Mc Daniels and Harry Allen were some of the people who helped create this
declaration. On the website it states this document recognizes Hip-Hop as an
international culture of peace and prosperity. It is also a set of principles,
which advise all Hip-Hoppers on how to sustain the peaceful character
of Hip Hop Kulture and to form worldwide peace.
Here’s the first Principle (there are 18 of them):
Hiphop (Hip'Hop) is a term that describes our
independent collective consciousness. Ever growing, it is commonly expressed
through such elements as Breakin, Emceein, Graffiti Art, Deejayin, Beatboxin,
Street Fashion, Street Language, Street Knowledge and Street
Entrepreneurialism. Wherever and whenever these and future elements and
expressions of Hiphop Kulture manifest; this Hiphop Declaration of Peace shall
advise the use and interpretation of such elements, expressions and lifestyle.
And the fouth:
Hiphop is a term that describes our independent
collective consciousness. As a conscious way of life, we acknowledge our
influence on society, especially on children; and we shall forever keep the
rights and welfare of both in mind. Hiphop Kulture encourages womanhood,
manhood, sisterhood, brotherhood, childhood and family. We are conscious not to
bring any intentional disrespect that jeopardizes the dignity and reputation of
our children, elders and ancestors.
After reading, and understanding the full document, I
realized some things.The first and
most important is, if there is no universal definition and authentication of
hip-hop, then what exactly are we using as the basis of our conversations on
the culture.I sometimes sit on hip-hop
themed panels and no one ever even mentions a graff writer or a B-girl.A lot of the conversation about hip-hop are
just commentaries on styles and preferences of Rap music and artists. If we are
to have productive conversations about Hip-Hop, we must agree on what exactly
it is.
From this document I also found something greater - The 18
principles.Wow! Principles in Hip-Hop,
what a novel concept!Imagine if we
really adopted them, demonstrated them, and used them as the guiding light for
our culture.Sure hip-hop would still
be fun and exciting! But maybe it would be less corruptible. Maybe it would
have integrity and young people could depend on it being a true source of hope
and inspiration.
We need some rules in hip-hop.We need direction, instruction, and ways to keep the posers, haters,
and capitalists from further devouring it.People must know that hip-hop is not theirs to abuse, vilify, and
exploit.Hip-hop has a pulse, a soul,
and an earth shattering heartbeat. We must save her.But we can only do that if we can agree on what she really is. ###
Gotta show love to Awesome AC Wolf & my entire Chi Rock fam... This song takes me back to the essence of the culture, the reason why I am Hip-Hop. Dig it! ;-)
Twone
Gabz delivers conviction and charisma in every line. Raised in the Nation of
Islam from age 5, his lyrics reflect his conscious, and spiritually motivated
thoughts, songs, and ideas. He represents the streets of Southside Chicago and
the voice of every family man in the hood. He makes what most would call ‘Grown
Man Hip-Hop’. He has a gift for combining hard-hitting wordplay and punch lines
with the personality, sarcasm and wit.
Gabz
was featured on DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Return Of The Magnificent album with the lead
track entitled “Hip-Hop” and track #13 on the same album entitled ”Go See The
Doctor 2K7”. He was also featured on Rhymefest’s sophomore album entitled El
Che on a track entitled “Truth On You”, produced by DJ Terry Hunter.
Chicagoans
have known his body of work and witnessed his persistence for many years. That
same commitment caught the attention of one of Hip-Hop’s most valuable icons,
Erick Sermon. Twone Gabz became Erick’s protégé artist in the launching of Def
Squad Digital and is now a member of the Def Squad roster, which introduced us
to Redman & Keith Murray.Gabz is
also prominently featured on several tracks on Erick Sermon’s Breath Of Fresh
Air mixtape.
You
can catch Twone Gabz live at The Shrine on Friday November 16th,
2012. This exciting one night only show features Gabz on stage with his DEF
SQUAD brethren including Erick Sermon, Redman, and Keith Murray! The night also
features DJ's ReadyRock & D. Murray and will be hosted by Jaz-O.
This
event is in partnership with Youth For Positive Change. Doors open 9pm.Tickets are on sale now at www.theshrinechicago.com.
Check out this collection of classics, vintage music, old videos, and fond memories of Chicago's Hip-Hop past that I compiled from YouTube. Some of you will know all of these songs and even remember where you were when you heard them. It is also very likely that many of you are a part of this collection in some way. There are also those who will only know a few of these songs and maybe just a handful of artists. 
