It’s safe to say the one of modern indie music’s most consistent groups has been generous to music geeks and listeners this year. Beach House have always been this way, releasing albums on a basis that doesn’t force listeners to wait too long and which always delivers great reception and critical acclaim. The true triumph of this is how they stay consistent to their sound while changing it just slightly enough that they are unique in their own right. Not too long ago they came out with the incredible Depression Cherry, an album that showed a darker, more cerebral, and romantically distraught side of a band known to get lost in a fever dream of love. What separated that album from their other albums, particularly Teen Dream and Bloom, was how it showed the band coming down to earth and coming to terms with reality without losing their otherworldly aura. Yet less than two months after that release Beach House are back with another album Thank Your Lucky Stars, and while people would like to be quick to point out that it’s a companion piece or a series of b-sides and extra studio tracks from the Depression Cherry recording sessions, it’s actually a separate album in its own right. It also happens to be one that stands out very well in its own right throughout it’s nearly 41 minute span.
The WGCI Big Jam is only days away, as your favorite rappers are headed to the United Center for the Windy City’s biggest rap show of the year. With scheduled performances from Kendrick Lamar, Future, Meek Mill, Omarion, Rae Sremmurd, Lil Durk, Dej Loaf, Monica, Twista, Do or Die, Chicago’s own Vic Mensa and many more, you need to be at the house that Michael Jordan built this weekend. And like any great music fan, we have already started to think about the songs that we absolutely NEED to hear this Sunday.
Hit the jump and check out our list of the 10 songs that we need to hear at the WGCI Big Jam, and if you haven’t yet, get your tickets now while you still can!
Autism is a rarely talked about subject in the rap world. Although studies show that nearly 1 in 68 have some form of autism in the U.S., you don’t hear about a rapper with Asperger’s or a bipolar disorder, for example. And while some have debated whether their favorite rapper may suffer from autism or not (Kanye West and Travis Scott, to name a couple), rapper Rhymefest has shed some light on the issue in relation to Chicago’s own, drill rapper Chief Keef.
Although others before have speculated whether Chief Keef may suffer from autism, Rhymefest is fully convinced and has issue with how Keef is used by many in the music industry. “He’s exploited,” said Rhymefest. “I think many rappers these days have afflictions, such as Asperger’s, bipolar disorder, or autism. They need advocates, but we turn it into entertainment. The media is turning autism into entertainment.”
Rhymefest continued to say, “When I look at Chief Keef, I clearly see someone who has autism. Look at the way his face is structured, or his insensitivity to violence. He needs an advocate. But someone put him out there and exploited that child.”
Despite a slight controversy from a J. Cole lyric, where he rapped “I’m artistic, you niggas is autistic, retarded”, autism is almost never talked about in rap music, and Rhymefest certainly has a point. Should someone step in and speak up for rappers who have have autism, and as an result are exploited? Or should everyone just step back and let rappers like Chief Keef (who may or may not have a form of autism) speak for themselves, even if they are being exploited or promoting a bad message when doing so?
Every rapper from Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) has a very nostalgic vibe to them. And in his new music video, for his record ‘The Ways’, rapper Jay Rock is taking us back to the BET Uncut era of rap videos. Full of strippers, fat asses, and throwing singles, Jay Rock’s new visuals definitely have an influence from ratchet rap videos, circa Ludacris’ ‘P-Poppin”. From Jay Rock’s sophomore LP, 90059, ‘The Ways’ will definitely take you back and is another great record from TDE’s most underrated artist.
Watch Jay Rock’s music video for ‘The Ways’ below.
For the official remix of his record, ‘The Woods’, Chicago rapper ProbCause recruited his former tourmate, the always hilarious and talented, Lil Dicky. ‘The Woods’, which first appeared on ProbCause’s Drifters album, is a very smooth record and perhaps not the one that you’d expect LD to jump on. But it works! You can check out the record here and if you like it, you can purchase it now on iTunes.
Singer/rapper D.R.A.M., most famously known for his record ‘Cha Cha’, is currently on a huge tour with Chicago’s Chance The Rapper. But don’t think a big tour is going to stop him from putting out new music, as today he released his new record, titled ‘Caretaker (Extended)’. Featuring TDE singer, SZA, this collaboration is a extended version from Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment’s album Surf and it is awesome! You’ll be able to find this one on D.R.A.M.’s forthcoming EP GAHDAMN!, which drops in just a few days on October 23rd.
Stream ‘Caretaker (Extended)’ below and peep our photos of D.R.A.M. and Chance’s Milwaukee stop on their Family Matters tour.
Profession rapper, Lil Dicky, brought The Looking For Love tour to the Concord Music Hall in Chicago, IL. Repping his Chicago Cubs Sammy Sosa jersey, LD didn’t bring the Cubbies any good luck (as they fell 0-2 to the New York Mets), but he definitely put on a wild show! Accompanied by Chicago’s own, Alex Wiley, who performed his new record which features Chance The Rapper, Lil Dicky rocked the sold out crowd. The show was full of mini-games in a dating game show (you read that right), grinding, a make out session with a fan, a black penis version of pin the tail on the donkey, and of course the rapper performed a number of records from his Professional Rapper LP and his Get Hard mixtape.
Check out our photos below and check out LilDicky.com to see if LD is bringing his Looking For Love tour to a city near you.
Madison, WI had a hell of a night as Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller brought The GO:OD AM Tour to the University of Wisconsin. Selling out State Street’s Orpheum Theater, Miller was joined by rappers GoldLink, Odd Future’s Domo Genesis and The Come-Up. While all the supporting act delivered, it was Miller who brought the most energy to his performance. Highlights of the night came when Mac performed his hit single and college favorite, ‘Donald Trump’, as well as number of his performances from his new LP, GO:OD AM, of which his 2015 tour get its name. While Miller maintains a lot of his fan base from his early mixtapes, his music has continued to develop throughout his latest full length projects and his stage presence is no different. After a number of national tours and worldwide performances, Miller has more than found his way with his headlining sets.
Check out our photos below and make sure you get your tickets for The GO:OD AM tour before they are all sold out!
Today we traveled to Camp Randall Stadium, as the Wisconsin Badgers hosted the Boilermakers of Purdue. It was all Wisconsin all the way, as the Badgers dominated Purdue throughout their 24-7 victory. As expect, the Badger stuck to the run and the Boilermakers had no answer. Read our game recap here and check out our photos of Wisconsin’s Big 10 victory below.
With Wisconsin fighting for its Bowl aspirations, they took another step in the right direction Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison as the Badgers (5-2) defeated the Boilermakers (1-6) of Purdue 24-7. The offense made enough plays and the Badgers defense, which has been dominant for long stretches this season, was brilliant again on this day.
The Badgers received the game’s opening kickoff and immediately went to work against a struggling Boilermakers’ defense. Senior quarterback Joel Stave and junior tailback Dare Ogunbowale were sharp as the Badgers marched right down the field for the game’s first touchdown. Stave was perfect on the drive while Ogunbowale had several effective runs.
True freshman Alec Ingold, a linebacker by trade who has emerged as a new weapon for Wisconsin in the run game, capped the opening drive with a four yard rush for a touchdown.
The effectiveness and balance of the Badgers opening drive had a feeling of blowout home win being imminent. Especially, after Purdue went three and out on their subsequent opening drive. But not so fast …
The Badgers were once again marching on their second drive. Stave continued his brilliance, making quick reads and firing passes that were right on the money. The senior started the game a perfect six for six for 68 yards.
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
Facing a third down and 8 from the Purdue 11 yard line, Ogunbowale was flagged for a false start, moving the team back to a more complicated try of 3rd and 13. Stave dropped back and could not get his footing with the pass rush closing in and tried to zip a pass across the field that sailed on Stave right into the waiting arms of Purdue defensive back LeRoy Clark.
Clark, who recently accepted a position move to safety, returned the Stave pick 66 yards to the Wisconsin 29 yard line, breaking several tackles along the way. It was Stave’s only real hiccup in the game.
Purdue, finding themselves with excellent field position, seized the moment. Purdue, wanting to make a statement, chose to go for it on 4th and 1 from the Badgers 20. Freshman tailback Markell Jones was able to convert. Freshman quarterback David Blough capped the drive with an untouched 2 yard touchdown scramble.
The Badgers missed a golden opportunity to extend the lead just before half, as struggling sophomore kicker Rafael Gaglionone missed from 35 yards out. Gaglionone had hit from 28 earlier in the half, as the Badgers lead just 10-7 going into intermission.
Strangely, the Badgers did not punt in the first half, and they outgained the Boilermakers 272 yards to 61. Despite the lopsidedness, Wisconsin only able to build just that three point lead.
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
Purdue had first crack in the second half. The Badgers, who presumably got a verbal lashing from their head coach Paul Chryst, came out strong, forcing a three and out.
What followed were two Badgers punts and two more Boilermakers punts. On Purdue’s third punt of the second half, the Badgers finally gave the Camp Randall sellout crowd reason to “jump around.”
Purdue punter Joe Schopper shanked a miserable punt that netted just 27 yards as Wisconsin took over at the Purdue 33 yard line. The generous field position was all the Badgers needed to get going.
Stave continued his fantastic accuracy with passes of 7, 4, and 19 yards setting up a first and goal at the Purdue four yard line. From there, Ogunbowale pounded it in, giving the Badgers some much needed breathing room at 17-7.
Wisconsin would put the game out of reach after they got the ball right back following yet another Purdue punt.
Stave was at his best here on the Badgers final scoring drive on the day. He carved up a worn-out Boilermakers’ defense, going 7 for 7 for 56 yards. For the second time Saturday, Ingold ran the ball in for the score, this time from 1 yard out making it 24-7.
Stave, despite the near pick-six in the first half, had a very quiet, yet stellar effort for the Badgers as the senior finished 30 of 39 for 322 yards. Stave nickel and dimed his way to his second consecutive 300 yard day as he and the Badgers longest pass play on the day was just 14 yards.
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
It marked the first time a Wisconsin quarterback had back-to-back 300 yard performances since former Badgers quarterback and Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson did so in 2011.
Senior #1 wide-out Alex Erickson continued his sparkling final season in Madison, finishing with nine receptions for 86 yards, which both lead the team.
Junior Robert Wheelwright had 6 catches for 61 yards for Wisconsin.
The Badgers did just enough on the ground to keep the Boilermakers defense honest for Stave. Wisconsin ran the ball 37 times for just 96 yards, a 2.8 per average.
Redshirt freshman inside linebacker T.J. Edwards was a man possessed for the Badgers, leading a total defensive effort. Edwards was outstanding, racking up 16 tackles, including a forced fumble and a tackle for a loss.
The Badgers defense held another opponent under 100 yards on the ground as the Boilermakers ran for only 55 yards. Purdue was unable to break one single big play, finishing with just 191 yards of total offense.
Wisconsin finished the game with a healthy 418 yards of total offense, while also winning time of possession 37:46 to 22:09.
The Badgers, who hit on their goal of improving on their third down conversion rate Saturday (50%), will have to clean up the penalties next week against a much more capable opponent.
Wisconsin will face a big road test next Saturday when they travel to Champagne, Illinois to take on a talented Fighting Illini (4-2) squad fresh off their bye week. The game will kick off at 2:30 pm (Central Standard).
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