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] Hip hop is a cultural movement that began amongst urban African American youth in New York and has since spread around the world. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ...

History

Famous artists

Common

Possibly Chicago's most well known 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. Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... Can I Borrow a Dollar? is the 1992 debut album by Chicago rapper Common, then known as Common Sense. ... Be is a 2005 album by rapper Common, produced by Kanye West and J Dilla. ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kɑn. ... This August 2007 does not cite any references or sources. ...

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.

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. Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kÉ‘n. ... Singles from The College Dropout Released: September 30, 2003 Released: February 24, 2004 Released: May 25, 2004 The College Dropout is the debut album by rapper Kanye West, released in 2004. ... Singles from Late Registration Released: July 4, 2005 Released: October 10, 2005 Released: December 20, 2005 Released: April 24, 2006 Released: June, 2006 Late Registration is the second major label album release from Roc-A-Fella hip hop artist and producer Kanye West. ... Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. ... Che Smith, known by the stage name of Rhymefest, is an American hip hop artist (born January 1, 1977) from the South side of Chicago in Jeffrey Manor whose first official album, Blue Collar, was released on July 11, 2006. ...

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. Carl Terrell Mitchell (born on November 27, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois) is a rapper known as Twista (formerly Tung Twista), who once held the title of fastest rapper in the world. ... The Guinness Book of Records (or in recent editions Guinness World Records, and in previous US editions Guinness Book of World Records) is a book published annually, containing an internationally recognized collection of superlatives: both in terms of human achievement and the extrema of the natural world. ... 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, off the album Picture This. Group members are Belo Zero, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kamikaze is the fifth album by Chicago, Illinois rapper Twista which reached the top of the US Billboard 200 album charts in early 2004 based on the success of the lead single Slow Jamz. It was released on January 27, 2004. ... Slow Jamz is the first single from Twistas album, Kamikaze. ... Overnight Celebrity is the second single off Twistas 2004 album Kamikaze. ...

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. Che Smith, known by the stage name of Rhymefest, is an American hip hop artist (born January 1, 1977) from the South side of Chicago in Jeffrey Manor whose first official album, Blue Collar, was released on July 11, 2006. ... Blue Collar is the debut album by Grammy Award winning songwriter and long-time friend of Kanye West, Rhymefest. ... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kɑn. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jesus Walks was the third single from Kanye Wests debut album The College Dropout. ... The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ...

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 fall of 2007. Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is an American rapper. ... Touch the Sky is the fourth single released from Kanye Wests second album, Late Registration. ... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kɑn. ... Food & Liquor is the name of Lupe Fiascos critically-acclaimed debut album, released on September 19, 2006. ... The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ... Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is an American rapper. ... The Cool is the second album from Lupe Fiasco. ...

Producers

Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kɑn. ... Josh Hammond, better known as Prophecy, is one of hip hops well known underground producers. ... No I.D, formerly known as Immenslope and also known as Ernest Wilson (born Dion Wilson in Chicago, Illinois), is a hip hop and R&B record producer, best known for his early work with Chicago rapper Common (formerly Common Sense). ... Keezo Kane (born Keith Moore) is an American hip-hop producer. ... This article is about the hip-hop producers. ...

External links

• Chicago hip hop story