closed sessions

Listen to Alex Wiley’s New EP, ‘One Singular Flame Emoji’
Listen to Alex Wiley’s New EP, ‘One Singular Flame Emoji’
Listen to Alex Wiley’s New EP, ‘One Singular Flame Emoji’
Alex Wiley is in touch with his feelings. We don't mean that pejoratively--for one, this isn't 2003. Second (and more importantly), that sensitivity is what makes Wiley a compelling artist. Worrying that he was becoming too weighed down by the stress of coming up with a proper followup to his acclaimed Village Party, Wiley returned to square one, crafting a series of songs that were fun, loose and
Allan Kingdom “Glass Up”
Allan Kingdom “Glass Up”
Allan Kingdom “Glass Up”
"This helps me bridge the gap between me being in my own world and the world that everybody else lives in." Allan Kingdom is trying to tap into something elusive. On his new song, "Glass Up," the St. Paul rapper teams up with Chicago producers Odd Couple--and the artists' movement Closed Sessions...
A Guide To Chicago’s Hip-Hop Scene
A Guide To Chicago’s Hip-Hop Scene
A Guide To Chicago’s Hip-Hop Scene
When XXL released its 2014 Freshmen Cover last month, one of the biggest talking points among hip-hop fans was the strong presence of Chicago rappers. With Chance The Rapper, Lil Bibby, Lil Durk and Vic Mensa all making our list this year, it marked the first time in the cover's seven-year history that a single city was rewarded with four XXL Freshmen, and brought Chicago's total Freshmen tally up