Six Hip-Hop Tracks for Chicago

Kanye West’s hometown has a rich history of hip-hop culture, ranging from the soulful vibes of Common to the South Side’s drill music scene. Here are six tracks to hear what the Windy City sounds like.

“Kick, Push” by Lupe Fiasco (2006)

Arguably the best rapper to come out of the Chi if it weren’t for his last few albums, Lupe Fiasco’s first single off Food & Liquor is a classic love song between two misfit skateboarders.

“Crook County (Bone Crusher)” by Twista & The Speedknot Mobstaz (1998)

There is some dispute in the Midwest about who invented the region’s rapid-fire flow. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have a strong claim (and to a lesser extent, Three 6 Mafia), but Twista likes to disagree, believing the style originated in Chicago and cementing the beef with his squad’s classic dis record, “Crook County.”

“Through The Wire” by Kanye West (2003)

Kanye West’s The College Dropout is incredibly influential in the world of hip-hop, let alone Chicago. “Through The Wire,” which features him literally rapping through a jaw wired shut, almost never saw the light of day. Kanye garnered much acclaim for his production work on The Blueprint, but the label didn’t see him as a rapper, forcing him to finance and promote the lead single himself.

“Love Sosa” by Chief Keef (2012)

Drill is Chicago’s answer to trap music, stripping the music down to its grim, nihilistic core with slow, ominous production and ultra-violent lyrics. Chief Keef is the most prominent artist to bring this scene to the masses, earning cosigns from Drake, Waka Flocka and even Kanye West, culminating in the G.O.O.D. Music remix of “I Don’t Like.”

“Acid Rain” by Chance the Rapper (2013)

Acid Rap was released independently in 2013 and declared one of the best mixtapes of the year. The project slowly gained traction in the mainstream press, eventually earning the offbeat rapper a deal with Apple Music. “Acid Rain” isn’t so much a rap song as a poetic confession about life in Chicago.

“I Used to Love H.E.R.” by Common (1991)

The obvious but necessary choice, Common’s bittersweet ode to hip-hop is considered one of the most important records of the genre, lamenting the violent direction it took in the 1990s.