We're seeking new members for our 2025 Board of Directors, as well as our founding Associate Board for young professionals 35 and under. Details and application at each of the links above.
The CHIRP Blog
DJ Mick writesThe CHIRP Radio Interview: L.H.
by CHIRP Radio DJ and Features Co-Director Mick R (Listen to his most recent shows here / Read his blog here)
L.H. is a Chicago MC and entrepreneur with a new EP out this week through his Visual Audio brand called XXXibition. The album is a playground of gritty imagery that defines the outlines of internal struggles and adversity experienced in attempting to survive and thrive in this world.
L.H. makes the most of his fast and nasal flow, twisting and juking on and around sputtering trap beats like a cat on a hot tin roof. You can't pull down what you can't catch, and L.H. is always on the move.
Check out our snappy and exclusive interview with the rhyme maestro himself below:
Tell our listener’s who you are and what part of the city you hail from.
Name is L.H.. I'm a rap and hip hop artist from Chicago, Illinois
You present yourself as a real go getter. What are the ups and downs of always being on the grind?
Time. Grinding and taking risk is not for everyone. Being a indie artist running my own label, I have my hands in everything from recording to booking shows.. My success will only go as far as my motivation. There's literally no days off for me.
What’s the hardest part about staying relevant in a fast moving world like hip hop?
Always staying on top of changing sounds. I try not to vaacume my style. I am always on the hunt for new beats and listening to whats trending.
You sound really comfortable and like you’ve really come into your own sound on your new EP XXXibition. Did your approach for this release differ from past releases?
I approached it the same as any other project.. Once I decide I want to do a EP or mixtape, I focus on completing it. That's always been my approach. I had a great time making it.
What should people know about you in order to get into the right mindset to listen to this album?
I'm a high energy artist that loves to create. If you are looking multiple styles along with lyrics then this project is for you.
Who handled the production for your latest release?
I have production from El47, DomEd and T.o. produced it. I just worked with those three producers. Also everything was recorded at UntoldStories recordings in Chicago.
You only have one feature on this new album. Was that intentional?
Yes. I'm pretty introverted so I'm use to just cracking our songs by myself. I'm always down for features but only if the song needs it. Me and Crystal3x pulled it off and it was great working with her.
Nintendo games seem to be a recurring motif in your work (Hyruken, Treasured, King Koopa). Why do videogames factor into the themes and lyrics of your work in such a big way?
I just grew up playing video games and I've always been a fan of art work in general. Especially zelda game art. Nintendo has a lot of The 8 bit sounds that I really like and they get stuck in your head.
What are your goals for the rest of 2021?
My goals are to do more touring, sell more merchandise, make more music, continue to build my fanbase while getting better as an artist. I am always looking to grow who I am as well as the Visual Audio brand. I will follow My goals into the following years as well.
CHIRP Radio writesCHIRP Radio Weekly Voyages (Aug 9 - Aug 15)
Upcoming Events:
- Saturday August 14 - Sunday August 15: CHIRP is proud to be a media sponsor for Chicago's only classical music street fest, Thirsty Ears, on Wilson Avenue between Ravenswood and Hermitage
- Thursday August 26: CHIRP Radio welcomes Ohmme to Thalia Hall
- All August: CHIRP Radio is giving away 3-day passes to the 2021 Pitchfork Music Festival
On the Podcast:
- Jessi D interviews Emily Jane Powers
On the Blog:
- Clarence Ewing reviews Summer of Soul and Woodstock 99: 3 Days of Peace, Love, and Rage
Top of the CHIRP Charts for the week of 8/2/21:
Arthhur – Occult Fractures (Self-Released)
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesTake Two: “Faith” (George Michael Vs. Limp Bizkit)
There is a chance that you have come across a song (or two, or so many more) that you enjoy and did not realize that it's either been covered by someone else or is a cover itself. We hope that this series allows you to appreciate both the original and the covers they have inspired, and to seek out and enjoy new music in the process.
The Original: From the album Faith (1987)
Around the mid-’80s George Michael split from his Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley and successfully proved he could make it as a solo act. The title track to his debut album is a fun, flirty pop number that channels ‘50s Elvis-style rockabilly through a solid Bo Diddley-esque rhythm.
The song was cemented in ‘80s lore by the iconic video of Michael working his guitar and his hips in sunglasses and a leather jacket, a stark contrast to the day-glo bubble gum image he was known for in his old band. And at a time when the music industry was still reluctant to have a star openly declare that they’re gay, the song used just enough vague, gender-neutral lyrics to keep the tabloids and morality police guessing.
This track became one of a string of hits for Michael, including “Father Figure,” “I Want Your Sex,” “One More Try,” and “Kissing a Fool” (one of the greatest pop vocal performances of all time, BTW). “Faith” went to #1 on the Billboard charts, where it stayed for four weeks.
CHIRP Radio writesCHIRP Radio Weekly Voyages (Aug 2 - Aug 8)
Upcoming Events:
- Saturday August 14 - Sunday August 15: CHIRP is proud to be a media sponsor for Chicago's only classical music street fest, Thirsty Ears, on Wilson Avenue between Ravenswood and Hermitage
- Thursday August 26: CHIRP Radio welcomes Ohmme to Thalia Hall
- All August: CHIRP Radio is giving away 3-day passes to the 2021 Pitchfork Music Festival
On the Podcast:
- DJ Mick interviews Emily and Brendan of Chicago band Late Nite Laundry
Top of the CHIRP Charts for the week of 7/26/21:
Yves Tumor – The Asymptotical World (Warp)
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesIn the Shadow of Woodstock: “Summer of Soul” and “Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage”
by What’s the point of a music festival? The answer depends on who you ask: To make money; To perform your art in front of crowds while also getting paid; To see bands, hang out with friends, enjoy the weather, and maybe have a transformative experience..
The festival that still stands out in history is the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival. It’s not just a touchstone in American music, but American culture. The electrifying performances and peaceful gathering of hundreds of thousands of fans remain an ideal image of what festivals can be.
Two new documentaries highlight two other major milestones in music festival lore, one of them lost to history until now, the other one something a lot of people would rather forget.