Mark “Marko” Rahman, aka Chicago rapper the Mad Thinker, died February 18 at age 54. Rahman came to prominence in the early 90s as part of East of the Rock; his childhood friend and EOTR bandmate the Flux says Rahman came up with the name—the group’s members lived east of Stony Island. Kool Keith was […]
Tag: Via Rosa
Chicago dance-pop duo Drama return to the stage to showcase their pre-pandemic album
We’ll never know what might have been for any of us had 2020 turned out a little less soul crushing. But it feels extra bittersweet to imagine the possibilities for Chicago duo Drama, who released their debut album, Dance Without Me (Ghostly International), just before lockdown. Since joining forces in 2014, vocalist Via Rosa and […]
Drama’s new Dance Without Me is for sad-but-sexy folks everywhere
When the COVID-19 crisis subsides long enough for the concert circuit to start up again, you’ll want to see Chicago electro-R&B duo Drama live. But in the meantime, their new debut LP, Dance Without Me, might just be the record you need to get through your social isolation. An album for sad-but-sexy people everywhere, Dance […]
Chicagoans Via Rosa and Na’el Shehade revel in all the queasy feelings of romantic love as Drama
Singer, producer, and chef Via Rosa moved to Chicago in 2010 to help take care of her grandmother and work with local production collective ThemPeople. As she told culture site Chicago Creatives last year, outside of family obligations, she spent the vast majority of her time during her first five years in the city working […]
Chicago band Diagonal do mid-90s shoegaze so well they might have a time machine
Chicago band Diagonal do mid-90s shoegaze so well they might have a time machine, Save Money rapper Sterling Hayes talks mental health on a new mixtape, and more.
Via Rosa of Drama on an Egyptian hit that transcends language barriers
Current musical obsessions of AMFM gallery founder Ciera Mckissick, Drama singer Via Rosa, and Reader writer Leor Galil
ThemPeople draw from Chicago’s close-knit hip-hop scene for two new tracks inspired by TV
Production collective ThemPeople recruits Smino, Via Rosa, and the Mind for the new Sitcom.
This year’s Winter Block Party celebrates women in Chicago hip-hop
This year’s Winter Block Party celebrates women in Chicago hip-hop, the eighth Chicago Psych Fest fogs up the Hideout, and more.
L.A. VanGogh helps his rapper pals help him on the new EP Friends First
Chicago rapper L.A. VanGogh pulls in collaborators from different cliques, and it works to everyone’s benefit.