Parker Lee Williams grew up in the 1970s on New York City’s Lower East Side, while the city’s grassroots hip-hop movement sprang to life. When he moved to Chicago as a 15-year-old in 1983, he brought along firsthand knowledge of the culture’s foundational elements. His skills with spray cans and pens helped spread his tagger’s […]
Tag: WNUR
DJ Antonio Cesar keeps finding money to evolve house music
Chicago producer and DJ Antonio Cesar has used tens of thousands of dollars in grants to travel the world, exporting the city’s sounds and importing new influences.
Lori Branch’s greatest moments in Chicago music history
Pioneering house DJ Lori Branch shouts out her fellow Windy City originators, including Chaka Khan and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Daisychain gives women and nonbinary DJs the platform they deserve
Alicia Greco’s weekly podcast has already posted 110 mixes, fostering a community that won’t stay marginalized much longer.
Fighting for Chicago’s place in hip-hop history
Darrell “Artistic” Roberts of Chi-ROCK Nation has worked to document Chicago hip-hop culture for more than three decades—and now he’s finally publishing a book.
Metro hosts a memorial for musician and mensch Rob Warmowski
Metro hosts a memorial for musician and mensch Rob Warmowski, Jeremiah Meece of The-Drum teases an imminent album of spooky electro, and more.
The B-52s gave Chicago one last gift at Riot Fest
Even if the B-52s really are retiring from the road, they’ve left a permanent mark on the city through their influence on house music.
West-side rapper Musa Reems dazzles with a weekly single series
West-side rapper Musa Reems dazzles with a weekly single series, college radio stations WHPK and WNUR fill the weekend with festivals, and more.
Hogg drop a new LP of tense, ritualistic throb ’n’ roll
Hogg drop a new LP of tense, ritualistic throb ’n’ roll, Elastic Arts hosts the 15th annual Sonic Celluloid multimedia mashup, and more.
Chicago radio thrives at the left of the dial
Corporate consolidation has flattened out Chicago’s big commercial radio outlets, but low-power and college stations still have plenty of personality.
Noise and experimental music on your Internet dial
You can listen to Saturday’s Greg Kelley concert from anywhere thanks to a new Chicago Internet radio station called Numbers.FM.