Chicago Rocks Preview

Chicago Rocks
Abbey Pub & Metro, Chicago
Friday May 12 & Saturday May 13, 2006

Two bones to pick with the Chicago hip-hip production team Molemen (Panik, Memo, and PNS): First, the name of their annual music festival: Chicago Rocks festival? To apply a Kevin Pollack/The Usual Suspects quote to the process of naming this festival: “Got a team of monkeys working around the clock on this?” Second, would it kill someone to update the Web site (www.molemen.com) with some actual info about, errr, Chicago Rocks? From what we can tell the news section was last updated September 27th!

Both can be forgiven, though, because the fourth go-round of the Molemen’s annual shindig is solid. And you have to applaud the effort to showcase local hip-hop talent by gathering top-notch, city-wide talent from that spans both the mainstream and underground circles.

Among the acts scheduled to appear during the two-night event are Friday’s Abbey headliner and Kanye West collaborator Rhymefest, who co-wrote (and won a Grammy for) “Jesus Walks.” The Chicagoan’s own major-label debut, Blue Collar (J), has been in a state of limbo for awhile now, but recent intel says it will finally drop July 11th. Impressive female MC, Ang13, who broke into hip-hop as a breakdancer, and Mass Hysteria are among the other acts on Friday night’s bill.

Another West collaborator with a major-label debut on the horizon, Lupe Fiasco, headlines Saturday’s Metro show. Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor (Atlantic) hits stores June 27th. Chicago hip-hop icon/producer/MC Legendary Traxster will also perform as will rising indie stars Longshot, Diverse, and Modill.

Friday night is an 18 and over show; Saturday is all-ages.

The complete schedule is as follows:

Friday, Abbey Pub:
Rhymefest
Mass Hysteria
Glue
Ang13
Stoney Island
Reap
Haikiu

Saturday, Metro:
Lupe Fiasco
JUICE
Vakill
Longshot
Legendary Traxster
Diverse
Qwel
Payroll
Maledge
The Primeridian
Modill

— Trevor Fisher

Click here to download Legendary Traxster’s “New York (Remix).”

Click here to stream samples from Ang13.

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly