Press:

The Chicago Drop hopes to fuse raw energy, hip-hop pulse


June 27, 2005

BY DAVID JAKUBIAK

Think of hip-hop and you likely think of programmed beats and electronic backing tracks. But live instrumentation has been a subtle force in hip-hop for more than a decade, from the acid-jazz movement of the early 1990s, to the emergence of the Roots and the more recent trend of artists such as Snoop Dogg and Big Boi of OutKast taking bands with them on the road. Now, a group of Chicago musicians wants to make these sounds synonymous with the sound of Chicago.

Eight local hip-hop bands have banded together, hoping to spark a movement that fuses the raw energy of garage bands with the addictive pulse of hip-hop. Together, they're called the Chicago Drop, representing almost 50 musicians and MCs.

And suddenly, they've got a lot going on. In February, they released a collaborative self-titled CD, which led to the creation of their own record label and a series of shows at the Note. They're developing an Internet radio show they'll stream on their Web site (thechicagodrop.com). They meet at least once every two weeks to discuss ways they can help each other through promotions, joint performances and making sure any club dates by bands in the collective are packed to the rafters.

"It started off with the CD, and that was so successful that we felt like we had to keep rolling with it," says Cary Kanno, guitarist for the band Abstract Giants, and one of the collective's organizers. "Our goal is to generate a scene and have this be another genre that could rise up out of Chicago."

Sonically, the groups in the Drop merge elements ranging from funk and soul to rock, reggae and salsa with the driving rhythms of hip-hop -- but played more with real instruments than synthesizers and drum machines. Individually, some of the groups, like Small Change, have a more straight hip-hop sound, while others, like Planets Audible, seem to be more an outgrowth of rock. Lyrically, all of the bands tend toward socially conscious lyrics rather than the thugged-out, diamond-studded wordplay that dominates mainstream rap.

But they share one goal. "We want to create a scene. We want to make this grow into a movement," Kanno pledges.

The early prognosis for such a movement seems good. Kanno's band just headlined a show at Metro during MOBfest, the annual Chicago showcase that helped propel bands like the Killers and Disturbed onto the national scene. Recently Treologic, another band in the Drop, beat out more than 600 bands to win the Disc Makers Independent Music World Series of the Midwest, which included $35,000 in prizes. Local music listings consistently find the Drop bands playing venues as diverse as the legendary roots-rock spot Fitzgerald's and the hip North Side spot Subterranean, even playing clubs that normally don't book hip-hop, like Schubas.

Schubas talent buyer Matt Rucins explains the appeal of a large live-instrumentation band: "We're a small venue. If you just have one or two people up there, it feels odd. But if you have a full band, you're going to attract a person's attention a little better."

Chris Baronner, talent buyer at Metro says another attraction is that the Drop bands' fusion of socially conscious lyricism with adept musicianship plays well to diverse crowds. "There's hip-hop everywhere, but here they really seem to focus on their music. And it's not like they are just playing Metro," he says. "They can play anywhere, Martyrs, HotHouse, Double Door, Subterranean, anywhere. With something like punk, you need that all-ages crowd. But these guys can appeal to anyone, all ages, 21-one plus, festivals, college gigs -- and when they play, you see that."

But while the Drop is catching the ear of show promoters and clubgoers, some members of the collective want to push things further -- to become a real movement instead of just a local twist on organic hip-hop or an extension of rap-rock. The greatest hurdle may be getting past the wide influence of the Roots, the Philadelphia-based band that almost singly defined "organic hip-hop" long before any of the Drop bands even formed.

Treologic keyboardist Lance Loiselle says the organization of the Drop offers the Chicago scene an advantage. "We've all been getting together biweekly to discuss gigs we can play together," he explains. "[After the release of the CD] we did three Thursdays at the Note. We're really promoting the scene as a group by playing together and going to see each other. We're also starting to talk about the second Chicago Drop CD. We're trying to bring people into the Chicago scene where it's real fertile and the people are really into the music."

And that, Kanno says, is the most exhilarating thing about the Drop. "The excitement is the raw talent that is getting harnessed right now. It's just an exciting time. These are the bands I want to see, these are the shows I want to go to."

David Jakubiak is a local free-lance writer.


EIGHT BANDS OUT THE GROUPS THAT COMPRISE THE CHICAGO DROP

The Chicago Drop is a collective of eight organic and experimental hip-hop bands who have come together to cultivate a Chicago-based hip-hop movement based on live instrumentation. For more visit thechicagodrop.com.

ABSTRACT GIANTS

This eight-man crew, made of seven Oak Park kids and a Wisconsin import, creates hip-hop seeping rock and funk elements. The rapid wordplay of a trio of MCs is punctuated by the skillful violin playing of Jason Vinluan.


BAD NEWS JONES

Add a sax, three rappers, keys and a steady rhythm section to a mango-guava punch and you'll get Bad News Jones, a septet that blends Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms with a pure hip-hop grind.

FARM CREW

Call it art student hip-hop. Farm Crew has long been known as one of Chicago's premier alternative hip-hop acts, blending rock, jazz and real-life experience to create a sound that's part Native Tongue and part folk storybook.

PLANETS AUDIBLE
The punk element of the Drop, Planets Audible creates hard-pounding hip-hop driven by strings, strings and more strings. Comprising two guitars, bass and drums, this is a crew that adds thrash to the boom-bap.

SMALL CHANGE
Fronted by the tag-team of raw lyricists made up of MCs Vitamin D and Jah Safe, the five-man band Small Change draws from funk and reggae to create music that ranges from mellow to frenetic, often tinged with biting social criticism or raucous humor.

STAR PEOPLE
Thoroughly trained in jazz, this quartet's foundation is the live sampling technique of multi-instrumentalist Josh Thurston-Milgrom and reggae-dripped wordplay of rapper-singer-songwriter Cosmos Ray. Thurston-Milgrom. He calls their sound "hip-hop-reggae with jazz chops."


TABAKIN
Named for frontman Noah Tabakin, this quartet creates a tight fusion of rock and funk elements and punctuates its live performances with lengthy freestyles riddled with unfiltered lyricism.

TREOLOGIC
A sextet that has developed out of the rich history of Chicago hip-hop and jazz, Treologic prides itself on the tightness of its compositions. These draw on hip-hop, jazz, funk and gospel.

SEE THE ARTICLE HERE:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-ftr-drop27.html

 

 
   
     

 


    
The Chicago Reader    
THE CHICAGO DROPFEST Assembled by members of the local outfit Abstract Giants to showcase "live organic hip-hop" in the city, the compilation The Chicago Drop features ten acts that back their MCs with live bands playing a variety of styles: reggae, spirited funk, 70s R & B, laid-back jazz. The album features standout cuts from the sax-fueled combo Tabakin, seven-piece world-fusion combo Bad News Jones, and local quartet Farm Crew. The latter two groups join the Abstract Giants, Treologic, and Star People for this bill, the second of two shows marking the CD release. A copy of the album is free with advance ticket purchase; proceeds go to the American Red Cross and the American Friends Service Committee for tsunami relief.

9 PM, Metro, 3730 N. Clark, 773-549-0203 or 312-559-1212, $10, 18+.

--Bob Mehr

    
     
     

 




    
The Daily Northwestern    
Let the beat 'Drop'


Live Chicago hip-hop groups get together for new collaboration
By Niema Jordon

January 27, 2005


While Kanye West receives Grammy nominations and Twista secures radio air play, there is another face of Chicago hip-hop that is still waiting to be seen.

"Chicago Drop," a compilation CD that showcases members of Chicago's live hip-hop scene, will bring its act to the stage when several participating groups perform at The Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., on Friday.

The show will expose listeners to an unorthodox style of hip-hop. Instead of MCs rapping to the beats that a DJ spins, the participants in Chicago Drop implement drums, keyboards and even strings. The bands have musical influences ranging from old school hip-hop and jazz to rock, which are obvious after a listen to "Chicago Drop."

"It's such a unique hip-hop show," said Idris Goodwin of Farm Crew, who will be performing at the show. "One of the criticisms of hip-hop shows is that the hype man is making more noise. But here the groups have a level of showmanship."

This showmanship has developed from years of practice and performing professionally.

"I've been playing for three years and I've played with hundreds of bands and these are the best," said Abstract Giants' Cary Kanno, who is coordinating the event.

The bands involved in Chicago Drop have shared the stage with such accomplished musicians as the late Ray Charles, Arrested Development, Jean Grae and R. Kelly.

The Chicago Drop CD features tracks by ten different bands, five of which are performing Friday. The rest of the artists involved performed at the Double Door on Jan. 22. The decision to promote the CD through concerts came from the realization that mass media might not be the best way to expose people to a different sound.

"I don't think the market is ready for it," said Treologic's Lance Loiselle, who plays keyboards for the group. "This music is experimental, innovative and lyrically progressive."

Some observers might be tempted to draw comparisons to mainstream hip-hop artists who use live instrumentation.

"None of (these bands) really sound like The Roots," Loiselle said.

While "Chicago Drop's" performers may not sound like Philadelphia's most famous hip-hop group, the bands involved cite The Roots, along with other acts like Outkast and the Black Eyed Peas in paving the way for such a movement.

As Chicago Drop's musicians introduce the audience to their sound, they hope to garner new respect from the rest of the hip-hop kingdom.

"There is somewhat of a divide between traditionalists and organics," Loiselle said.

While some people feel that music should only be called hip-hop if it follows the path set out by hip-hop pioneers such as Afrika Bambaataa and Run-D.M.C., those involved with "Chicago Drop" see themselves as part of the progression of hip-hop.

"My concept is taking it back using real instruments and reinterpreting," said Josh Thurston-Milgrom, a member of Starpeople and a jazz musician when not performing with the group. "Old-school hip-hop artists took instruments from songs and turned them into break beats; now I'm taking the break beats and turning them back to instruments."

Despite differences in style, some elements of hip-hop always remain the same. "It still comes down to spinning over a break," Goodwin said. "We still spit 16 bars."

The unique stylings of the groups involved in "Chicago Drop" may be representative of a change occurring in the hip-hop scene. Whether they're pushing boundaries or returning to the essence of hip-hop, the groups are taking advantage of an opportunity.

"There's a cycle," Loiselle said. "They (the music industry) find a group of cats and shove them down our throats and then those cats fall off or retire and that leaves the industry wide open."

With events like Friday's concert, the bands involved in "Chicago Drop" are trying to squeeze into this opening. If they can do this successfully, they just may find the route to lasting success.

    
     
Chicago SunTimes    
Chicago gets 'Drop' on promoting its scene
January 28, 2005

BY DAVID JAKUBIAK Hip-hop

While many record executives and entertainment insiders look to Chicago for the next big thing in hip-hop, a new branch on the genre's family tree continues to grow in the city, and it's blossoming with the type of vitality and freshness not seen in hip-hop for almost a decade.

And now it has a soundtrack, "The Chicago Drop."

It's live -- sometimes called organic -- music, driven by bands and musicians, who improvise and jam in the tradition of jazz and rock, but who have their roots firmly planted in the traditions of hip-hop. They feature energized MCs who bob and weave over driving rhythms, while flipping ego and attitude big enough fill their baggy jeans.

But there's something more that makes it hip-hop, explains Bad News Jones drummer Daniel Crane.
"Look, that dude from 311 rapped on half their tracks, and if people try to tell me that that's hip-hop just cause the dude didn't sing, they're not paying attention," says Crane. "I won't sit here and try to act as an authority figure on what you can call hip-hop, but it has to do with a lot of things that go beyond just having an MC on stage: attitude, style, and intent. There's a million [reasons]."

Almost as important as their music, the live scene is displaying the type cohesiveness required to call any musical revolution a movement.

It's this cohesiveness that allowed for the creation of "The Chicago Drop," a CD featuring key groups in the live scene, as well as the music of a couple of production-driven crews with a more organic sound.

The project was the brainchild of Cary Kanno and Verses Style of Abstract Giants.

"We needed unity in the Chicago hip-hop scene. We were playing music with all of these cats around the city and everyone knew each other, so the framework was there. But there was nothing to bring us all together," says Kanno, also known as CKP. "I guess we were inspired by what the Wu-Tang Clan did in Staten Island: creating unity not only to survive, but to thrive."

Selecting what bands to highlight was easy, according to Kanno.

"These bands were handpicked based on the caliber of the musicians, songwriting and live performances," he says. "There is such a variety and mix of sounds on this disc and I think that represents where the Chicago hip-hop scene is at."

Once approached to be on the disc, the bands were happy to be part of the project.

"It's a beautifully simple concept," says Mike Ryan the drummer of Small Change. "We needed someone with the skill, experience and time to orchestrate it all. Fortunately, Cary stepped up to the plate and made it happen. Hopefully, we can set an example of how artists can build together."

"The Chicago Drop" features the work of Dynamic Vibrations, Contriband, Farm Crew, Tabakin, Abstract Giants, Small Change, Star People, Treologic, Bad News Jones and Planets Audible. It is available at Tower Records in Lincoln Park (2301 N. Clark) and at the bands' shows, like tonight's at Metro (3730 N. Clark) that is celebrating its release. More information is available through the Abstract Giants Web site at www.abstractgiants.com.

'THE CHICAGO DROP' CD RELEASE PARTY, WITH ABSTRACT GIANTS, TREOLOGIC, BAD NEWS JONES, FARM CREW, STAR PEOPLE


9 tonight
Metro, 3730 N. Clark
Tickets, $10 (18-over show)
(773) 549-0203

David Jakubiak is a local free-lance writer.


Link to the article

    
     
The Depaulia    
Album Review: The Chicago Drop

by Brandon Wetherbee
Magazine Editor


This compilation features ten local hip-hop bands with each playing an original song. All of the groups are bands so the music that you hear is not sampled or just made on a Casio keyboard.

Dynamic Vibrations start the disc with “Take It In Stride,” a positive song about “dreaming of having a wife and a kid.” The laid back jazz that backs the track will appeal to those who enjoy Slum Village.

“The Chase,” by Contriband, begins with a laid back chorus with a female singer. It evolves into a classic diatribe about the perils of money before. The last minute-and-a-half allow the musicians to show their chops.

Farm Crew’s “Do It All Again” begins with a flute line and a fuzzed-up sample. Anyone familiar with the U’s Svengoolie will enjoy this tale of riding the El and assessing your life. The song rises to a peak, “when you’re broke you’re really at your richest.” The spastic drum beat and the two emcee’s going at each other for the last minute make the build-up well worth it.

The highlight of the Tabakin track “Spank” comes from the emcee’s delivery. Whether the song is making fun of sex or being completely honest about it is not clear. The only thing that’s for sure is the line, “you got ass/I got time.”

The brain behind this compilation, absTRACT giANTS come in with a track from their album “A Grow Culture” with “Mathismo.” Of all the bands on the compilation, they have the most going on, at least musically.

The standout track on “The Chicago Drop” is “Atmosfear” by Small Change. The beats fit the lyrical delivery perfectly. With excellent metaphors about heavy metal, “Kill Bill Vol. 1” and the current war, it’s hard not to be blown away. Star People’s “(Back in the Day We Were All) Star People” is a crowd pleaser. A call-and-response song, if you check them out at Metro you’ll definitely be chanting, “where my star people at?”

Treologic is well-known at DePaul. We’ve run pieces on them in The DePaulia and they’re constantly guests on Radio DePaul. I can’t quite grasp what the song, “Clap Clap” is about, especially with the line, “give us the clap clap.” “Grudge” by Bad News Jones sounds most like Common, with a jam tacked onto the end of the song.

Planets Audible has the honor of closing out the compilation with “Composition of the Nod.” The song begins like any common rock song you’d hear on the Mix 101.9, but quickly shifts gears and sounds like a hippy/hip-hop fantasy.

All of the bands on this compliation have a shot at becoming the next darling of the underground, so judge for yourself and pick up “The Chicago Drop.”

   
     
The Depaulia #2    

The sum of all parts
Local hip-hop artists come together for ‘The Chicago Drop’
by Brandon Wetherbee Magazine Editor


Rather than leave Chicago for either coast to try to “make it,” the absTRACT giANTS have taken a more noble route. Embracing Chicago and all the music it has to offer, the giants have organized a hip-hop compilation album entitled “Chicago Drop.” What’s sad is that this is the first compilation of Chicago’s hip-hop bands. In other words, this should have been done years ago.

Guitarist Cary Kanno of absTRACT giANTS is one of the guys that got the project rolling. “Basically, the idea came about because my band and I have been playing with all these different bands that we love, we wanted to have something to bring us together to create more unity. Groups like All Natural have done this. We asked these bands if they wanted to do this and they all did. Once we got all the tracks together we decided we need to do this big roll-out release party.

The album features ten bands that live in or around this city. It’s an all-star lineup of underground acts, all of which have the potential to be the next The Roots. With the current climate of the Chicago hip-hop community, it made perfect sense to put this together as soon as possible. “The Chicago scene has recently been blowing up recently. Because of Kanye West, Common and Twista, companies are pumping millions into South-Side labels to find the next Kanye. The microscope is on us. It’s a great scene here in Chicago," said Kanno.

The best part about this project is that each band has their own sound and multiple accomplishments. “The one criteria for all these bands is they had to be able to put on a good live show, which all of these bands actually do,” said Kanno. In the form of organic hip-hop, all of these bands are molding the best of old school hip-hop, jazz, rock, reggae, funk and rhythm and blues to create a sound that appeals to anyone willing to open their ears.

The group that spearheaded all of this headlines Metro on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Metro. The giants have been together for over three years and have played over 200 shows. In addition to their headlining shows at Metro, House of Blues and Double Door, the eight-man group was also the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands winner last year. Winning a slot on the Chicago Warped Tour date didn’t hurt the band at all. Since then they’ve shared the stage with such respected artists as Diverse and Jean Grae. Their full-length debut, “A Grow Culture,” has been well-received by the Chicago Reader and Chicago Innerview magazine. Deciding not to stick to any one genre, the absTRACT giants are hard to disappoint.

Also playing with absTRACT giants at Metro are DePaul favorites Treologic. In addition to being covered by The DePaulia last fall, the group was also named 2004’s best unsigned band by the Chicago Tribune run Metromix. With positive reviews from the Chicago Sun-Times, Red Streak and Chicago Reader, it seems that they can do no wrong for critics.

The highlight of “The Chicago Drop” album comes from the Double Door headliner Small Change. Utilizing two emcee’s, the five-man band has a buzz in this city. Last year Vitamen D won the emcee battle of Wicker Park and UR Magazine ranked them as one of the 20 best bands to watch. With members having played with Ray Charles, Morris Day & the Time and The Roots, Small Change are definitely making a run at the big time.

Playing before Small Change at the Double Door will be Contriband. A favorite of the Chicago Sun-Times, Contriband are definitely professionals. The five-man band’s debut LP “The Sound” has been selling well throughout the city and can be picked up at Tower and Grammaphone records. Fans of both hip-hop and jam bands will enjoy seeing these guys on stage.

In addition to absTRACT giants, Treologic, Small Change and Contriband are the other six bands that make up “The Chicago Drop.” Farm Crew just released their debut LP “Some Other Now” and is for fans of dueling emcees. Bad News Jones released “Soundtrack to the Revolution Vol. 1: A Drink Before the War” last fall and can be seen backing up R. Kelly in his “Step in the Name of Love” video. Planets Audible made the wise decision to move from Indiana to Chicago and just released their debut self-titled EP. Tabakin has opened for the Roots and hosts a weekly freestyle open mic at Subterranean and Tonic Room. Star People is comprised of members of the now defunct jazz group Family. Dynamic Vibrations round out the bill with the group having opened up for Brand Nubians and members of Jurassic 5.

If you’re into hip-hop at all, there is no reason not to check out these bands. In addition to only paying $10 for the show, you also get a copy of “The Chicago Drop” compilation. Consider it an investment. In a few years, one of the bands will go platinum and you will be able to eBay the album for way more than $10.

‘The Chicago Drop’ record release shows:

Saturday Jan 22 - Double Door
Small Change
Contriband
Tabakin
Dynamic Vibrations
Planets Audible
$10, 21+ Doors, 8:30 p.m.

Friday Jan 28th - Metro
absTRACT giANTS
Treologic
Bad News Jones
Farm Crew
Star People
$10, 18+, 8 p.m.

   
     
New City    
Stop and Drop

Dave Chamberlain


"The amount of attention Chicago hip-hop is getting right now, from the streets to the business world, it's just crazy. In fact, the whole scene in Chicago is crazy right now."

That's something that's been happening since Kanye West and Twista broke out of hip-hop's soldiering ranks and became superstars, according to Cary Kanno, a member of local underground hip-hop crew The Abstract Giants. "That's a big part of it," says Kanno, "but the Chicago scene has been around for a long time. It's only recently that it's beginning to get national attention. But, you know, we're doing something that's very different from Kanye West and Twista, but it's still good for us--anything that draws attention to Chicago is good for us."

Hardly riding tailcoats, Kanno and the Abstract Giants are doing something to attract attention to themselves, by themselves. This Saturday the Double Door hosts the first of two record-release parties for "The Chicago Drop," a compilation of local, underground hip-hop acts produced and released by Kanno. The release parties conclude next week at the Metro, January 28.

Kanno explains the genesis of the project. "Basically, we've been playing around for about three years, and we've encountered all these underground, under-exposed hip-hop bands that we love. And through forming friendships and alliances, we always wanted to create some kind of event or something that would unite us. I mean, there's power in numbers."

Walking a road paved by the All Natural hip-hop community, the "Maybe Chicago" compilation and too many rock scenes to mention, Kanno and his roommate came up with the idea to release a compilation of their friends. After getting the acts--all of whom are playing one or the other release party--to agree on contributing music, some of which was recorded specifically for the "Drop," Kanno let the pieces fall where they may. "After that, it was just the next logical step to roll it out into a party."

Without a single gangsta or battle rapper in sight, "The Chicago Drop" assembles ten extremely creative hip-hop acts. Whether it's the Tribe-influenced meter of Treologic's "Clap Clap" or Tabakin's wildcatter rap style, or even the vocal/rhyme combination espoused by Dynamic Vibrations, the length of the record doesn't just supply an introduction to one sector of Chicago's underground, it's actually good as well.

Kanno, who also does booking for his own band, admits that assembling the release parties--securing the venues and acquiring Red Bull as a sponsor--was much more difficult than putting the CD together. "Doing the booking for Abstract Giants is one thing, but getting ten bands together? Man, that was a lot harder." And it would have been even harder, but Kanno has three years of working the hip-hop world under his belt thanks to the Giants. And over the course of those three years, getting shows for his crew has become much easier.

"It's easier now than it's ever been," he agrees. But unfortunately, when he books out of town Kanno must deal with the looming specter of hip-hop. "It's weird," he explains, "but we go to do shows at the Big Ten schools--especially in Madison--and there's this stigma that says violence comes along with the shows. And apparently it happens, too. But what's great it that it never happens here in Chicago."


"The Chicago Drop" release party starts January 22 at the Double Door and ends January 28 at The Metro. See listings for details.

   
     
Pioneer Press    
Organic hip-hop


With the burgeoning success of Chicago underground music, The Chicago Drop is inspired idea. The Chicago Drop is a compilation disc of 10 talented, local underground hip-hop bands. It's also an event that will take place for the next two weekends at the Double Door, and Metro, both in Chicago. Each weekend will feature half of the artists featured on the disc, and both promise to be solid endeavors.

Co-creator Cary Kanno explained the project.

Q: What are these shows all about? Why Chicago? Why now?

A: My intention behind the Chicago Drop was to create unity in the hip-hop scene here in Chicago. From Twista to Diverse to Common to Kanye West to Offwhyte to Iamos Mirad to Rachel Yamagata, Local H and Disturbed, Chicago is experiencing the largest music explosion since the Chess blues area. This is a great time for Chicago bands.

Q: When did the idea come about?

A: My roommate Verses Style and I came up with this idea about a year ago. We were playing music with all of these cats around the city and everyone knew each other. The framework was there, but there was nothing to bring us all together. That's how the idea of the compilation disc came about. Once that was done the next logical step was to release the CD in a large hyped event. I guess we were inspired with what the WuTang Clan did in New York City. Creating unity not only to survive, but to thrive.

Q: Who is involved?

A: For the last few years Chicago has seen a proliferation of live hip-hop bands forging an uncharted genre with no rules and few examples to follow (the Roots are among the best-known). We call it "Live Organic Hip Hop," and these are the best bands in the city at this new sound. The sound goes leagues beyond traditional hip-hop by implementing live instruments to give the sound a tremendous boost, and adding human variation into each element. The lineup is a "who's who" of live hip-hop bands in Chicago. They are well-known by club owners, booking agents, music writers and, most importantly, local music fans. I have chosen these bands based on the caliber of the musicians, songwriting and live performances.

Q: What can people expect when they see the shows? Dancing, listening, both?

A: Expect to see hip-hop heads bobbin', hands in the air and people dancing in the front. Most of the music is up-tempo and very rhythmic.

Q: What about your band, AbsTRACT giANTS? What is your goal as a band within the context of this project?

A: The goal of the AG's is to keep doin' what we're doin'. We have a big show coming up opening for Jean Grae and Diverse, and plans for hitting the road this summer to play festivals.

Q: What's currently in your CD player?

A: Dave Tampkin (Chicago), Heiruspecs (Minneapolis), Bumpus (Chicago), Burn Rome Burn (Chicago), Solid Gold (Madison, Wis.), Audible Thought (Indianapolis), Pomeroy (Kansas), and all of the bands on the Chicago Drop.

Planets Audible, Dynamic Vibrations, Tabakin, Contriband and Small Change play Saturday at the Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., in a 21-and-older show. Doors open at 9 p.m.; the show is at 9:30 p.m. Star People, Farm Crew, Bad News Jones, Treologic, and absTRACT giANTS play Jan. 28 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark, in an 18-and-older show. Doors open at 8 p.m.; the show is at 9 p.m. Both shows are $10. See www.abstractgiants.com/ChicagoDrop for more information.

Allison Augustyn