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Indie Artists Stand Strong in Their Movement

While New York, Atlanta and Houston enjoy their cities' recognition, Chicago strives to reach its stardom.
Chicago: one of the most famous and most culturally rich cities. It holds the crown for its delicious food, blues, jazz and tourist attractions. Yet unclaimed for the more modern and more popular type of music.
Chicago, Illinois has a large underground music scene. Many of those artists being Hispanic. For years, artists such as Chi-Ill, Visual and MC Channel Zero have struggled, not to sign a major record deal, but rather to gain their hometown's support. Unlike cities such as New York or Atlanta, local rappers fail to draw in fellow Chicagoan's ears and money.
Visual, a Mexican/Cuban hip hop artist, commented, "A lot of artists don't support each other. They build music and cliques but it is all about oneself."
DJs and radio also pose a setback in promoting music. Radio stations such as 107.5, B96.3 and 92.3, do not play underground music. Repeated commercial songs are heard throughout the entire day instead. DJs on the other hand who have an enormous amount of power would also rather stick to making mixes of commercial music seeing they could make hundreds of dollars a night promoting a club.
At this point, the city of Atlanta, Georgia is at its peak of stardom with recording artists such as T.I, Young Jeezy and Young Dro selling millions of records nationwide. New York city is known as rap capital for its roots in hip hop music. That may explain why whenever an underground rapper would release an album or mix tape, residents would actually go out and buy them in the streets where they are sold. Back in the Midwest, it is an entirely different story. Rappers claim that their listeners would claim they enjoy their music but would prefer to buy a major recording artist's CD from another city, at a higher price.
Eduardo Eger, a Chicago resident and hip hop fan stated he is not familiar at all with any local artists. He prefers major artists music because their beats as well as lyrics are better. Eger also stated he has not seen local artists being publicized enough for him to be drawn in.
MC Channel Zero, "The King of the City," as he is known simply said, "We have no industry in Chicago."
The way rappers are able to sell their CDs or mix tapes is by going out on the streets themselves and with the help of their camp; which is only so many.
The famous website, Myspace.com, has been of great help in publicizing their music, but not the substantial to sell their goal. Or become as well with residents.
This city's struggling artists have recognized their problem and are working together towards a solution; throwing barbeques with tens of artists invited, as well as anyone else wishing to come. They hold meetings where they discuss new ways to spread their name and gain support.
Chi Ill just finished shooting his first ever music video entitled, "Hold Me Back," directed by Anthony Dones. His video was one of the most high-budgeted independent videos made in Chicago. Shortly after the making of his video, he set off on tour with major recording artist,DMX. MC Channel Zero has moved to Miami where he will live, continuing his work as an artist. Remaining in Chicago however, are the same artists, writers and promoters working hard to get their city on the map, with only ambitions of getting more work done.
Knowing they still have a way to go, the underground family of DJs, rappers, singers, video producers and street promoters remain grounded in their goal; into making their beloved city known for something far more than its history.
 
 

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