AirGo

Based on Saba's breakthrough project ComfortZone, one can't help but feel like the chords of his music underpin the drastic growth he's made professionally over the last 15 months. The mainstream rap publication system is starting to take notice, leading to some recent features, but Saba's power stems from the stage–his Comfortzone Live shows have gotten bigger and better, bringing young people across the city together for a joyous musical celebration. Not bad for a self-proclaimed shy kid.

Recorded live Thursday 11/19/15

Music on this week's show:

LightningDog - @SabaPivot

SmthnThtIWnt - @SabaPivot

Whip (Areyoudown) - @SabaPivot

Marbles - @SabaPivot

Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack

Butter (feat. Jamila Woods) - @SabaPivot

Via Rosa makes all kinds of things–some of which sound great, some of which smell delicious. The Chicago-based singer and vegan chef brings the recipe to her elegance to AirGo and discusses how she came to Chicago, how she linked with @thempeoplemusic, and talks about her amazing path to becoming one of Chicago's Strong Young Voices.

Recorded live 11/12/15 At WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago

Music on this week's show:

Lithium - Via Rosa

Spin Cycle (feat. Mathien) - Via Rosa

Magician (feat. @thatsjeandeaux) - Via Rosa

The Choice is Yours - Black Sheep

Come to We 'Go: A Chicago Showcase and Celebration on Sat. 11/14 at the Silver Room. Free, all ages! https://www.facebook.com/events/1509483092707298/

We 'Go: A Chicago Showcase and Celebration is 11/4/15 at the Silver Room. Come through! https://www.facebook.com/events/1509483092707298/

Kush Thompson writes resistance. Her "bathwater influenced" poems stand tall with love, and her soul shines on canvasses and pages. The semi-autobiographical pink-haired protagonist of her paintings appears thoughtful and carefree.

Recorded Live at WHPK 88.5FM on 11/5/15

Music from this week's show:

Abigail - Smoko Ono

Soul Food (feat. Raphael Saadiq) - Big K.R.I.T.

Sunday Morning - Noname Gypsy

I Say A Little Prayer for You - Aretha Franklin

Open Apology - Noname Gypsy

NOTICE: We 'Go, AirGo's first live event, is at 7:30PM on Nov. 14 at The Silver Room in Hyde Park, Chicago. Catch the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1509483092707298/

On her Facebook page, Bella Bahhs does not call herself a rapper–rather, she uses the phrase "rapping public relations specialist." She communicates in the streets and on the stages of Chicago, bringing bars and hooks that intentionally counteract the dominant narrative and push back. Much of her recent work has honored her family members and connected the multigenerational dots.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE.

http://patreon.com/airgo

Recorded live at WHPK 88.5FM on 10/22/15

Music from this week's show:

Untitled 06 - Dert Floyd

OG - @BellaBahhs

Royal Family - @BellaBahhs

Time Out Chair - Genesis Khan

Ravyn Lenae makes elegant music. The ChiArts High School student released Moon Shoes, an EP largely produced by 20 year-old Monte Booker, a couple months ago, and the eight-song project has been an AirGo favorite since it dropped. Her elegant writing fits Monte's production so well that Chicago heavyweight Saba said, "Ravyn and Monte together [are] damn near the best collab in music.” She swings by the WHPK studio to talk that collab, high school life, and more.

Recorded live @WHPK 10/15/15

Music from this week's show:

New - The ARE

Moon Shoes - Ravyn Lenae

Blossom Dearie - Ravyn Lenae

Free Room - Ravyn Lenae

Every Little Thing I Do - Soul For Real

http://twitter.com/ravynlenae

http://airgoradio.com

http://twitter.com/airgoradio

http://patreon.com/airgo

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE.

This week's guest is the sister of one of AirGo's hosts–let's see if you can guess which one. She is also an accomplished and ferocious playwright, poet, and organizer whose newest play Octagon, a critical depiction of the slam poetry scene, recently premiered in London. Kristiana Colón has been using her Strong Young Voice for years in Chicago, reshaping the artistic and organizing communities for the fresher.

Recorded live @WHPK 88.5FM on 10/8/15

Music from this week's show:

Air Between Toes - Swimful Butterfly

Water Me - FKA Twigs

40 Days 40 Nights - April Fools

Too Little in Common to be Lovers - The Newcomers

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. http://patreon.com/airgo

Thanks to @neonpajamas for curating the show's instrumentals.

Comedian Just Nesh appears on stages across the city, bringing a laissez-faire comedic voice to some of the struggles of being a working comic, and a Black woman, in the City of Wind. In addition to her role hosting and performing all over Chicago, she's also the voice behind some of the funniest parody songs the AirGo crew has ever seen. In short, she's really funny.

Recorded Live 10/1/15 at WHPK 88.5FM

Music from this week's show:

Breathe (Instrumental) - @Just-Blaze

Tiny Soldiers - M&O

L's - @GHerbomusic

Dot Out (Katie Got Bandz Pop Out Parody) - Just Nesh

Hotel California - The Eagles

They Don't Care About Us - Michael Jackson

Comedian Just Nesh appears on stages across the city, bringing a laissez-faire comedic voice to some of the struggles of being a working comic, and a Black woman, in the City of Wind. In addition to her role hosting and performing all over Chicago, she's also the voice behind some of the funniest parody songs the AirGo crew has ever seen. In short, she's really funny.

Recorded Live 10/1/15 at WHPK 88.5FM

Music from this week's show:

Breathe (Instrumental) - @Just-Blaze

Tiny Soldiers - M&O

L's - @GHerbomusic

Dot Out (Katie Got Bandz Pop Out Parody) - Just Nesh

Hotel California - The Eagles

They Don't Care About Us - Michael Jackson

After an AirGo bye week, Damon and Daniel return to the air with Dwamina Drew, the mastermind behind Chicago's Enstrumental clothing company. You may have seen the brand's famous "Rap–Lies=Hip Hop" shirts and stickers around town–the tee is unquestionably fresh–and Drew's work declares important statements about identity with the concision of a poet and eye of a master craftsman. He jumps on the air to discuss the brand, his new film The Revenge of Emmett Till, and more.

Recorded live at WHPK 9/24/15

Music from this week's show:

King Rashad (Never Letting Go) - @RomanFlowrs

Go Go Gadget Flow - @lupefiasco

Bank Head - @kelelam

Cuz I Love You - Lenny Williams

http://enstru-mental.com

http://twitter.com/airgoradio

Add-2's debut album Prey For The Poor, released on 9th Wonder's Jamla Records, is settling into playlists and headphones across the city in the week since its release. The Chicago emcee couldn't be happier. Every social media post seems to be a grateful and relieved celebration, which he has certainly earned after years of consistent bars and beats on the vanguard of this era's Chicago renaissance.

Aired live 9/10/2015 at WHPK 88.5FM

Music from this week's show:

Untitled 108 - @bruceleekix

Young Black Boy - @add2themc feat. Jamila Woods

Stop Play Rewind - @add2themc feat. Rapsody

Use Me - Bill Withers

Heartbeat (Instrumental) - Kanye West