Entertaining Atlanta rapper Vayda recently stopped in Chicago while opening for Veeze on his "Ganger" tour. We caught up with her outside the venue to talk about her whirlwind 2023, that time when Doechii commented on one of her TikToks, the realest song she's ever made, paranoia and more.

Keep Up with Real Ones

We sat down with writer, A&R, photojournalist and activist Isiah Veney, aka Thought Poet. for an insightful conversation about the state of Chicago music, why he's stuck around in the city this long, learning to "positively take up space," his criteria for working with artists, and more.

KEEP UP WITH THOUGHT POET:
http://instagram.com/thoughtpoet77
https://twitter.com/thought_poet77
https://linktr.ee/ThoughtPoetsOpinion

KEEP UP WITH REAL ONES:
http://twitter.com/realonesshow
http://instagram.com/realonesshow
http://tiktok.com/@realonesshow

Host/co-editor: Ben Moskow
Guest host: Reina Danzy
Guest: Thought Poet
Producer/Videographer: Michael Magitman
Audio mixed by Michael "Farley" McFarland
Editor: Aidan Siavelis
Special thanks to Second Street Studios

Ten days before she took off for sunny Los Angeles, we sat down with singer-songwriter Ebony Loren about her favorite memories of living in Chicago, being a voice major during online school, languages she wants to learn and more.

KEEP UP WITH EBONY LOREN:
https://twitter.com/ebonylorenmusic
http://instagram.com/ebonyloren
http://tiktok.com/@ebonylorenmusic


KEEP UP WITH REAL ONES:
http://twitter.com/realonesshow
http://instagram.com/realonesshow
http://tiktok.com/@realonesshow

Host/Editor: Ben Moskow
Guest: Ebony Loren
Producer/Videographer: Michael Magitman
Special thanks to Roc Star Studios

Right before the release of his EP 'Hasta La Dorada' we caught up with LA-based, Chicago-raised Latin indie artist Danny Schiller to chat about how the project came together, his past as a soccer player, who he would most want to tour with, his philosophy when it comes to making music and much more.

KEEP UP WITH DANNY:
TWITTER | INSTA | TIKTOK

KEEP UP WITH REAL ONES:
TWITTER | INSTA | TIKTOK

Host: Ben Moskow
Guest: Danny Schiller
Producer: Michael Magitman
Audio editor: Michael "Farley" McFarland
Video editor: Faye Siavelis 
Special thanks to Second Street Studios

Rising pop-punk musician SAIAH joins Ben on Season 2, Episode 10 of Real Ones, recorded right before the release of their single "radio.fm." Topics include how they were first drawn to punk rock music, recording "Cheater" with Tom The Mail Man, touring with RIZ LA VIE & Guardin, getting booked for their first festival opening for Beach Fossils, preparing to move to Los Angeles and much more.

Support SAIAH
INSTAGRAM: | TWITTER:

Support Real Ones
LINKTREE |  INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | TIKTOK

This convo with Juwan Elcock of BLK ODYSSY happened back in January. He's since opened for Cordae on a US tour,  dropped the deluxe version of debut album BLK VINTAGE featuring Baby Rose, Mereba & Benny the Butcher, and announced his first-ever headlining tour. Things are going up. Keep up with the latest BLK ODYSSY news here /

the BLK REVOLUTION TOUR COMES TO CHICAGO AUGUST 27 at SLEEPING VILLAGE. TIX here /

AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE FIRST EVER REAL ONES CURATED SHOW AUGUST 20. LIVE PERFORMANCES FROM Your Stepdad, Gayun Cannon, the Stranded Civilians, Morgan Gold and A.N.I. TIX here /

Check out our Linktree to stay updated on all things Real Ones!

We get the chance to sit down with Your Stepdad about his strong month of April, how he's built buzz on TikTok, why every huge underground rapper is so young, and much more.

Keep up with Stepdad:
Instagram @deflynotdoowop
TikTok @yoursteppops

NEW PLAYLIST additions (courtesy of CXR's Collin Donovan):

Kendrick Lamar - Mother I Sober
Dende - Round Trip to Atlanta
Noah - Revelations
Kehlani - Little Story
Mack Keane, ESTA - Never Enough

SUPPORT: Obviously, the U.S. has a horrendous problem with gun violence and gun culture. And politicians on both sides of the aisle don't seem interested in doing anything about it. I've attached a Twitter thread here with GoFundMe information for as many of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting as I could find. I'm devastated that this has become accepted as normal in the US. We need structural change immediately..

To check out the Good Work we highlight each episode, check out this document:

Creative consulting by Brandon Washington.
Theme music by Evan Dawkins.
Logos & cover art: MC Blue Matter.
Sponsored by Project FILO

Ben sits with Chicago's Nina Tech to talk about their latest single/video combo "Love Show," influences from the 80s, favorite places in Chicago, the foundations of drill and more!

Keep up with Nina:
Instagram @ninatechxx
Twitter & TikTok @ninawthetech

NEW PLAYLIST additions:

Sports Boyfriend - Crying in July
grouptherapy. - Pink Papers
Groupthink - Guilty Pleasure
Pink Siifu, Valee - Griptape'!!
BoofPaxkMooky, GRIMM Doza, - You & Me

SUPPORT: Chicago Show Cal is helping you make your Chicago concert plans EVERY WEEK and DAWA Heals is providing a financial safety net to low-income BIPOC Austin, TX residents.  Donate and follow today! All details are visible in our SEASON 2 GOOD WORK document

Creative consulting by Brandon Washington. Theme music by Evan Dawkins. Logos & cover art: MC Blue Matter.
Sponsored by Project FILO

In an interview conducted last December, Ben chats with Chicago-area musician Worry Club about why he prefers working on music alone. how a ridiculous TikTok idea almost turned into a record deal and more. Since our convo, the Club has collaborated with lead singer Chase Walsh's favorite band The Maine,  went to SXSW as an official artist and played a show in Norman, Oklahoma of all places. 

Follow Worry Club: IG, Twitter, TikTok @worryclub

NEW PLAYLIST additions:

Pass the Water - Raé Luna
Lonestar - Monet Ngo
GUCCI SLIDE - Turich Benjy
blue lung - Justend, Joe Aste
Kick Back - Lo Artiz

SUPPORT: Make sure to catch Birria Ta-Ta-Tacos ' popup at Sleeping Village on Thursday, March 24. Also, Schuba's  is throwing free shows with their "100% Off Series." See Cece Maravilla, Ebony Loren, and more for free on April 4.
All details are visible in our SEASON 2 GOOD WORK document.

Theme music by Evan Dawkins. Logos & cover art: MC Blue Matter. Mixed by Dagz. Sponsored by Project FILO

SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS

Ben is joined by guest interviewer Brandon Washington to speak with prolific Chicago MC and creative femdot. about his biggest accomplishment, his first experiences rapping over 20 years ago, his love for J Dilla and more.

Follow femdot: IG & Twitter @femdotdotcom
Keep up with Delacreme Scholars: Twitter @DelaScholars, IG: @delacremescholars

NEW PLAYLIST additions

Omni ! - WILLIE
Che Noir, 7xvethegenius, Armani Caesar - Ladies Brunch
Cashus King - SKUNK!
TheLoveofPpl - Rat Race
Porsh Bet$ - Passenger

SUPPORT: The LA Mission is working to end homelessness in the greater Los Angeles area. Brave Space Alliance is a Black, Trans-led LGBTQ+ organization located on Chicago's South Side committed to uplifting Black queer youth. All details are visible in our SEASON 2 GOOD WORK document.

Theme music by Evan Dawkins. Logos & cover art: MC Blue Matter. Mixed by Dagz. Sponsored by Project FILO