Chicago has an undying affinity for the darker side of rap. We’ve produced some of the most versatile MCs who can move among drill, conscious rap, and avant-garde hip-hop, and many of them launched their careers in the heat of battle. South-side MC Novatore has been a fixture in Chicago’s hardcore rap scene for years, and he’s worked with legendary artists such as Brooklyn-bred rapper RJ Payne and German hip-hop production team Snowgoons.
Novatore is one of many MCs keeping the boom-bap torch lit, and he demonstrates with two quality projects he released last year. The ten-track LP The 87 Arsonist includes “Pyromaniacs,” made with east-coast hip-hop veteran Celph Titled, which has become my personal favorite track from his catalog. And Novatore made the solid EP Brutality with fellow hardcore rapper Moecyrus under the name Azthmatix.
Collaboration is foundational for Novatore. “Blacksmith,” off his new album, Agoraphobia, features OG Philadelphia rapper King Magnetic, Dutch producer Brenx, and Ghanaian hip-hop MC Recognize Ali—and its tight record scratching is just chef’s kiss. Here’s hoping more hip-hop DJs bring back that technique in 2025! Now that Agoraphobia is out, Novatore has plenty to celebrate. For this all-ages release show at Bottom Lounge, he’s curated a wild homegrown lineup that includes antipop underground rap group Seven Oddities (whose members operate the label of the same name), a joint set from Moecyrus and rap singer Welles Maddingly, jazz-forward hip-hop artist AzMattic, Chicago collective Agreeable Future, and a “triple threat beat set” from producers Damo Do the Most, B4 Lasers, and Frequently Flyer. If you’re into no-holds-barred traditional hip-hop with heavy local style, this is the show for you.
Novatore Seven Oddities, AzMattic, Agreeable Future, and Moecyrus & Welles Maddingly open. Beats by Damo Do the Most, B4Lasers, and Frequently Flyer. Sat 1/18, 7 PM, Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake, $15, all ages
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2025-01-10 14:09:36