It’s gonna get sweaty: YehMe2 is on his way back to Australia.
As a former member of Flosstradamus and a solo artist, YehMe2 has spent his career crafting thumping remixes and blazing originals, where dance and hip-hop fuse together in rambunctious form. That’s something he’s shown in his highly-addictive Steal This Mixtape series, where he re-works rap tracks into diving bass bombs aimed purely for dancefloor destruction, as well as crafting more upbeat jams that display his refreshingly diverse music taste.
It’s just a couple of days until we’ll be able to witness YehMe2 onstage once more, as he embarks on the Gud Vibrations tour alongside NGHTMRE, Slander, Valentino Khan, Whipped Cream and more. Ahead of the visit, we asked YehMe2 to name his Top 10 classic Chicago anthems, because the man is very proud of his roots in the Midwest – and with good reason.
From Juke to Drill, YehMe2 takes us across genres and back in time with this excellent list, showing the immense amount of quality music that has emerged from Chicago. See his picks below, and get your tickets to Gud Vibrations right here:
Kanye West – Jesus Walks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYF7H_fpc-g
“You know what the Midwest is, young and restless.” Music producers knew Kanye from his productions for Jay Z, but this was Ye’s introduction to the rest of the world. He went on to do so much for Chicago music/culture, it’s hard to pick only one song of his to throw on this list. His entire catalogue is comprised of Top 10 Chicago songs.
Cajmere – Percolator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S-Ti1Aqx1c
This was probably the first house song I ever heard. Sounds as fresh today as it did when it dropped 25 years ago.
Chief Keef – I Don’t Like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpj39Znv0oA
Chief Keef laid the blueprint for contemporary rap music. None of the street rappers out now would look/sound the way they do without Keef, and this song put him on the map.
DJ Clent – Bounce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kU8sErFP3o
Footwork is a style of dance associated with Juke music, and this is the Footwork/Juke anthem.
DJ Rashad – Back Dat Ass Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dy_18JYdZc
And since we’re on the topic of Juke music, this is my personal favorite DJ Rashad song. Rashad is one of the few Juke producers to break out of Chicago, and give Juke some global exposure. R.I.P him.
Mike Dunn – Phreaky MF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIyPxs0zJKM
Ghetto house in it’s rawest form.
Kid Sister – Pro Nails (ft. Kanye West)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT9IZ6Xoees
Back in 2006, my sister (Kid Sis) started MCing at the Flosstradamus parties we’d throw around the city. Through that, she met A-Trak, and through A-Trak she linked with Kanye. When he heard ‘Pro Nails’ he insisted on jumping on, and that feature not only launched my sister’s career, but also took Floss to an international level. So on a personal level, this song means a huge deal to me.
Crucial Conflict – Hay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3LKtTUR29s
Crucial Conflict was basically the Chicago version of Bone Thugs N Harmony. Melodic, bounce, double-time rap over slow, Houston-sounding beats. This song was a major break out for the group, and helped put Chicago rap of the era on the map.
Do Or Die – Po Pimp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJOvp7xxoTQ
Similar to crucial conflict, this was a major breakout record for Chicago. Also, it put Twista on the map.
Smashing Pumpkins – 1979
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aeETEoNfOg
I’m gonna throw a rock song in here at the end, just for shits and gigs. The 90s was a massive time for rock music in general, and this was one of the biggest anthems of the decade. Also, honorable mentions to Alkaline Trio, Wilco, Ministry, Veruca Salt, and fuck it… Disturbed.
