dilla

Listen as Paul Rosenberg takes an in depth look at the hits, art and albums that make up the legendary musical library of Eminem as told through first-hand experiences by the participants and collaborators on these celebrated projects.  It's a 7-part series exclusively released in celebration for Curtain Call 2.

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Shermann 'Dilla' Thomas - TikTok @6figga_dilla

Reporters - Atavia Reed, Jamie Nesbitt Golden, Hannah Alani

Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE

Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.

We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.

Ground-level coverage

Our neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this  ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a  neighborhood.

Stories that matter to you — every day

Since our launch five years ago, we've published more than 25,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 130,000 Chicagoans. 

We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them. 

Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.

Oh wow we’ve returned from our short hiatus! Welcome to s02e41! Apologies for our absence, so glad you’re still here. Things kick off with talk of rap and what originality means to the culture before pitting art form against art form to decide which one can go. They discuss Dilla and talk a lil about his catalogue and his long lasting influence in the arts and then examine the purpose and place of instrumental music and whether all artists are inter-disciplinary at their core. They hit “Top of the Hour” to answer some questions and then listen to Diddy as Monch and discuss the various ways in which one can now art. Mike and Markings talk a lil about their own personal endeavours and the motivations behind the pursuits before Mike brings out his podcast list and they chit chat about the stuff. To wind things down, they discuss best cocaine user musicians, guesting on Hot Ones vs Drink Champs and give some spicy takes on the current rap landscape. Laser-s!

Sometimes the best things in life to ever happen to you...are the things that don’t happen. That’s the philosphy of my next guest whom I have invited to sit down with me. Because just like his latest release ‘Blessing in Disguise’, and this podcast, it’s technically innovative music, words and sounds that reminds you that it’s been crafted by a living, breathing, upright human. Also, anyone I can geek out with over kung-fu films and Sega Dreamcast games is aces in my book. With a sprawling catalog that includes dozens of projects and countless remixes, Elaquent has become one of beat music’s greatest innovators and he coulda been anywhere in the world, but he’s here with me!!!! We chat about his life, early days of boorish rap-rock strain that dogged the genre’s turn-of-the-millennium heyday led by acts like Limp Bizkit, his music production style, and more. Visit the website: https://www.bedroombeethovens.com/ Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/bedroombeethovens

Ken & Lina pull the best Detroit deep cuts they can find within the vinyl collection and examine them under the needle. The results are staggeringly groovy. Tune in, trip out.

In episode 46, GRANDBUDA’s Last Resort, the Lasers are joined by GrandBuda, Montreal rapper/producer/dj and his manager and Moto Made founder Philippe Durocher-McBrearty. The episode kicks off with talk of all-inclusive vacations before Akil shares his dos and won’ts list for fruit. GrandBuda recalls an unfortunate microphone incident from the Summer and talks the importance of his live show to what he does. He shares his past life as a band member, the pitfalls of too many cooks in the kitchen, and the synergy he’s got going with his producer. They discuss halloween costumes and GrandBuda shares a few LasersExclusives™ for our collective pleasure before he and Akil see eye to eye on Dilla and the crew talks De La Soul and stuff. GrandBuda judges a Lasers beat-battle in which there can only be one winner before the group discusses parameters in re-la-tion-ships.