Mike DFG is a powerhouse from Chicago’s West$ide, blending raw storytelling with anthemic energy to become one of the city’s most versatile and slept-on underground artists. Known for his distinctive voice, genre-spanning catalog, and captivating stage presence, he’s carved a lane that’s as dynamic as the city that raised him. His music reflects both the struggle and the soul of Chicago — unfiltered, unapologetic, and unforgettable. He solidified his sound with two of his most ambitious releases to date: the self-mixed & mastered Line Of Fire EP and his debut mixtape Love Letter To The West, which dropped in October and turned heads across the city. From packed sets at venues like Metro, Reggie’s, Subterranean, and SXSW in Texas, Mike’s live show proves he’s not just next up — he’s here. Outside the booth, Mike DFG is deeply rooted in community work. He serves on the Chicago Chapter Grammy Board, is a proud member of the John Walt Foundation, and runs his own nonprofit, Bigger Than The City, a platform dedicated to uplifting local creatives and giving them real opportunities to be seen and heard. His impact goes beyond music, proving he’s not just building a career, he’s building a legacy in real time.

Recoechi was born and raised on the south-east side of Chicago. He grew up during the Chief Keef era of Chicago Hip Hop. When he discovered other artists like Tupac Shakur, Lauryn Hill, Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole it unlocked another dimension for him and inspired him to use music as a way to describe and change his environment and those around him. Recoe is heavily involved in community organizing – working with Healthy Hood Chi and his own EastSide Collection , which was co-founded by the producer C-Sick. Musically, Recoe’s name has been bubbling in the Chicago music scene since late 2023 when he linked up with producers such as C-Sick, Renzell, and Thelonious Martin, as well as caught the eye of Sway Calloway and local outlets like Illanoize Radio and The Chicago Reader.

It’s been ‘All Gas No Brakes’ for SONNY since sharing his 9-track mixtape in February. Marked by co-signs from Chicago creative forces like Andrew Barber, LONEWOLF and Lyrical Lemonade among others, the “KILL BILL” artist’s sets are as lively and enigmatic as his music. Opening for renowned artists such as Dro Kenji, Midwxst and more, SONNY’s creative style thrives by staying “RISKY” — referencing his ‘AGNB’ hit with LONEWOLF’ — above all. A true descendant of Chicago’s drill roots, SONNY is at his best when in front of his home crowd.

CRASHprez is a rapper from Fort Washington, MD, currently based in Chicago. These are the musings of a young Black man living, loving, struggling, and building a new world from the wreckage of whatever all… this is. “This” being this ugly world we landed in; CRASHprez raps about that ugly, and the beauty in that, too. CRASH is 1/3rd of the group defprez, with Defcee and knowsthetime. CRASH has shared stages with the likes of Chance the Rapper, Mick Jenkins, Vince Staples, Saba, JPEGMAFIA, and Slow Pulp among many others.