For episode 14 of So Many Shrimp Radio, rather than interviewing a DJ or producer, we interviewed two up-and-coming rappers from Chicago whose work excited us & suggested they have a promising future. After a quick Q&A, they played us mini-mixes of the music that inspires them. It’s easy to hear how both artists arrived at their distinctive sounds from the songs they selected here.

This episode was recorded July 22, 2017, at David’s place.

Lulu Be. is from the North Side of Chicago and found some mini-viral success with her single “Rude Ting.” Her sound is a diasporic blend that touches on dancehall, afrobeats, and hip-hop with a Chicago bent. She followed it up at the end of last year with the Lululand EP, which you can find at your local streaming site.

Jayaire Woods is from Bellwood, IL, and his 2017 release Big Wood was one of So Many Shrimp’s favorite albums last year. With a distinctive flow, considerable compositional gifts, and a tendency to write heartfelt lyrics, the QC Records (Migos, Lil Yachty) signee is one of Chicago’s most promising young talents.